Observations of Simultaneous Sperm Release and Larval Planulation Suggest Reproductive Assurance in the Coral Pocillopora acuta
Despite being an extensively studied group of corals, the reproductive biology of the scleractinian genus Pocillopora remains a mystery. Pocillopora acuta has been proposed to exhibit a mixed reproductive mode, sexually producing gametes (sperm and eggs) and asexually brooding larvae simultaneously...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2019.00362/full |
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| author | Hillary A. Smith Aurelie Moya Neal E. Cantin Madeleine J. H. van Oppen Madeleine J. H. van Oppen Gergely Torda Gergely Torda |
| author_facet | Hillary A. Smith Aurelie Moya Neal E. Cantin Madeleine J. H. van Oppen Madeleine J. H. van Oppen Gergely Torda Gergely Torda |
| author_sort | Hillary A. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite being an extensively studied group of corals, the reproductive biology of the scleractinian genus Pocillopora remains a mystery. Pocillopora acuta has been proposed to exhibit a mixed reproductive mode, sexually producing gametes (sperm and eggs) and asexually brooding larvae simultaneously within a single colony. Here, we report observations of night-time spawning of sperm during the peak monthly larval release period. We offer a new hypothesis for the regulation of sexual and asexual reproduction in the species and posit that sexual reproduction may occur more often than previously suggested. However, the success of internal oocyte fertilization and subsequent zygote development is dependent on sperm making contact with a fertile colony. We hypothesize that asexual development of larvae occurs when sperm is absent, but more extensive genetic, genomic, and histological data are required to determine the pathway by which unfertilized oocytes may develop. We also propose that this mixed mode of reproduction is an adaptation to mating failure, common in sessile marine invertebrates. The reproductive assurance enjoyed by the species may therefore be the key to its ecological and evolutionary persistence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T14:53:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2b14b43370af43999c41c054dc2ad66e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T14:53:34Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-2b14b43370af43999c41c054dc2ad66e2022-12-21T23:41:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452019-06-01610.3389/fmars.2019.00362458737Observations of Simultaneous Sperm Release and Larval Planulation Suggest Reproductive Assurance in the Coral Pocillopora acutaHillary A. Smith0Aurelie Moya1Neal E. Cantin2Madeleine J. H. van Oppen3Madeleine J. H. van Oppen4Gergely Torda5Gergely Torda6College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, AustraliaARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, AustraliaAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, AustraliaAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, AustraliaSchool of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, AustraliaAustralian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, AustraliaDespite being an extensively studied group of corals, the reproductive biology of the scleractinian genus Pocillopora remains a mystery. Pocillopora acuta has been proposed to exhibit a mixed reproductive mode, sexually producing gametes (sperm and eggs) and asexually brooding larvae simultaneously within a single colony. Here, we report observations of night-time spawning of sperm during the peak monthly larval release period. We offer a new hypothesis for the regulation of sexual and asexual reproduction in the species and posit that sexual reproduction may occur more often than previously suggested. However, the success of internal oocyte fertilization and subsequent zygote development is dependent on sperm making contact with a fertile colony. We hypothesize that asexual development of larvae occurs when sperm is absent, but more extensive genetic, genomic, and histological data are required to determine the pathway by which unfertilized oocytes may develop. We also propose that this mixed mode of reproduction is an adaptation to mating failure, common in sessile marine invertebrates. The reproductive assurance enjoyed by the species may therefore be the key to its ecological and evolutionary persistence.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2019.00362/fullspawningreproductive assurancecoralPocilloporareproduction |
| spellingShingle | Hillary A. Smith Aurelie Moya Neal E. Cantin Madeleine J. H. van Oppen Madeleine J. H. van Oppen Gergely Torda Gergely Torda Observations of Simultaneous Sperm Release and Larval Planulation Suggest Reproductive Assurance in the Coral Pocillopora acuta Frontiers in Marine Science spawning reproductive assurance coral Pocillopora reproduction |
| title | Observations of Simultaneous Sperm Release and Larval Planulation Suggest Reproductive Assurance in the Coral Pocillopora acuta |
| title_full | Observations of Simultaneous Sperm Release and Larval Planulation Suggest Reproductive Assurance in the Coral Pocillopora acuta |
| title_fullStr | Observations of Simultaneous Sperm Release and Larval Planulation Suggest Reproductive Assurance in the Coral Pocillopora acuta |
| title_full_unstemmed | Observations of Simultaneous Sperm Release and Larval Planulation Suggest Reproductive Assurance in the Coral Pocillopora acuta |
| title_short | Observations of Simultaneous Sperm Release and Larval Planulation Suggest Reproductive Assurance in the Coral Pocillopora acuta |
| title_sort | observations of simultaneous sperm release and larval planulation suggest reproductive assurance in the coral pocillopora acuta |
| topic | spawning reproductive assurance coral Pocillopora reproduction |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2019.00362/full |
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