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Reproduction of the anthozoan Anemonia sulcata (Pennant, 1777) in southern Spain: from asexual reproduction to putative maternal care

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Abstract

Anemonia sulcata (Pennant, 1777) is a common shallow water cnidarian from rocky platform and boulder beaches in southern Spain, where it is a popular seafood item with an increasing fishery. To aid in the management of a sustainable fishery, a study on the reproduction of A. sulcata in the littoral of Malaga (southern Spain) was performed from November 2014 to September 2015, using histological methods. A total of 123 specimens were examined, with a size range (as diameter of the pedal disc) from 1.1 to 48.2 mm. The sex ratio was significantly biased to females, with 1.7 females: 1 male (χ2 = 4.45, p < 0.01). The spermatozoids and oocytes arise from the endodermal cells. The mature oocytes receive nutritive filaments (trophonema) from the endoderm cells. There were zooxanthellae in the mesenteries, tentacles and also inside the oocytes. A gastrula was observed in one individual, as well as several planula larvae in different degree of development in others. Asexual reproduction by internal budding was observed in some individuals. The studied population showed an extended reproductive cycle with a peak of spawning in April. The size and weight of sexual maturity of the studied population were 21.5 mm and 16.5 g, respectively. A positive significant correlation was observed between size and weight of individuals. We suggest that the diameter of the pedal disc should be used as the legal parameter for the management of this fishery, as this measurement is easier to take by fishermen at sea than the weight, the current legal parameter.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Cristina Lucena Serrano and Gregorio Martin Caballero, technicians of the SCAI (Servicios Centrales de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad de Málaga) for helping in sample processing for Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy respectively. Special thanks are given to Serge Gofas (Dept. Biología Animal, Universidad de Malaga) for helping with the illustrations.

Funding

Field work and laboratory procedures have been supported by the Department of Animal Biology of the University of Malaga (Spain).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29071, Málaga, Spain

    Olga Utrilla, Juan Diego Castro-Claros & Carmen Salas

  2. Centro Oceanográfico de Fuengirola, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29640, Fuengirola, Spain

    Javier Urra

  3. Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Universidad de Málaga, 29071, Málaga, Spain

    Francisco David Navas

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  1. Olga Utrilla
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Correspondence to Carmen Salas.

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Utrilla, O., Castro-Claros, J.D., Urra, J. et al. Reproduction of the anthozoan Anemonia sulcata (Pennant, 1777) in southern Spain: from asexual reproduction to putative maternal care. Mar Biol 166, 111 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3558-5

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