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Fertilization Strategies

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Marine Hard Bottom Communities

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 206))

Abstract

For marine species that live attached to hard substrata, fertilisation of their gametes can present particular problems, from density-dependence in internal fertilizers, to many diverse constraints on the vast majority of species that broadcast gametes to the water column. This chapter reviews the data, the leading hypotheses, and the controversies in this topic, focusing on unresolved issues and future directions. We describe many convergent adaptations to increase fertilisation success in a variety of rocky shore taxa, supporting the assertion that in the still active debate between sperm limitation and sperm competition as leading factors, both sides play essential roles in driving the ecology and evolution of fertilisation in rocky shore species. The balance between these competing selective pressures has shaped the patterns we see today in rocky substratum taxa, and understanding how these evolve presents exciting prospects for future marine fertilisation research.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Most internal fertilizers are capable of only limited self-fertilization.

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Acknowledgements

This chapter was improved by helpful suggestions (on a previous longer version) from Susan Brawley, Don Levitan and Phil Yund—thank you to all. The author order for the chapter is based on a head-or-tail decision (because of equal contribution) … we thank Kerstin Johannesson for tossing the coin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CCMAR-CIMAR, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Gambelas, Faro, Portugal

    Ester A. Serrão

  2. Department of Marine Ecology, Tjärnö, University of Gothenburg, 45296, Stromstad, Sweden

    Jon Havenhand

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  1. Ester A. Serrão
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  2. Jon Havenhand
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Correspondence to Ester A. Serrão .

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    Serrão, E.A., Havenhand, J. (2009). Fertilization Strategies. In: Wahl, M. (eds) Marine Hard Bottom Communities. Ecological Studies, vol 206. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/b76710_10

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