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Reproduction of Ophiactis resiliens (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in New South Wales with observations on recruitment

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Abstract

Reproduction of the ophiuroid Ophiactis resiliens Lyman 1879, a common species in the shallow waters around Australia, was examined over 1 year in two populations near Sydney, New South Wales. Gametogenesis was documented by histological examination of the gonads. Vitellogenesis in females and spermatocyte proliferation in males started in February and March. O. resiliens had an annual spawning period from May to September/October with peak gamete release from May to July. Thereafter, spawning occurred in some specimens through November. Gravid gonads were present for approximately 2 months longer in O. resiliens from Clovelly Bay than in those from Little Bay. At both sites spawning was episodic and gametogenesis continued through most of the spawning season. Most specimens (50–100%) collected from November to March had indeterminate/recovery stage gonads, the sex of which, could not be determined. The timing of gametogenic renewal during these months varied among individuals. O. resiliens has a 3-month planktonic stage and the presence of juveniles, 0.5 –1.5 mm disk diameter, in the coralline algal turf at Little Bay from February to May, suggests that settlement occurs in summer and autumn at this site. In contrast, juveniles were rarely encountered in coralline turf at Clovelly.

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Acknowledgements

R Smith, M Siddwell and J Potts provided technical assistance. P and J Selvakumaraswamy, G Cocco and M Siddwell helped with collection. M Kulmar, Manly Hydraulics Lab, is thanked for the sea-temperature data. P Cisternas commented on an early draft of the manuscript. Thanks also to three anonymous reviewers. Financial support was provided by the Australian Research Council.

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  1. Department of Anatomy and Histology, F13, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney, Australia

    I. Falkner & M. Byrne

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  1. I. Falkner
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  2. M. Byrne
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Correspondence to I. Falkner.

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Communicated by G.F. Humphrey, Sydney

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Falkner, I., Byrne, M. Reproduction of Ophiactis resiliens (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) in New South Wales with observations on recruitment. Marine Biology 143, 459–466 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1066-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-003-1066-z

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