Ultrastructural analysis of gametogenesis in the subclass Ceriantharia (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

• Grant number: 23/08131-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: January 21, 2024
• End date: June 20, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Sérgio Nascimento Stampar
• Grantee: Barbara Mariah Chagas Teberga
• Supervisor: Rhian Waller
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Gothenburg, Sweden
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/04136-3 - Comparative analysis of the gametogenic structure between the genera of the subclass Ceriantharia (Cnidaria), BP.MS

Abstract

Anthozoa is the largest class in number of species among the phylum Cnidaria and also comprises most of the research on cnidarian reproduction. Besides, little is known about reproduction, and gametogenesis in its subclass Ceriantharia. The organisms of this clade are popularly known as cerianthids, and they are generally described as protandric hermaphrodites with external fertilization, but there are still many questions about this, as there are few studies concerning their reproduction, mostly from the early 20th century, and there is only one detailing the gametogenesis of a single species. Considering this lack of knowledge in this area, this project focuses on detailing aspects of gametogenesis through structural and ultrastructural analysis of the morphology of the reproductive structures of 7genera of the subclass, with the aim of clarifying aspects of the reproduction of these organisms and creating a basis for future research. (AU)