Preliminary study on the reproduction of the beadlet anemone Actinia equina (Linnaeus, 1758)
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1
MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Superior School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal
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2
MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
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3
CFE – Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Science, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401, Portugal
Actinia equina is one of the most abundant anemones in the intertidal communities of rocky shores, in the Atlantic coasts of Europe. This species exhibits attractive features, which makes this anemone a potential animal to be used in the trade of Aquariophilia. In order to study the reproductive biology of A. equina, histological studies of seasonal samples of this species were taken from June 2014 to June 2015, from specimens caught in the coast of Peniche (Portugal; 039°21’39.71’’N; 09°22’59.08’’W).
The anemones were preserved in formalin and, later on, they were transversely cut in half, in order to search for the presence of larvae or juvenile polyps inside the gastrovascular cavity, or around the tentacles. It was observed the anemones carried larvae in all seasons, with highest incidence in summer (100%) and winter (80%). Nevertheless, the anemones with juvenile polyps among their tentacles decreased from summer (60%) until the following spring (0%).
Histological slides of 5 individuals per season were observed to identify the presence of female or male gonads within the anemone’s body wall, as temporary structures indicative of reproduction periods. They revealed that A. equina is a hermaphroditic species. There were individuals exhibiting just female or male gonads. Still, few specimens were observed having the differentiation of gonads of both genders, simultaneously, throughout the entire year. Individuals without differentiated gonads were observed more frequently in autumn and spring, less in winter and absent in summer.
The female gonads were observed within the body wall, close to the gastrovascular cavity, in a central position relatively to the height of the anemone. Male gonads were observed closer to the oral disc, at the base of the tentacles.
In conclusion, the results point out that A. equina reproduces, mostly in autumn and spring, when all genders were observed. The number of larvae found inside their progenitors increased, accordingly, in the following seasons (winter and summer). They might develop into juvenile polyps, at the base of the tentacles of their progenitor, being released at most on the following autumn/winter periods.
Acknowledgements
This study had the support of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), through the strategic project UID/MAR/04292/2013 granted to MARE
Keywords:
Aquaculture,
aquariophilia,
Larvae,
polyp,
Gonad,
hermaphroditism,
Reproductive biology
Conference:
IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016, Peniche, Portugal, 14 Jul - 15 Jul, 2016.
Presentation Type:
Poster presentation
Topic:
Aquaculture
Citation:
Costa
DP,
Marques
SS,
Baptista
TM,
Pombo
A,
Gonçalves
SC and
Ferreira
SM
(2016). Preliminary study on the reproduction of the beadlet anemone Actinia equina (Linnaeus, 1758).
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016.
doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.04.00041
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Received:
14 May 2016;
Published Online:
13 Jul 2016.
*
Correspondence:
Mr. Diogo P Costa, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Superior School of Tourism and Maritime Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria 2520-641 Peniche, Peniche, Portugal, diogo.pilre@hotmail.com