Sexual and reproductive traits of Hypania invalida (Polychaeta,Ampharetidae): a remarkable invasive species in Central European waterways

1. The Ponto‐Caspian polychaete Hypania invalida (Archiv für Naturgeschichte, 1860, 26, 109) is undergoing rapid range expansion in the Rhine and other central European waterways. We examined its reproductive traits in an attempt to account for its remarkable invasive success. 2. For the first time in this species, we found males, dioecy (gonochorism) and an exclusively sexual mode of reproduction; no indication for hermaphroditism or (unisexual) parthenogenesis, that could explain the rapid range expansion of H. invalida, was found. 3. Our experimental evidence shows that H. invalida reproduces by males discharging their sperm into the water column while eggs are retained and fertilised in the female dwelling tubes. This mode of ‘spermcast’ reproduction is common in sessile benthic animals on wave‐washed shores. 4. Fecundity of H. invalida ranged between 60 and 260 eggs per clutch and is increased by iteroparity (i.e. multiple cycles of oogenesis and egg‐laying per specimen). Offspring are brooded for about 2 weeks before they leave the maternal dwelling tubes and disperse in the water column. 5. After connection to a supply of Rhine water, sediments in flumes were rapidly colonised up to a density of 12 000 ind. m^?2 via the settlement of small larvae (<300 μm) from the water column; these reached sexual maturity approximately 12 weeks after settlement. 6. The reproductive traits of H. invalida give the species a high rate of dispersal. The capacity of its larvae to survive passage through pumps before settlement enables them to travel in the ballast water of ships. This might explain the upstream expansion of H. invalida in rivers. We conclude that further range expansion, and especially intercontinental transport of this polychaete, can only be prevented by improved ballast water treatment.     

The population ecology of gammarus tigrinus (sexton) in the reed beds of the Tjeukemeer

The population ecology of Gammarus tigrinus (Sexton) was studied in the Tjeukemeer during 1969 and 1970. G. tigrinus reaches very high densities — up to 24,000/m² in parts of the study area. In 1970, the summer densities were 2–21/2 times greater than in 1969. Individuals do not grow to such large sizes in the summer as at other times of the year. Females begin to carry eggs in March or April and reproduction ceases in November. Large females have larger broods than smaller animals and the average size of the brood varies with the time of year. The egg incubation period and growth rate are dependent upon temperature. At summer temperatures females became sexually mature after about four weeks and the egg incubation period is about io days. The entire population is turned over about three times during the year. A combination of rapid growth rate, early onset of sexual maturity and high fecundity are probably responsible for the rapid spread of G. tigrinus throughout much of the Netherlands.     

Population structure and reproductive biology of Atlantoscia floridana (van Name, 1940) (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) in southern Brazil

Data were obtained on the population structure and reproduction of Atlantoscia floridana, one of the most common species of terrestrial isopods in the restinga (coastal dune) forests of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. During a 19-month period, a total of 7833 individuals were sampled: 2792 males, 3400 females and 1691 mancas. There was a significant difference between the size of both males and females collected in 2000 and 2001: the mean size was smaller in the second year when individuals in the larger size classes were lacking. Population density varied with season. The minimum population was 131 ind per m² individuals, the maximum 1040 ind per m² and the mean 450  per m². While the overall sex ratio was clearly female biased, the operational sex ratio favored males, and showed no changes with season. Because both ovigerous and post-ovigerous females were present throughout the year, reproduction is considered continuous; however, reproduction peaked during autumn and spring. Ovigerous females were measured (CW = cephalothorax width) and the number of eggs was counted. Fecundity (F) varied from 5 to 23 eggs ( = 11.18 ± 4) per female, and was expressed by the regression F = –18.48 + 22.59 CW, with the female cephalothorax width varying from 1.04 to 1.68 mm. Marsupial mortality was only 0.9%. Egg production was 588 eggs per m² in spring and 660 eggs per m² in autumn. Recruitment occurred in all months, and eggs, embryos and marsupial mancas were also present year-round. A. floridana is the dominant species of terrestrial isopod in the study area. Its most remarkable characteristic is its high reproductive investment.     

Spawning frequency, fecundity, egg weight and spawning type of silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen) (Stromateidae), in Kuwait waters

Silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus, were collected by fishing with drift gillnets on one spawning ground in Kuwait waters during 1998–2000. Fish size frequency, sex ratio, maturation cycle, spawning frequency, fecundity and egg weight were assessed. The length–weight relationship differed between sexes whereby females were significantly bigger than males. Spawning started in mid‐May and continued until early October. During this time the water temperature ranged from 26.0 to 32.8°C, salinity was ? 39.0‰ and water depth ranged between 5 and 12 m. Large females spawned earlier than young spawners and the overall percentage of males during the spawning period was 70.3%. Spawning occurred after 13.00 h, with peak spawning between 15.00 and 18.00 hours during outgoing tide. Mean daily spawning frequency amounted to 63.2%. Spawning activity was found to be associated with the lunar cycle and spawnings were concentrated during the first and third quarters of the moon period, indicating a semilunar reproduction cycle. It was concluded that a female would spawn at least six times during the season. No change was observed in relative fecundity during the peak spawning season (June–August). Average relative batch fecundity was 176.3 eggs g^?1 somatic weight (SW), corresponding to a relative total fecundity of 1058 eggs g^?1 SW, which is 1.5 times higher than estimates obtained from counting the standing stock of oocytes. Bigger fish produced heavier eggs and the egg weight decreased as the spawning season progressed. Based on gonadal cycles, oocyte size frequency distribution and total fecundity, we concluded that silver pomfret is a multiple batch spawner with indeterminate fecundity.     

Effects of maternal age on reproductive traits and fitness components of the offspring in the bruchid beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

In many insect species, the size and number of eggs decrease with maternal age. Thus, both the size and number of eggs must be considered to know the exact cost of reproduction with maternal age. The resource depletion hypothesis was examined in the bruchid beetle Callosobruchus chinensis. The hypothesis explains why the egg size decreases with maternal age based on the decline of the female's reproductive capacity. A decrease was found in reproductive effort (= egg size × the number of eggs) and the fitness component of offspring with maternal age. The effects of the female's nutritional status on the relationship between maternal age and the reproductive effort of females with and without food and water were also examined. The results indicate that the decrease in size and number of eggs with maternal age can be explained by the resource depletion hypothesis in C. chinensis.     

Beiträge zur Biologie von Lutjanus analis (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1828) (Lutjanidae,Perciformes, Pisces) an der kolumbianischen Atlantikküste

Investigations on the biology of the red snapper Lutjanus analis (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1828) were made in three different areas along the Colombian Atlantic Coast. Egg counting was carried out on 16 females. The numbers of eggs were correlated with the length and the weight of the fish. The results are presented in graphs, average values and regression equations. To find the best mathematical relation between the fecundity, the length and the weight, linear and exponential equations were used. The best approximation to the relation between the number of eggs and the weight of the individuals was calculated by the parabola equation F = 20803 × G^0.303, whereas the relation between the number of eggs and the length of the animals was most closely approached by the parabola equation F = 2922 × L^1.1. Juvenile red snappers of a total length of 10 to 40 cm are very common in shallow-water grass beds. The adult fishes migrate to offshore reefs and into deeper waters. The sex ratio of the red snapper was about equal in all catches. The largest fishes we have found were males.     

One clutch or two clutches? Fitness correlates of coexisting alternative female life-histories in the European earwig

Whether to reproduce once or multiple times (semelparity vs. iteroparity) is a major life-history decision that organisms have to take. Mode of parity is usually considered a species characteristic. However, recent models suggested that population properties or condition-dependent fitness payoffs could help to maintain both life-history tactics within populations. In arthropods, semelparity was also hypothesised to be a critical pre-adaptation for the evolution of maternal care, semelparous females being predicted to provide more care due to the absence of costs on future reproduction. The aim of this study was to characterize potential fitness payoffs and levels of maternal care in semel- and itero-parous females of the European earwig Forficula auricularia. Based on 15 traits measured in 494 females and their nymphs, our results revealed that iteroparous females laid their first clutch earlier, had more eggs in their first clutch, gained more weight during the 2 weeks following hatching of the first clutch, but produced eggs that developed more slowly than semelparous females. Among iteroparous females, the sizes of first and second clutches were significantly and positively correlated, indicating no investment trade-off between reproductive events. Iteroparous females also provided more food than semelparous ones, a result contrasting with predictions that iteroparity is incompatible with the evolution of maternal care. Finally, a controlled breeding experiment reported full mating compatibility among offspring from females of the two modes of parity, confirming that both types of females belong to one single species. Overall, these results indicate that alternative modes of parity represent coexisting life-history tactics that are likely to be condition-dependent and associated with offspring development and specific levels of maternal care in earwigs.     

Resting stages in the life cycle of Eudiaptomus graciloides (Lill.) (Copepoda: Calanoida) in Lake Glubokoe

Seasonal changes in the abundance, age composition, vertical distribution, lipid and protein body content, development rates in the older copepodids (CIV and CV) and reproduction characteristics were studied in Eudiaptomus graciloides in the mesotrophic Lake Glubokoe (Moscow) region). Two periods of reproduction were observed: spring and late summer/autumn. The older copepodids, having accumulated lipid reserves during phytoplankton bloom, descended into the meta- and hypolimnion at the beginning of the summer. These copepods did not feed, but instead consumed their lipid reserves. A considerable delay in development (up to 40-60 days) of CIVs and CVs was found. The descended CIVs and CVs incubated under ambient temperature developed 4-5 times slower than their surface counterparts, while temperature dependence could only account for a 2-fold slow down. The descended copepods are believed to form a summer resting stock. In October, females began to produce resting eggs. The period of switching from subitaneous to resting egg production was very brief, not longer than 2-3 weeks. The percentage of subitaneous eggs produced in mid-October tended to increase when females were exposed to an increased photoperiod. At the beginning of February, latent eggs kept in a cooling container in the darkness started hatching. This process could be speeded up under natural photoperiod and increased temperature. The over-wintering population consisted largely of adults. Thus, E.graciloides includes three types of diapause in the life cycle: resting eggs, summer resting stage at CIV-CV, and overwintering adults.      

Maternal effects, conspecific chemical cues, and switching from parthenogenesis to gametogenesis in the cladoceran Moina macrocopa

The change in reproductive mode from parthenogenesis to gametogenesis in Cladocera is controlled by multiple environmental cues. Maternal effects are involved in the control of reproductive switching. In this study, we estimated the readiness of Moina macrocopa females to change reproduction mode under the effect of conspecific chemicals on maternal and offspring generations. The results demonstrated that information about the chemical environment was not transmitted between generations (none of the females produced diapausing eggs in the control medium irrespective of their mothers' environment). Differences in maternal energetic investments were not significant, hence the maternal environment did not affect the fecundity. However, tested animals adapted to the effect of the diapause inducing factor. When offspring of mothers cultured in crowded water were also cultured in crowded water (the constant effect of conspecific chemicals), they switched less readily to gametogenesis than offsprings of mothers cultured in fresh medium.     

Mating systems of two midwater-spawning cichlids,Cyprichromis microlepidotus andParacyprichromis brieni,in Lake Tanganyika

The breeding habits of 2 maternal mouthbrooding cichlids,Cyprichromis microlepidotus andParacyprichromis brieni, were investigated in Lake Tanganyika. Although spawning on the substrate in the male's mating territory is prevalent in maternal mouthbrooders, bothC. microlepidotus andP. brieni spawned in the water column. MaleC. microlepidotus established their mating territories in the open water column, while maleP. brieni did so around fixed spawning sites near a vertical rock surface. In both species, females visited male mating territories, departing soon after spawning and collecting the eggs. Sneaking, which was observed only inP. brieni, may be attributed to the presence of refuges for sneakers in this species. FemaleC. microlepidotus deposited their entire clutch of about 9 eggs in one male territory. In contrast, femaleP. brieni divided their clutch of about 11 eggs among several males. After the final egg-release, femaleC. microlepidotus repeatedly approached their mate, with the mouth near the abdomen of the latter (nuzzling), but femaleP. brieni often departed without nuzzling. Males may eject sperm during nuzzling to fertilize eggs inside the female's mouth. However, maleP. brieni is also known to eject sperm near spawning females when the females are not nuzzling. Such behavior seems to be a male countermeasure against female mate infidelity, because males could not ensure paternity of eggs by ejecting sperm only during female nuzzling.     

Effects of egg removal on maternal aggression,biogenic amines,and stress indicators in ovigerous lobsters (Homarus americanus)

In many disparate taxa, including crayfish, a freshwater decapod crustacean, the presence of one’s offspring has been shown to be an important variable in the level of maternal aggression. Ovigerous American lobsters (Homarus americanus) show a territorial advantage against nonmaternal females, even though no posthatch care is provided. The eggs are attached to the pleopods (swimmerets) throughout embryogenesis. We evaluated the effect of stripping ovigerous H. americanus females of their eggs on maternal territoriality. In one treatment group, maternal females were stripped of all eggs. Twelve days later, including being individually isolated for an additional 48?h in a test tank, each resident was serially intruded upon by 4 non-maternal conspecific females. An identically treated control group of ovigerous female residents was left intact prior to the serial intrusions. Various biochemical parameters of the stripped and unstripped animals were measured before and after the experimental treatment (or control). The behavioral modulators measured were the biogenic amines, octopamine and serotonin, and the stress indicators were a heat-shock protein (HSP70), methyl farnesoate, and crustacean hyperglycemic hormone. The intact ovigerous residents showed a significant territorial advantage over the intruders, whereas the contest outcomes of stripped residents were reduced to chance. The presence of eggs in maternal H. americanus is therefore necessary for the maintenance of the shelter-related territorial advantage. However, no significant differences in any of the biochemical parameters were observed between or within treatment conditions. It appears that these amines are not prominently involved in the mechanism of maternal aggression, and that these changes in territorial defense are not simply due to changes in general stress as a result of stripping the females of their eggs.     

Mating and prey stage affecting life history,reproduction and life table of the predacious mite Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

Two factors were examined to determine their effect on the life history, reproduction and life table parameters in the predacious mite Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) in the laboratory. The factors studied included multiple mating and various prey stages of Tetranychus urticae Koch. When females fed on mixed actives (protonymphs and deutonymphs) of T. urticae, the fecundity of females mated more than once was 1.7 times higher than in females mated only once, also oviposition period and adult longevity was longer. The adult longevity and life span of P. macropilis were similar when fed on mixed actives, eggs (0 – 24-h-old) and (0 – 48-h-old) of T. urticae, while both periods were increased and reproduction was higher when fed on older eggs (72 – 96-h-old) of T. urticae. The total number of eggs deposited by females was significantly higher on eggs of (various ages) than on mixed actives of T. urticae. Life table parameters showed that a diet of (72 – 96-h-old) eggs of T. urticae provided the longest generation time (11.066 days) and female longevity (33.54 days) as well as the highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm = 0.36755) and greatest total fecundity which resulted in the highest net reproductive rate (Ro = 58.4136) value. The adult female consumed daily an average of 6.8 mixed actives of T. urticae during its life cycle, while it was increased to 13.6 during the oviposition period. The daily (72 – 96-h-old) eggs of T. urticae consumed by female P. macropilis during its life cycle and adult longevity was significantly higher than that recorded on either (0 – 24-h-old) or (0 – 48-h-old) eggs of T. urticae.     

Growth and life history traits of Aegean chub,Squalius fellowesii (Günther, 1868) in streams in Muğla Province,Aegean coast,Turkey

To aid in species' conservation, the aim of this study was to provide initial findings on age, growth and reproduction of an endemic species, Aegean chub Squalius fellowesii (Günther, 1868) populations from streams in the Aegean region of Mu?la Province, Turkey. The species is relatively short‐lived (maximum 6 years), attaining a size of about 200 mm total length with a rapid growth to first maturity (≈60 mm TL), and relatively little growth thereafter. The male:female ratio was 1.0 : 0.6, males significantly outnumbering females in the majority of the streams. General condition values of individual fish varied between 2.9 and 3.4. Sexual maturity was usually achieved later and at larger sizes in females than in males. Sexual maturation in most populations was at the age of 2 years in females and 1 year in males. The species spawns between early April and late May. Mean absolute and relative fecundity were about 4440 eggs and 57 eggs·g^?1, respectively. Mean egg diameter was 1.00 ± 0.03 mm, ranging from 0.70 to 1.20 mm. Suggestions for the conservation of Aegean chub are discussed.     

A Sex-Specific, Temperature-Sensitive Maternal Effect of the Daughterless Mutation of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Every aspect of the phenotype of the daughterless (2–41.5) maternal effect mutation was found to be strongly temperature sensitive. Above 22°, da/da mothers produced no daughters; however female progeny did survive the da maternal effect if the last 60 hours of oogenesis and the first three hours of embryonic development took place at 18°. The females which survived under these conditions displayed morphological abnormalities in a variety of adult cuticular structures, characteristic of cell death during development. In contrast, their male siblings were morphologically normal. Upon prolonged exposure to 29°, da/da females became sterile but continued to lay eggs. Some sexually mosaic progeny from da/da mothers survived even at 25°, but the distribution and development of the female tissue in these mosaics were abnormal. It is suggested that there are multiple functions of the da⁺ gene during oogenesis, one of which may be required specifically for the subsequent survival of female cells throughout the embryo. In addition to and distinct from its effect during oogenesis, the da mutation acted in both sexes of progeny as a recessive temperature-sensitive lethal mutation with a TSP during the first half of embryonic development.     

Biennial reproduction with embryonic diapause in Lopholithodes foraminatus (Anomura: Lithodidae) from British Columbia waters

Abstract. A paucity of data on the reproductive cycle of crabs in the family Lithodidae inhibits both the development of management strategies and the formulation of hypotheses regarding the evolution of lithodid life histories. Life‐history parameters of Lopholithodes foraminatus from British Columbia, Canada, were investigated based on 26 females maintained in the laboratory and supplementary observations on other living and preserved animals. The rate of embryonic development was determined by measuring the percentage area occupied by yolk in lateral views of eggs removed from brooding females throughout development. Females of L. foraminatus exhibited biennial reproduction including an 18‐month brooding period. Females molted, mated, and extruded eggs in mid‐summer, and did not release larvae until late winter or early spring of the second year after fertilization. Embryogenesis included a 12‐month diapause at the gastrula stage. Females released larvae over a mean interval of 69 d, the longest reported for any lithodid. While the development stage of embryos was observed to be heterogeneous within a brood, no spatial gradient in development rate was observed, calling into question the oxygen limitation hypothesis of extended hatching. Biennial reproduction of individuals of L. foraminatus may be a consequence of a relatively low‐quality habitat. Relative to annual reproduction, biennial reproduction halves the potential rate of increase of a population and increases vulnerability to overharvesting, suggesting that L. foraminatus is not a good candidate for commercial exploitation. The adaptive value of embryonic diapause is uncertain and warrants further research.     

Size-specific spawing pattern in ayu,Plecoglossus altivelis

The spawning pattern and relationship to body size at maturation of amphidromous and land-locked forms of ayu,Plecoglossus altivelis, was investigated. Ovarian eggs of prespawning females showed a multimodal size distribution, regardles of body size, indicating that all the females were potentially a batch spawners. The spawning schedules of individual fish were described under simulated spawning conditions. Most large-sized females died soon after their first spawning, whereas approximately half of the medium and small-sized females successfully completed a second spawning some two weeks after the first. Such a size-specific spawning pattern was common to both forms, but development of a third batch of ovarian eggs after the second spawning occurred only in the land-locked form. Spawning tactics in ayu were related to offspring survival and adult mortality during spawning season.     

Faithful vertical transmission but ineffective horizontal transmission of bacterial endosymbionts during sexual reproduction of the black bean aphid,Aphis fabae

1. Insects are commonly infected with bacterial endosymbionts. In addition to the costs and benefits associated with harbouring these symbionts, their rates of vertical and horizontal transmission are important determinants of symbiont prevalence. 2. Aphids are cyclical parthenogens and show virtually perfect maternal transmission of endosymbionts during asexual reproduction. Less clear is the role of the annual sexual generation, during which overwintering eggs are produced. Data from pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) suggest that maternal transmission failures and horizontal transmission via males may occur under sexual reproduction at least occasionally. No such data exist for other aphid species. 3. In the present study, the rates of maternal and paternal transmission of facultative endosymbionts during sexual reproduction in the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae (Scopoli) were examined. Crosses were performed between clones infected with Hamiltonella defensa, clones infected with Regiella insecticola and clones without facultative endosymbionts, and eggs were overwintered under three different conditions. 4. Only one of 205 offspring from crosses testing for maternal transmission failed to inherit the symbiont present in the maternal clone, and in crosses testing for horizontal transmission, only one of 412 offspring acquired a facultative symbiont from the father. 5. These results show that in A. fabae, maternal transmission of H. defensa and R. insecticola is extremely reliable also during sexual reproduction, indicating that maternal transmission failures are unlikely to exert a significant influence on frequencies of infection in the field. Paternal transmission of endosymbionts was exceedingly rare, suggesting that this route of horizontal transmission may be less important than hitherto assumed.     

Susceptibility of the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) to isolates of the fungus Beauveria bassiana

The susceptibility of the tick Boophilus microplus to Beauveria bassiana was evaluated by inoculating eggs, larvae and engorged females of the tick with five fungal isolates at concentrations of 10⁶, 10⁷ and 10⁸ conidia/ml. Tick eggs (0.25 g) were immersed in 1 ml of a suspension of the different conidial concentrations for 1 min. Similar exposure was performed by immersion of 2000 larvae and homogeneous groups of nine engorged females in 2 and 20 ml of conidial suspension, respectively. Treated eggs, larvae and adults were placed in an incubator at 27 ± 1 °C and relative humidity above 80% for evaluation of the fungal action. All fungal isolates applied at all conidial concentrations reduced the hatching rate of larvae from treated eggs by 1.36–65.58% and increased the mortality rate of inoculated larvae by 0.8–70.49%. In the bioassay with engorged females, oviposition period was reduced by 9.69–47.80%, egg mass weight by 4.71–53.87%, estimated reproduction by 8.3–60.62%, egg production index by 5.03–54.20%, percent larval hatching by 0.27–13.96%, and the mortality rate of treated females was increased by 96.60–100%. The reduction of the estimated reproduction obtained for the treated groups ranged from 8.37 to 64.52%. The sporulation of the pathogen on dead females ranged from 3.70 to 88.88% depending on the isolate and concentration used. Isolates AM 09, CB 7 and JAB 07 were the most effective and effectiveness increased with increasing concentrations of conidia in the suspensions.     

Shell occupation as a limiting factor for Pagurus brevidactylus (Stimpson, 1859) in the Marine State Park of Laje de Santos,Brazil

Hermit crabs are soft-abdomen decapods. They depend upon gastropod shells for protection, with the latter influencing growth rate, mortality and reproduction. The present work aims to provide information about the biology and reproduction of Pagurus brevidactylus in a conservation area in Brazilian southeastern littoral. The material was sampled through active searching by SCUBA diving and refuge traps. We analyzed population structure, fecundity, reproductive output (RO), reproductive periodicity and shell utilization for P. brevidactylus. In total, 54 males, 18 non-ovigerous females, 34 ovigerous females and 10 juveniles were sampled. The females had a fecundity of 69.5 ± 65 eggs, which was lower than that compared to other populations from different localities. The RO ranged from 1.48% to 63.04%, with a mean of 26.75 ± 18.23%. There was a positive relationship between egg number and female size. The animals had continuous reproduction, but they reached smaller maximum sizes when compared with other populations. The shell occupation pattern was also different from other localities, the shells of Phrontis alba being the most occupied; this shell has a smaller size when compared to others that P. brevidactylus occupies in other localities. Therefore, P. alba could have had limited the growth and reproduction of P. brevidactylus.     

First observations on egg release in the oviparous sponge Chondrilla nucula (Demospongiae, Chondrosida, Chondrillidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. The reproduction of the demosponge Chondrilla nucula in Portofino (Ligurian Sea, Italy) was studied during August 2001. Eighteen individuals were sampled and examined with light microscopy for the presence of gametes, and 5 individuals carrying oocytes were found. In addition to microscopic observations, reproductive individuals could be easily identified as female even at the macroscopic level because of the presence of a grayish layer in the mesohyl where oocytes were concentrated. Oogenesis resulted in modifications of the external sponge morphology and of the aquiferous system. Approximately one‐third of the sponge body was filled with oocytes with the consequent disappearance of choanocyte chambers in the reproductive portion of the sponge. Under laboratory conditions, we obtained fertilized eggs from females and observed the first stages of embryonic development. Our observations suggest that fertilization in specimens of Chondrilla nucula occurs internally and not in the water. During the 2 years following these observations, no reproductive specimens were found among the same population during the reported reproductive period.