Bidirectional sex change in mushroom stony corals

Loya, Yossi; Sakai, Kazuhiko

doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.0675

Cited by 62 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Protandrous hermaphroditism is readily explained by models that predict delayed allocation to more energetically costly female function until larger sizes are attained (Charnov 1982). At least four solitary fungiid species are sequential protandrous hermaphrodites, that is, polyps display solely male function when small and solely female function when larger (KramarskyWinter & Loya 1998, Loya & Sakai 2008 in accord with sex-allocation theory (Charnov 1982). In addition, the fungiid Ctenactis echinata can change sex in both directions, possibly in response to energetic and/or environmental constraints (Loya & Sakai 2008).…”

Section: Systematic Patterns In Reproductive Biology Of Scleractinianmentioning

confidence: 83%

Systematic and Biogeographical Patterns in the Reproductive Biology of Scleractinian Corals

Baird

Guest

Willis

2009

Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst.

649

653

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A limited diversity of character states for reproductive traits and a robust phylogeny make scleractinian corals an ideal model organism with which to explore the evolution of life-history traits. Here, we explore systematic and biogeographical patterns in the reproductive biology of the Scleractinia within the context of a new molecular phylogeny and using reproductive traits from nearly 400 species. Our analyses confirm that coral sexuality is highly conserved, and mode of larval development is relatively plastic. An overabundance of species with autotrophic larvae in the eastern Pacific and Atlantic is most likely the result of increased capacity for long-distance dispersal conferred by vertical transmission of symbiotic zooxanthellae. Spawning records from diverse biogeographical regions indicate that multispecies spawning occurs in all speciose coral assemblages. A new quantitative index of spawning synchrony shows peaks at mid-tropical latitudes in the IndoPacific, influenced in part by two spawning seasons in many species on equatorial reefs.

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Section: Systematic Patterns In Reproductive Biology Of Scleractinianmentioning

confidence: 83%

Systematic and Biogeographical Patterns in the Reproductive Biology of Scleractinian Corals

Baird

Guest

Willis

2009

Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst.

649

653

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…True hermaphroditism with both mature and functional sperm and oocytes has not been described in Hydractinia previously, but is known from other cnidarians, such as acroporid corals. Temperature-dependent sex was reported in the hydrzoan, Clytia (Carré and Carré, 2000), and fungiid corals undergo sex reversals naturally (Loya and Sakai, 2008). In the freshwater polyp Hydra, sex is determined by the stem cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A polymorphic, thrombospondin domain-containing lectin is an oocyte marker in Hydractinia: implications for germ cell specification and sex determination

Mali¹,

Millane²,

Plickert³

et al. 2011

Int. J. Dev. Biol.

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We have identified a novel, multidomain, polymorphic lectin in the marine cnidarian Hydractinia echinata. The gene is expressed in oocytes and was therefore named CEL for cnidarian egg lectin. The predicted protein has an unusual domain architecture, consisting of variable numbers of thrombospondin type 1 domains, flanked by one N-terminal and two C-terminal galactose binding lectin domains. The diversity of the gene's transcripts results from allelic polymorphism as well as alternative splicing. Hydractinia is dioecious and its sex has been reported previously to be genetically determined. We found intersexual colonies that were functional males, but had immature CEL-positive oocytes alongside mature sperm in the same gonads. Intersexuality was observed to be common in one population but not found in others. Hermaphroditic, self-fertile colonies were found in one locality; however, in these cases gonads contained either male or female gametes without mixed ones. Intersexuality that was considered to be a very rare event is apparently a more common phenomenon, at least in some populations. True hermaphroditism also occurs in this species. CEL can be considered as a marker for early oocyte differentiation and may play a role in germ cell specification and sex determination in cnidarians.

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“…There are 3 possible explanations for this: (1) females are changing to males at some critical size threshold, (2) females are investing more in reproduction at the cost of investing in growth, or (3) female mortality increases at a critical size or is generally higher. Bidirectional sex change occurs in the solitary coral Ctenactis echinata (Loya & Sakai 2008); however, the cause of these sex changes has yet to be established. Repeated sampling of individuals through time will be required to determine why sexuality is associated with colony size in Plesiastrea versipora.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reproductive biology of the scleractinian coral Plesiastrea versipora in Sydney Harbour, Australia

Madsen¹,

Madin²,

Tan³

et al. 2014

Sex. Early. Dev. Aquat. Org.

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The scleractinian coral Plesiastrea versipora occurs throughout most of the IndoPacific; however, the species is only abundant in temperate regions, including Sydney Harbour, in New South Wales, Australia, where it can be the dominant sessile organism over small spatial scales. Population genetics indicates that the Sydney Harbour population is highly isolated, suggesting long-term persistence will depend upon on the local production of recruits. To determine the potential role of sexual reproduction in population persistence, we examined a number of features of the reproductive biology of P. versipora for the first time, including the sexual system, the length of the gametogenetic cycles and size-specific fecundity. P. versipora was gonochoric, supporting recent molecular work removing the species from the Family Merulinidae, in which the species are exclusively hermaphroditic. The oogenic cycle was between 13 and 14 mo and the spermatogenetic cycle between 7 and 8 mo, with broadcast spawning inferred to occur in either January or February. Colony sex was strongly influenced by colony size: the probability of being male increased with colony area. The longer oogenic cycle suggests that females are investing energy in reproduction rather than growth, and consequently, males are on average larger for a given age. Alternatively, colonies may change sex from female to male as they grow. In contrast, per polyp fecundity did not vary with colony size. We conclude that the Sydney Harbour population is reproductively active and therefore has the potential to maintain current levels of abundance even without an external supply of propagules.

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Bidirectional sex change in mushroom stony corals

Cited by 62 publications

References 49 publications

Systematic and Biogeographical Patterns in the Reproductive Biology of Scleractinian Corals

Systematic and Biogeographical Patterns in the Reproductive Biology of Scleractinian Corals

A polymorphic, thrombospondin domain-containing lectin is an oocyte marker in Hydractinia: implications for germ cell specification and sex determination

The reproductive biology of the scleractinian coral Plesiastrea versipora in Sydney Harbour, Australia

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