Abstract
Although the quality of the spermatozoa is a key factor for reproductive success, there is few information describing the sperm quality for most marine invertebrates, especially corals. Given the high mortality rates and several threats currently faced by coral reefs, ways of assessing coral spermatozoa viability are needed. Thus, in this study we proposed a morphological classification for coral spermatozoa using Mussismilia harttii as model. In addition, we evaluated the relationship of morphology with the percentage and duration of motility. Spermatozoa were first classified into two main morphological categories: normal and abnormal. Then, we classified morphological abnormalities in the head and flagellum together with proposing subcategories that better described it. In general, 68.77 ± 6.50% of the spermatozoa had their whole structure intact, while 31.23 ± 6.51% had morphological abnormalities. Most abnormalities were in the flagellum (five types in total), while only two abnormalities were located in the head. Coiled flagellum and shortened flagellum were the most representative abnormalities, accounting for 24% of the total detected. We observed that reduction of sperm motility is directly related to increased morphological abnormalities and they are influenced by the cell ageing. Our results reinforce how the characterization of sperm morphology can be a practical and useful tool that can help to better understand the effects of multiple stressors on coral reproduction.
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The data generated and analysed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
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Acknowledgements
Coral Vivo Project and its sponsors, Petrobras, through the Petrobras Socioambiental Program, and Arraial d’Ajuda Eco Parque are acknowledged for funding field research and for the use of their research facilities. We are grateful for the funding support from Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection. We acknowledge the Experimental Laboratory of Physiology and Behavior of Aquatic Animals (LEFCAQ) of the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) for the use of laboratory facilities. AA was granted a master scholarship from CAPES-Brazil (88882.365917/2019-01). WV was granted a field-research scholarship from the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (Funbio) and Instituto Humanize (N° 121/2019). LG is a research fellow from CNPq-Brazil (310463/2018-1).
Funding
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, 88882.365917/2019-01,Amanda Amaral, Brazilian Biodivesity Fund,121/2019, Wanderson Valente,Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico,310463/2018-1,Leandro Godoy, Fundação Grupo Boticário de Proteção à Natureza, 1138/2018-2, Leandro Godoy.
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AA, LG and YP designed the study; AA, LG, YP and CP performed the experiments; AA and WV performed morphological and morphometric analysis and graphic illustration; and all authors contributed to the manuscript.
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The authors declare that all applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for sampling, care and experimental use of animals for the study have been followed, all and necessary approvals by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation – ICMBio (SISBIO N° 63368–1) have been obtained.
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Amaral, A., Pastrana, Y., Pereira, C. et al. Morphological assessment of free-spawned sperm in scleractinian coral: a relationship between cell morphology and motility. Mar Biol 169, 136 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-022-04124-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-022-04124-w