Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Reproductive biology of Lychnorhiza lucerna (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae): Individual traits related to sexual reproduction

Full text
Author(s):
Schiariti, Agustin [1, 2] ; Christiansen, Ernesto [2] ; Morandini, Andre Carrara [3] ; da Silveira, Fabio Lang [3] ; Agustin Giberto, Diego [1, 2] ; Walter Mianzan, Hermes [1, 2]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn CONICET, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina
[2] Inst Nacl Invest & Desarrollo Pesquero INIDEP, RA-7600 Mar Del Plata - Argentina
[3] Univ Sao Paulo USP, Dept Zool, Inst Biociencias, Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: MARINE BIOLOGY RESEARCH; v. 8, n. 3, p. 255-264, 2012.
Web of Science Citations: 12
Abstract

We studied individual traits related to the sexual reproduction of Lychnorhiza lucerna and reviewed earlier studies of sexual maturation in scyphomedusae, focusing on non-brooding species. Lychnorhiza lucerna is a gonochoric species and sexual dimorphism was noted in the gonadal colour. There were no brooding structures or any other distinguishable features enabling macroscopic determination of sex. Gametogenesis resembled descriptions available for other rhizostomes and semaeostomes. Both processes are asynchronous, with gametes at all stages of development occurring together. Oocytes arose from the gastrodermis and maintained contact with it via trophocytes throughout vitellogenesis. Spermatogenesis occurred within spermatic follicles arising from nested primary spermatogonia. Population features of sexual reproduction were defined by characterizing and quantifying individuals at different stages of sexual maturity. In Scyphozoa, sexually mature medusae can be detected by (1) the presence of fully developed gametes in the gonads indicating incipient spawning, or (2) the presence of spent follicles as evidence of ongoing or recent spawning. Whereas the former allows more detailed study of sexual reproductive patterns of any species, the latter constitutes an option for non-brooders (as in L. lucerna) equivalent to the search of fertilized eggs or planulae for brooder species. (AU)