Effects of food availability on the sexual reproduction and biochemical composition of the Mediterranean gorgonian Paramuricea clavata
Authors
Gori, A. (Andrea); Linares, C. (Cristina); Viladrich, N. (Nuria); Clavero, A. (Ana); Orejas, C. (Covadonga); Fiorillo, I. (Ida); Ambroso, S. (Stefano); Gili, J.M. (Josep Maria); Rossi, S. (Sergio)Date
2013Type
articleKeywords
Biochemical compositionEnergy storage
Gorgonian
Mediterranean Sea
Reproduction
Abstract
Food availability strongly affects the ecology and physiology of coral and gorgonian species, as well as their resistance to stress factors. Since the resources available to these species must be allocated among the energy-costly processes of maintenance, regeneration, growth and reproduction, a reduction in food availability is expected to negatively influence these processes. Here, we show evidence that starvation induces a significant decrease in the gonadal volume produced by the Mediterranean asymbiotic gorgonian Paramuricea clavata, with a differential effect on male and female colonies. Fed and starved female colonies produced the same number of oocytes per polyp, but the oocytes were significantly smaller in the starved colonies. Conversely, the spermaries showed the same size in fed and starved male colonies, but fewer spermaries per polyp were produced in the starved colonies. The percentage of organic matter in the coenenchyme of the fed colonies did not change during the ...