Unusual Pattern of Embryogenesis of Caryophyllia Inornata (Scleractinia, Caryophylliidae) in the Mediterranean Sea: Maybe Agamic Reproduction?
JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 273:943–956 (2012) Unusual Pattern of Embryogenesis of Caryophyllia inornata (Scleractinia, Caryophylliidae) in the Mediterranean Sea: Maybe Agamic Reproduction? Stefano Goffredo,1* Chiara Marchini,1 Marta Rocchi,1 Valentina Airi,1 Erik Caroselli,1 Giuseppe Falini,2 Oren Levy,3 Zvy Dubinsky,3 and Francesco Zaccanti1 1Marine Science Group, Department of Evolutionary and Experimental Biology, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy 2Department of Chemistry ‘‘G. Ciamician’’, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy 3The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel ABSTRACT While knowledge of the reproductive biol- wide range of reproductive strategies of this group ogy of tropical scleractinian corals is extensive, informa- remains enigmatic (Loya and Sakai, 2008). Of the tion from temperate zones is limited. The aim of this more than 1,500 recognized coral species, charac- study is to describe the reproductive biology of Caryo- teristics of sexual reproduction have now been phyllia inornata, a temperate species, and to increase recorded in at least 444 species (Harrison, 2011) the understanding of the reproductive strategies of Med- iterranean corals. Samples of C. inornata were collected mainly from tropical and subtropical zones during SCUBA surveys at Elba island. Sexually active (Fadlallah, 1983; Heltzel and Babcock, 2002; Neves individuals displayed either male or female germ cells, and Pires, 2002; Mangubhai and Harrison, showing a gonochoric sexuality. C. inornata exhibited an 2008a,b). Information on scleractinians from tem- unusual pattern of embryogenesis. Embryos appeared perate zones, however, is limited (Szmant-Froelich throughout the whole year in males and in sexually et al., 1980; Beauchamp, 1993).
[Show full text]