reproductive strategies in the marine world
Transcription
reproductive strategies in the marine world
REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES IN THE MARINE WORLD Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant Agent - UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County With the exception of humans, and our spayed and neutered pet friends, survival and passing on genes through reproduction are all encompassing for the remainder of the animal kingdom, the marine environment included. Marine organisms have a fascinating array of reproductive behavior patterns. They can be pelagic spawners, benthic spawners, nest spawners, or bearers of live young. They may be guarders, non-guarders, or brood hiders. Further they may have elaborate courtship or no courtship. EAS-070314-002 occurs in late summer or early fall on dark nights (new moon particularly) between 10:00pm and 3:00am when eggs and sperm are released into the water column (pelagic spawning). Such spawning behavior is likely an adaptation to avoid egg predation. Another fish with an interesting reproduction strategy is the gulf killifish, a fairly common baitfish. There are fifteen species of killifish found in Florida and although most are freshwater fish, the gulf killifish, as its name implies is a saltwater species. The majority of saltwater fish species reproduce through Take a goliath grouper external fertilization. Killifish for instance, adults however reproduce through generally show a strong internal fertilization and then Goliath Grouper—FSG Image site preference and move the female lays eggs. very little; however they However she doesn’t just are known to travel one hundred miles or more to reach deposit them anywhere. She lays them in muddy spawning aggregation sites. Most of the known sediment at the water’s edge during a flood tide. When spawning aggregations the water recedes the eggs are off of southwest incubate in the mud until the Florida, but additional next flood tide at which time aggregations have been they hatch. Interestingly, observed off of Florida’s killifish in freshwater systems central east coast. use a similar approach. They Researchers and lay eggs in the mud within a volunteer dive groups small puddle of water. The have observed various puddle dries, the eggs goliath grouper color incubate, and when the next changes associated with rain rehydrates the ground, spawning aggregations the eggs hatch. such as dark, bi-color, and white/ gray color Fish are not the only marine phases. They have also animals with interesting Gulf Killifish—FL Museum of Nat. History Image noted behaviors reproduction strategies, associated with goliath invertebrates (animals that grouper spawning aggregations that include pairing or lack a backbone) also exhibit unique strategies. Take (Continued on page 2) grouping, stacking, and/or barking/bellowing. Spawning The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication do not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, please contact Charlotte County Extension Service at 941.764.4340, or visit us online at http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. REPRODUCTION IN MARINE WORLD July 3, 2014 tunicates for example. Tunicate are those gelatinous cean (related to shrimp and crabs). What is absolutely globs that are often found on mangrove roots, encrusting fascinating about barnacles is that although they’re on seagrass blades or cemented to structure and washed up on the beach don’t move, they do looking like a softball sized reproduce through internal blob of rubber. Tunicates fertilization. How do they do are filter feeders, taking it? Well it turns out, water in through one barnacles which are also siphon, extracting particles hermaphrodites like the then expelling the water tunicates previously through the second siphon. mentioned; possess the Most tunicates are longest penis relative to their hermaphrodites, meaning size in all the animal kingdom. they possess both male and Yep, they reach out and female sexual organs. They fertilize their neighbor, and avoid self-fertilization by when they’re done they having the eggs and sperm discard the penis, growing a Tunicates—FSG Image mature at different times or new one when they need to by having the eggs and reproduce again. sperm reject each other. Tunicates reproduce by So there you have it, a sneak releasing sperm into the peek into some interesting water column. The sperm reproduction strategies then enters another employed by a few of our tunicate through the siphon more remarkable marine with incoming water, and species. the eggs are then fertilized. Probably one of the most noteworthy reproduction strategies is that of the lowly barnacle. Barnacles are truly oddballs. They look more like a mollusk, but are instead a crusta- Barnacles—FSG Image Sources: Rocha, R. Tunicates are Cool. PPT. Smithsonian Institute Marine Scene, Volume 50-2. written by John Stevely, Florida Sea Grant Agent, University of Florida-IFAS Manatee County Extension. BETTY STAUGLER Florida Sea Grant Agent [email protected] UF/IFAS EXTENSION CHARLOTTE COUNTY 25550 Harbor View Road, Suite 3 - Port Charlotte, Florida 33980 941.764.4340 - 941.764.4343 (fax) - http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu