Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-5r2nc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-11T09:50:59.106Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The reproductive biology of Plutonaster Bifrons, Dytaster Insigns and Psilaster Andromeda (Asteroidea: Astropectinidae) from the Rockall Trough

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

P. A. Tyler  and
S. L. Pain
P. A. Tyler
Affiliation:
Department of Oceanography, University College of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP
S. L. Pain
Affiliation:
Department of Oceanography, University College of Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Examination of the reproductive biology of three closely related sympatric astropectinid asteroidshas revealed two distinct reproductive strategies. In Plutonaster bifrons and Dytaster insignis the gonads are serially arranged and open at gonopores located at the tip of genital papillae found on the dorsal arm surface between the bases of the paxillae. The ovaries of these species produce numerous small (ca. 120/«n diameter) eggs which in Plutonaster bifrons appear to show a distinct synchrony of production. Initiation of gametogenesis occurs in June to August of each year with oocyte growthcontinuing until March with a spawn-out in the period March to early June. In specimens where spawningdoesnot occur, there would appear to be internal oocyte degeneration, or after spawning relict oocytesundergo phagocytosis. In males initiation of spermatogenesis may occur in August/September of eachyear but after this synchrony of sperm development is not evident. In Psilaster andromeda gonads are located at the base of the arms and each gonad opens at a single gonopore. A number of small (<300 /«n) oocytes are produced by each gonad. Some of these are phagocytosed and some undergo vitellogenesis and grow to a maximum size of 950 fim before being spawned. Unspent oocytes undergo internal degeneration. In neither females nor males is there any evidence of reproductive synchrony. From these egg sizes, fecundities and gametogenic strategies, we infer indirect planktotrophic development for Plutonaster bifrons, the transfer of a seasonal surface production to deep water providing a food source for developing larvae. The egg size and or close to the sea-bed, as there is no evidence of brooding in this species.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 62 , Issue 4 , November 1982 , pp. 869 - 887
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barel, C. D. N. & Kramers, P. G. N., 1977. A survey of the echinoderm associates of the northeast Atlantic area. Zoologische verhandelingeriy, no. 156, 159 pp.Google Scholar
Barker, M. F., 1979. Breeding and recruitment in a population of the New Zealand starfish Stichaster australis (Verrill). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 41, 195–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherbonnier, G. & Sibuet, M. 1972.Resultats scientifiques de la campagne Noratlante: Asterides et Ophiurides. Bulletin du Museum national d'histoire naturelle, no 102, Zoologie 76, 1333–1394.Google Scholar
Chia, F. S., 1968. Some observations of the development and cyclic changes of the oocytes in brooding starfish Leptasterias hexactis. Journal of Zoology, 154, 453–468.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chia, F. S., 1974. Classification and adaptive significance of developmentalpatterns in marine invertebrates. Thalassia jugoslavica, 10, 121–130.Google Scholar
Clark, A.,1979.On living in cold water: K-strategies in Antarctic benthos.Marine Biology, 55, 111–119CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cognetti, G. & Delavault, R.,1962. La sexualite des asterides. Cahiers de biologie marine, 3, 157–182.Google Scholar
Crump, R. G., 1971.Annual reproductive cycles in three geographically separated populations Patiriella regularis (Verrill), a common New Zealand asteroid. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 7, 137–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deuser, W. G. & Ross, E. H., 1980. Seasonal change in the flux oforganic carbon to the deep Sargasso Sea. Nature, London,283, 364–365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Downey, M. 1973. Starfishes from the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, no. 126, 158 pp.Google Scholar
Farmanfarmaian, A., Giese, A. C, Boolootian, R. A. & Bennett, J., 1958. Annual reproductive cycles in four species of west coast starfish. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 138, 355–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farran, G. P., 1913. The deepwater Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea and Echinoidea ofthe west coast of Ireland. Scientific Investigations of the Fisheries Branch. Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland for 1912, no. 6 (1913), 66 pp.Google Scholar
Gage, J. D. & Tyler, P. A., 1982. Growth and reproduction of the deep-sea brittlestar Ophiomusium lymani Wyville Thomson. Oceanologica acta. (In the press.)Google Scholar
Giese, A. C. & Pearse, J. S., 1974. Introduction: general principles. In Reproduction of Marine Invertebrates, vol. 1 (ed. Giese, A. C. and Pearse, J. S.), pp. –49. Academic Press.Google Scholar
Grieg, J. A.3 1921. Echinodermata. Report on the Scientific Results of the [Michael Sars] North Atlantic Deep Sea Expedition, 1910, 3, 44 pp.Google Scholar
Hyman, L., 1955. The Invertebrates. IV. Echinodermata. 763 pp.New York:McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc.Google Scholar
Jangoux, M. & Vloebergh, M., 1973. Contribution a l'etude du cycle annuel de reproduction d'une population d'Asterias rubens (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) du littoral Beige. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 6, 389–408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawson-Kerr, C. & Anderson, D. T., 1978. Reproduction, spawning and development of the starfish Patiriella exigua (Lamarck) (Asteroidea: Asterinidae) and some comparisons with P. calcar (Lamarck). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 29, 45– 53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Menge, B. A., 1975. Brood or broadcasts The adaptive significance of different reproductive strategies in the two intertidal sea stars Leptasterias hexactis and Pisaster ochraceus. Marine Biology, 31, 87–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mileikovsky, S. A., 1971. Types of larval development in marine bottom invertebrates, their distribution and ecological significance: a re-evaluation. Marine Biology, 10, 193– 213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mortensen, T., 1927. Handbook of the Echinoderms of the British Isles. 471 pp. OxfordUniversity Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearse, A. G. E., 1961. Histochemistry: Theoretical and Applied. 998 pp. London:J. & A. Churchill.Google Scholar
Pearse, J. S., 1965. Reproductive periodicities in several contrasting populations of Odontaster validus Koehler, a common Antarctic asteroid. Antarctic Research Series, 5, 39– 85.Google Scholar
Pianka, E. R., 1970. On ' r ' and 'K' Selection. American Naturalist, 104, 592– 597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shick, J. M., Taylor, W. F. & Lamb, A. N., 1981. Reproductionand genetic variation in the deposit-feeding sea star Ctenodiscus crispatus. Marine Biology, 63, 51– 66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, V. J., 1981. The echinoderms. In Invertebrate Blood Cells (ed.Ratcliffe, N. A. and Rowley, A.) pp. 513– 562. Academic Press.Google ScholarPubMed
Southwood, T. R. E., 1977. Habitat, the templet for ecological strategies. Journal of Animal Ecology, 46, 337– 365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thorson, G., 1936. The larval development, growth and metabolism of Arctic marine bottom invertebrates. Meddelelser om Grenland, 100 (6), 155 pp.Google Scholar
Tyler, P. A. & Gage, J. D., 1980. Reproduction and growth in thedeep-sea brittlestar Ophiura ljungmani (Lyman). Oceanologica acta, 3, 177–185.Google Scholar
Tyler, P. A. & Gage, J. D., 1982. The reproductive biology of Ophiacantha bidentata (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the Rockall Trough. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 62, 45–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tyler, P. A., Pain, S. L. & Gage, J. D., 1982a. The reproductive biology of the deep-sea asteroid Bathybiaster vexillifer. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 62, 57–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tyler, P. A., Pain, S. L. & Gage, J. D., 1982b. Gametogenic cycles in deep-sea phanerozoan asteroids from the N.E. Atlantic. In Proceedings of the International Echinoderm Conference, Tampa, Florida, 1981. (ed. Lawrence, J. M.). (In the Press.)Google Scholar
Vance, R. R., 1973. On reproductive strategies in marine benthic invertebrates. American Naturalist, 107, 339–352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, C. W., 1974. Studies on the reproductive systems of seastars. I. Themorphology and histology of the gonad of Asterias vulgaris. Biological Bulletin. Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., 147, 661– 677.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Worley, E. K., Franz, D. R. & Hendler, G., 1977. Seasonal patterns of gametogenesis in a North Atlantic brooding asteroid Leptasterias tenera. Biological Bulletin. Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, Mass., 153, 237–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar