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Notes on reproduction of eight species of Eastern Pacific cold-water octocorals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2015

Keri A. Feehan  and
Rhian G. Waller
Keri A. Feehan*
Affiliation:
School of Marine Sciences, Darling Marine Center, The University of Maine, Walpole, ME, 04573, USA
Rhian G. Waller
Affiliation:
School of Marine Sciences, Darling Marine Center, The University of Maine, Walpole, ME, 04573, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: K.A. Feehan, School of Marine Sciences, Darling Marine Center, The University of Maine, Walpole, ME, 04573, USA email: keriafeehan@gmail.com
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Abstract

This study examined the reproductive ecology of eight Eastern Pacific deep-sea octocorals, collected from Washington to Southern California. The sexuality, reproductive mode, oocyte size, and fecundity of each species were identified using histological techniques. This research increases the knowledge of basic life histories of deep-sea corals. Swiftia simplex had the highest total fecundity of 42.53 (±9.82 SE) oocytes per polyp. Mean oocyte diameters in S. simplex and S. pacifica females differs among sample months. Swiftia pacifica and S. kofoidi had the lowest total fecundity: 4.6 (±2.06 SE) and 3 (±1.53 SE) oocytes per polyp, respectively.

Keywords

cold-water coralsdeep-seaEastern Pacificreproductionfecundity
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 95 , Issue 4 , June 2015 , pp. 691 - 696
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2015 

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