Reproduction of the biogenic reef-forming honeycomb worm Sabellaria alveolata in Ireland

Abstract

The stage of development of the gametes of both male and female honeycomb worms Sabellaria alveolata (L.) was examined, using histology, over a 14-month period. Samples came from Howes Strand and Garrettstown, County Cork in south-west Ireland. A clear cycle of both male and female gametogenesis was evident, with a distinct peak in the summer (June–September) when the majority of them were ripe. During October–January a small proportion of males contained abundant spermatozoa, but no mature oocytes were found. Over the whole sampling period the ratio of males:females was 1.4:1. Further south in Roches de la Fosse in France at the centre of its range, two spawnings and an even sex-ratio have been reported.

Oogenesis in Phragmatopoma (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae): Evidence for morphological distinction among geographically remote populations

“…Thus, different stages of oocyte development can be observed simultaneously within a single organism. This contrasts with Sabellaria alveolata in which a gametogenesis is synchronous and all oocyte are in the same stage during the reproductive cycle (Culloty et al, 2010). However, in S. alveolata populations from the NE Atlantic, the various gametogenesis stages also occurred simultaneously among individuals in the population (Culloty et al, 2010).…”

“…This contrasts with Sabellaria alveolata in which a gametogenesis is synchronous and all oocyte are in the same stage during the reproductive cycle (Culloty et al, 2010). However, in S. alveolata populations from the NE Atlantic, the various gametogenesis stages also occurred simultaneously among individuals in the population (Culloty et al, 2010). The factors regulating the onset of the reproductive cycle and spawning events are poorly understood in Sabellariidae worms.…”

“…Oogenesis has been studied in only a few Phragmatopoma and Sabellaria species and little progress in studies of sandcastle worm reproductive biology has been achieved in recent years (Culloty et al, 2010). It would be most helpful if information about reproductive biology (Eckelbarger, 1988(Eckelbarger, , 2006 was included in the recent phylogenetic of sabellariids (Capa et al, 2012) and further studies should assess whether the pattern of oogenesis is consistent with previous phylogenetic studies published for the family.…”

Physical and biological effects of introduced oysters on biodiversity in an intertidal boulder field

“…In order to account for possible differences between upper and lower shore boulders, another procedural control was included in which 7 boulders from the lower shore were also scraped and cleaned with a blowtorch. Boulders were deployed in mid-April 2010 and were sampled after 4, 9 and 14 m. The first and last sampling periods were chosen because the reproductive peak for Sabellaria alveolata is between June and September and the experiment was run for long enough to allow settlement and establishment of this species (Culloty et al 2010). The length of time between sampling periods was sufficient to allow assemblages disturbed by the non-destructive sampling to fully recover (Chapman & Underwood 1996).…”

Sabellaria and Lygdamis (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) from reefs off northeastern Brazil including a new species of Sabellaria

“…As natural "surf zone engineers" sabellariids offer a number of ecological benefits to marine benthic communities (Kirtley 1994;Nishi et al2010;Capa et al 2012), because the complex habitat structure of sabellariid reefs sustain a high biodiversity (Kirtley 1994). As a result, studies of sabellariid ecology, reproductive biology and phylogeny have been attracting biologists and geologists over the years (e.g., Kirtley & Tanner 1968;Pawlik 1988;Hendrick & Foster-Smith 2006;Gruet & Lana 1988;Ayata et al 2009;Cullotoy et al 2010;Nishi et al 2010;Capa et al 2012). Hutchings (2000) described the sabellariids as polychaetes with compact bodies divided into distinct sections: head, thorax, abdomen and pygidium.…”