Reproduction in the sea pen Pennatula phosphorea (Anthozoa: Pennatulacea) from the west coast of Scotland

Reproduction in the sea pen Pennatula phosphorea Linnaeus 1758 was investigated in a population located in southern Loch Linnhe, west Scotland. This was accomplished through analysis of trends in oocyte size-frequency distribution and fecundity over a 12-month period. Pennatula phosphorea is dioecio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine biology 2008-09, Vol.155 (3), p.303-314
Main Authors: Edwards, D. C. B., Moore, C. G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Anthozoa
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cnidaria. Ctenaria
Coma
Fecundity
Food supply
Frequency distribution
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Larvae
Life Sciences
Marine
Marine & Freshwater Sciences
Marine biology
Microbiology
Oceanography
Original Paper
Pennatula phosphorea
Pennatulacea
Sea water ecosystems
Sex ratio
Spawning
Studies
Synecology
Zoology
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Summary:Reproduction in the sea pen Pennatula phosphorea Linnaeus 1758 was investigated in a population located in southern Loch Linnhe, west Scotland. This was accomplished through analysis of trends in oocyte size-frequency distribution and fecundity over a 12-month period. Pennatula phosphorea is dioecious and the study population exhibited a sex ratio of 1:1. Oogenesis in female P. phosphorea is characterised by the maintenance of a large pool of small oocytes throughout the year of which a small proportion (500 μm), indicative of the production of lecithotrophic larvae; this may confer certain advantages with respect to larval longevity and survival.
ISSN:0025-3162
1432-1793
DOI:10.1007/s00227-008-1028-6