Reproductive biology of the starfishPharia pyramidatus(Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from the Mexican tropical Pacific
- 19 April 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
- Vol. 92 (6), 1409-1418
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025315412000070
Abstract
The starfishPharia pyramidatusis a tropical species of high ecological importance, mainly because of its role as generalist predator. Nevertheless, there are no studies about its reproduction. This study analysed the reproductive biology ofP. pyramidatusbased on monthly time-series samples from April 2008 to March 2009 at Isla Montosa in the Mexican tropical Pacific. The gonad index (GI), and pyloric caecum index (PCI) were determined and the results were corroborated by histological examination of the gonads.Pharia pyramidatusis a gonochoric asteroid and the ratio of males to females was not significantly different throughout the year. Gametogenesis showed high synchrony among males and females and five stages were recognized for both sexes. Spawning occurred from July to September. Maximum oocyte size was ~150μm and mean fecundity was 7.3 ± 1.2 millions of oocytes per female. GI and PCI showed seasonal variations and an inverse relationship from May to August. Sea-bottom temperature and photoperiod showed a direct relationship with GI, and apparently constitute the proximate causes of the seasonal reproductive pattern observed inP. pyramidatus, while the highly seasonal rainfall and strong upwelling probably act as ultimate causes.Keywords
This publication has 33 references indexed in Scilit:
- Reproductive patterns of the abyssal asteroid Styracaster elongatus from the N.E. Atlantic OceanDeep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 2010
- Photoperiodic regulation of gametogenesis in the Antarctic sea starOdontaster validusKoehler: Evidence for a circannual rhythm modulated by lightInvertebrate Reproduction & Development, 2002
- ANTARCTIC AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS AS HABITATS FOR PHYTOPLANKTONBiological Reviews, 1986
- The reproductive biology of Plutonaster Bifrons, Dytaster Insigns and Psilaster Andromeda (Asteroidea: Astropectinidae) from the Rockall TroughJournal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 1982
- The annual reproductive cycle of Oreaster reticulatus (L.) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) and interpopulation differences in reproductive capacityJournal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 1981
- Allocation of pyloric caecum reserves in FED and starved sea stars, Pisaster giganteus (Stimpson): somatic maintenance comes before reproductionJournal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 1980
- Breeding and recruitment in a population of the New Zealand starfish Stichaster australis (Verrill)Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 1979
- Annual reproductive cycles in three geographically separated populations of Patiriella regularis (Verrill), a common New Zealand asteroidJournal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 1971
- FEEDING BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES IN PISASTER OCHRACEUSThe Biological Bulletin, 1966
- Annual reproductive cycles in four species of West Coast starfishesJournal of Experimental Zoology, 1958