Soto Rodríguez, Derek A.

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    Sexual reproduction in the Caribbean Coral Genera Isophyllia and Isophyllastrea, in La Parguera, Puerto Rico
    (2014) Soto Rodríguez, Derek A.; Weil Machado, Ernesto F.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Schizas, Nikolaos V.; Yoshioka, Paul M.; Corredor, Jorge E.; Department of Marine Sciences; Pratt, Ellen
    The sexual pattern, reproductive mode, and timing of reproduction of Isophyllia sinuosa and Isophyllia rigida, two small Caribbean Mussids, were assessed by histological analysis of specimens collected monthly during 2000-2001 and 2012. Tissue cores were fixed in Helly’s Zenker formalin solution, decalcified in 10% HCl, dehydrated in 70% EtOH, embedded in Paraplast, sectioned with a rotary microtome, and stained utilizing a modified Heidenhain’s Azocarmine-Aniline blue method. Results indicate that both species are simultaneous hermaphroditic brooders, with a single annual gametogenetic cycle. Spermatocytes and oocytes of different stages were found within the same mesentery indicating possible sequential maturation for extended planulation. Oocytes begin development in May in I. sinuosa and August in I. rigida, approximately 7 months prior to spermatocytes, but matured simultaneously over at least two months; May-June in I.rigida and March-April in I. sinuosa. Significantly higher polyp (IR=33.16±4.44, IS=3.78±6.42) (t-test, p<0.001) and mesenterial fecundity (IR=2.76±4.44, IS=0.87±1.92) (t-test, p=0.046) was found in I. rigida compared to I. sinuosa. Planulation proceeded rapidly in both species with planulae observed in I. sinuosa during April through May and in I. rigida from June through September. Hermaphroditism and brooding have also been documented in the Mussid genera Scolymia and Mycetophyllia.