Male Pheromones Induce Ovulation in Female Honeycomb Groupers (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>): A Comprehensive Study of Spawning Aggregation Behavior and Ovarian Development
This study characterizes the spawning phenomena of the honeycomb grouper (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>), which is a lunar-synchronized spawner that spawns a few days after full moon. To elucidate the aggregation characteristics of wild honeycomb groupers, the numbers of males and females at...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| author | Takafumi Amagai Daisuke Izumida Ryosuke Murata Kiyoshi Soyano |
| author_facet | Takafumi Amagai Daisuke Izumida Ryosuke Murata Kiyoshi Soyano |
| author_sort | Takafumi Amagai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study characterizes the spawning phenomena of the honeycomb grouper (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>), which is a lunar-synchronized spawner that spawns a few days after full moon. To elucidate the aggregation characteristics of wild honeycomb groupers, the numbers of males and females at the spawning grounds were counted before and after the full moon. Approximately 20 males were consistently observed at the spawning grounds throughout the study period. Females appeared several days after full moon and rapidly increased in number, peaking four days after full moon (41 individuals). The maturation status of the females aggregating at the spawning grounds was investigated. The gonadosomatic index increased rapidly three days after full moon, and ovulation was confirmed. Individuals with ovulatory eggs were present for three days, after which the number of females at the spawning grounds decreased. Additionally, the role of males in final oocyte maturation (FOM) and ovulation in females during the spawning phase was investigated in captivity. FOM was induced in females reared in water with mature males, suggesting that male pheromones in the water induced FOM via activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. This suggests that spawning at the natural spawning grounds was the result of male–female interactions via pheromones. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:03:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3023bd3dad2548b8929ba0fe0a296dd0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:03:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
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| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-3023bd3dad2548b8929ba0fe0a296dd02023-11-23T16:12:42ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092022-01-0111348410.3390/cells11030484Male Pheromones Induce Ovulation in Female Honeycomb Groupers (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>): A Comprehensive Study of Spawning Aggregation Behavior and Ovarian DevelopmentTakafumi Amagai0Daisuke Izumida1Ryosuke Murata2Kiyoshi Soyano3Institute for East China Sea Research, Organization for Marine Sciences and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1551-7 Taira-machi, Nagasaki 851-2213, JapanFisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 116 Katsurakoi, Kushiro 085-0802, JapanInstitute for East China Sea Research, Organization for Marine Sciences and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1551-7 Taira-machi, Nagasaki 851-2213, JapanInstitute for East China Sea Research, Organization for Marine Sciences and Technology, Nagasaki University, 1551-7 Taira-machi, Nagasaki 851-2213, JapanThis study characterizes the spawning phenomena of the honeycomb grouper (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>), which is a lunar-synchronized spawner that spawns a few days after full moon. To elucidate the aggregation characteristics of wild honeycomb groupers, the numbers of males and females at the spawning grounds were counted before and after the full moon. Approximately 20 males were consistently observed at the spawning grounds throughout the study period. Females appeared several days after full moon and rapidly increased in number, peaking four days after full moon (41 individuals). The maturation status of the females aggregating at the spawning grounds was investigated. The gonadosomatic index increased rapidly three days after full moon, and ovulation was confirmed. Individuals with ovulatory eggs were present for three days, after which the number of females at the spawning grounds decreased. Additionally, the role of males in final oocyte maturation (FOM) and ovulation in females during the spawning phase was investigated in captivity. FOM was induced in females reared in water with mature males, suggesting that male pheromones in the water induced FOM via activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. This suggests that spawning at the natural spawning grounds was the result of male–female interactions via pheromones.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/3/484honeycomb grouperovulationpheromonesspawning aggregationspawning characteristicsfinal oocyte maturation |
| spellingShingle | Takafumi Amagai Daisuke Izumida Ryosuke Murata Kiyoshi Soyano Male Pheromones Induce Ovulation in Female Honeycomb Groupers (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>): A Comprehensive Study of Spawning Aggregation Behavior and Ovarian Development Cells honeycomb grouper ovulation pheromones spawning aggregation spawning characteristics final oocyte maturation |
| title | Male Pheromones Induce Ovulation in Female Honeycomb Groupers (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>): A Comprehensive Study of Spawning Aggregation Behavior and Ovarian Development |
| title_full | Male Pheromones Induce Ovulation in Female Honeycomb Groupers (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>): A Comprehensive Study of Spawning Aggregation Behavior and Ovarian Development |
| title_fullStr | Male Pheromones Induce Ovulation in Female Honeycomb Groupers (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>): A Comprehensive Study of Spawning Aggregation Behavior and Ovarian Development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Male Pheromones Induce Ovulation in Female Honeycomb Groupers (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>): A Comprehensive Study of Spawning Aggregation Behavior and Ovarian Development |
| title_short | Male Pheromones Induce Ovulation in Female Honeycomb Groupers (<i>Epinephelus merra</i>): A Comprehensive Study of Spawning Aggregation Behavior and Ovarian Development |
| title_sort | male pheromones induce ovulation in female honeycomb groupers i epinephelus merra i a comprehensive study of spawning aggregation behavior and ovarian development |
| topic | honeycomb grouper ovulation pheromones spawning aggregation spawning characteristics final oocyte maturation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/3/484 |
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