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Sexual reproduction of the Prochloron-bearing ascidians, Trididemnum cyclops and Lissoclinum bistratum, in subtropical waters: seasonality and vertical transmission of photosymbionts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 January 2006

Euichi Hirose ,
Ryuma Adachi  and
Koji Kuze
Euichi Hirose
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Ryuma Adachi
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Koji Kuze
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
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Abstract

The seasonality of sexual reproduction was studied in two Prochloron-bearing ascidians, Trididemnum cyclops and Lissoclinum bistratum, on a subtropical coral reef off Okinawajima Island, Japan. These colonial ascidians had testes and/or eggs/embryos from spring to summer. Embryos with tails occurred in summer. Whereas many photosymbiotic didemnids are thought to be sexually mature throughout the year in the tropics, sexual reproduction of the same species in subtropical waters may be limited to spring and summer. The subtropical winter may be too cold for gonad formation. A histological study of sexually mature colonies showed no Prochloron cells attached to ascidian larvae in the pre-hatch stage.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 86 , Issue 1 , February 2006 , pp. 175 - 179
Copyright
2006 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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