Mesenterial filaments of the black coral <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cirrhipathes</Emphasis> cfr. <Emphasis Type="Italic">anguina</Emphasis> provide a home to developing nauplii |
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Authors: | Francesca Scoccia Elda Gaino |
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Institution: | 1.Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Ambientale,Università degli Studi di Perugia,Perugia,Italy;2.Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Ambientale,Perugia,Italy |
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Abstract: | Inspection of two female colonies of the monopodial black coral Cirrhipathes cfr. anguina from the coral reef of the Marine Park of Bunaken (Indonesia) revealed the occurrence of crustacean developing eggs within
the mesenterial filaments of the polyps. Egg diameter, which in the smallest gametes was about 50–60 μm, increased in tandem
with embryo development, reaching the value of 170 μm, at the nauplius stage. The attribution to the crustacean taxon was
derived from morphological investigations carried out in light and electron microscopy (TEM, SEM) on the eggs and on the embryos
removed from them. The final stage of nauplius was characterised by three pairs of appendages: uniramouse antennulae, biramouse
antennae and manidibulae. In addition, naupliar eye and caudal setae were also evident. These nauplii were ascribed to the
larval stage of an unidentified species. Coral/copepod association could represent a reproductive strategy, put into action
by some marine copepods. Incubation within an appropriate host prevents predation by planktotrophic organisms, thus reducing
population depletion. |
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