Sexual reproduction in the Mediterranean solitary coral Balanophyllia europaea (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae)

Gonochorism and planula brooding in the Mediterranean endemic orange coralAstroides calycularis(Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae). Morphological aspects of gametogenesis and ontogenesis

“…If in Algeria A. calycularis has low population densities reducing the probability of fertile encounters, then simultaneous hermaphroditism of colonies would become adaptive, maximizing their fertilization rate (Ghiselin 1969). The stages of male gametogenesis corresponded to those described in other species of the family Dendrophylliidae, for example Heteropsammia aequicostatus Fisk, 1981 and Heteropsammia cochlea (Spengler, 1781) (gonochoric, broadcast spawner; Harriott 1983), Leptopsammia pruvoti and Balanophyllia elegans Verrill, 1864 (gonochoric, brooder;Goffredo et al 2005), Balanophyllia europaea (hermaphroditic, brooder; Goffredo et al 2002), or in corals of different families such as Fungiacyathus marenzelleri (Vaughan, 1906) (gonochoric, broadcast spawner;Fungiacyathidae;Waller et al 2002) Edwards and Haime, 1849 (hermaphroditic, brooder;Pocilloporidae;Vermeij et al 2004).…”

“…The frequency of this nuclear morphology in the female gametogenesis of the scleractinians is not clear. A nucleus defined as falciform or dome-shaped or U-shaped and adherent to the oolemma of the mature oocyte was described in other species, such as the hermaphroditic broadcast spawners Acropora cervicornis (Lamark, 1816) (Acroporidae; Vargas-Angel et al 2006), Gardineroseris planulata (Dana, 1846) (Agariciidae; Glynn et al 2000), Pocillopora damicornis (Linneo 1758) and P. elegans Dana, 1846 (Pocilloporidae;Glynn et al 1991), the hermaphroditic brooders B. europaea (Dendrophylliidae; Goffredo et al 2002), Favia fragum (Esper, 1795) (Faviidae; Szmant-Froelich et al 1985) and the gonochoric brooders L. pruvoti (Dendrophylliidae; Goffredo et al 2006), M. rubrum (Flabellidae; Heltzel & Babcock 2002) and Porites porites Pallas, 1766 (Poritidae; Tomascik & Sander 1987). This nuclear morphology is therefore present across sexual condition, reproductive mode and taxonomic classification and might facilitate fertilization (Szmant-Froelich et al 1985).…”

“…Released larvae have a clearly differentiated mouth and pharynx and the coelenteron is divided into mesenterial septa (Richmond & Hunter 1990). The plasticity of the planulae and their changeable shape from contracted to extended are a common feature of Anthozoa larvae (see Chia & Crawford 1973 (Goffredo et al 2005), 2200 mm in B. europaea (Goffredo & Zaccanti 2004) and 4000 mm in B. elegans (Beauchamp 1993).…”

Growth and population dynamics model of the Mediterranean solitary coral Balanophyllia europaea (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae)

“…B. europaea is the only species in the genus Balanophyllia and one of the few in the family Dendrophylliidae that exhibit hermaphroditism (Harrison 1985;. During the annual cycle of sexual reproduction, fertilization takes place from March to June and planulation in August and September (Goffredo et al 2002).…”

Quantificação da gametogênese através de análises histológicas para estimar a reprodução sexuada de Madracis decactis Lyman, 1859 (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Scleractinia) do litoral sul do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

“…Muitos trabalhos descreveram os ovócitos maduros como um estágio bem diferenciado, podendo apresentar uma coloração do citoplasma distinta dos demais, geralmente em tons intensos de vermelho ou rosa (Glynn et al, 1994;Lins de Barros et al, 2003, Neves & Pires, 2002, uma camada cortical aparente (Szmant-Froelich et al, 1980;Harrison & Wallace, 1990), grandes quantidades de vesículas de lipídeo no citoplasma (Kruger & Schleyer, 1998;Pires et al, 1999), mas, principalmente, foram caracterizados pela posição periférica do núcleo (Szmant-Froelich et al, 1985, Goffredo et al, 2002Hetzel & Babcock, 2002). A migração do núcleo para a periferia com o possível formato de "U" (Szmant-Froelich et al, 1980, Hetzel & Babcock, 2002Lins de Barros et al, 2003;Goffredo et al, 2005), deve facilitar o processo de fertilização do ovócito (Szmant-Froelich et al, 1980 No entanto, alguns trabalhos sugerem que a permanência dos ovócitos maduros dentro dos pólipos seja muito breve o que dificultaria sua observação (Stoddart & Black, 1985, Szmant-Froelich, 1985.…”