Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T11:30:40.016Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reproductive periodicity of the tropical intertidal chiton Acanthopleura gemmata at One Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef, near its southern latitudinal limit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2009

S.S. Barbosa ,
M. Byrne  and
B.P. Kelaher
S.S. Barbosa*
Affiliation:
Anatomy and Histology, Bosch Institute, F13, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
M. Byrne
Affiliation:
Anatomy and Histology, Bosch Institute, F13, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
B.P. Kelaher
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: S.S. Barbosa, Anatomy and Histology, Bosch Institute, F13, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Reproduction in the pantropical chiton Acanthopleura gemmata was examined at One Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef, near the southern limit of its distribution, using gonad histology and gonad index (GI). Gonad growth was associated with the onset of gametogenesis in mid-spring. Fully mature gonads were present from early summer until late autumn. During these months gametes at various stages of development were present in the gonads indicating a continuous pattern of gamete development and release over the six month spawning season. Following the maximum GI (March/April) there was a sharp drop in the index marking the end of spawning. In winter, the gonads entered a rest period and remained small in size. The reproductive pattern of A. gemmata at its southern limit is similar and 6 months out of phase to that reported for populations in the Gulf of Suez, at the northern limit of its distribution. This suggests that photoperiod may be an important factor in modulating reproduction. Reproduction of A. gemmata at One Tree Island is also similar to that for populations in the northern Great Barrier Reef.

Keywords

reproductive periodicityGBROne Tree IslandCoral reefsAcanthopleurachitons
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 89 , Issue 2 , March 2009 , pp. 405 - 411
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

AIMS (2008) Australian Institute of Marine Science Sea Temperature Data System. http://data.aims.gov.au/seatemp/do/gotoStart.do [Accessed 17 March 2008.]Google Scholar
Barbosa, S.S., Byrne, M. and Kelaher, B.K. (2008) Bioerosion caused by foraging of the tropical chiton Acanthopleura gemmata at One Tree Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, DOI 10.1007/s00338-008-0369-4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Billingham, M.R., Reusch, T.B.H., Alberto, F. and Serrao, E.A. (2003) Is asexual reproduction more important at geographical limits? A genetic study of the seagrass Zostera marina in the Ria Formosa, Portugal. Marine Ecology Progress Series 265, 77–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blainville, H.D. De. (1825) Oscabrion. Chiton 36, 519–555. In Cuvier, F. (ed.) Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles. Paris & Strasbourg, 60 volumes.Google Scholar
Buckland-Nicks, J. (1993) Hull cupules of chiton eggs: parachute structures and sperm focusing devices? Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole 184, 269–276.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Byrne, M., Morrice, M.G. and Wolf, B. (1997) Introduction of the northern Pacific asteroid Asterias amurensis to Tasmania: reproduction and current distribution. Marine Biology 127, 673–685.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chelazzi, G., Focardi, S. and Deneobourg, J.L. (1983) A comparative study on the movement patterns of two sympatric tropical chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Marine Biology 74, 115–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Creese, R.G. (1980) Reproductive cycles and fecundities of four common eastern Australian archaeogastropod limpets (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 31, 49–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Currie, D.R. (1990) Reproductive periodicity of three species of chitons at a site in New South Wales, Australia (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Invertebrate Reproduction and Development 17, 25–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dartnall, A.J., Byrne, M., Collins, J. and Hart, M.H. (2003) A new viviparous species of asterinid (Echinodermata, Asteroidea, Asterinidae) and a new genus to accommodate the species of pan-tropical exiguoid sea stars. Zootaxa 359, 1–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Done, T., Whetton, P., Jones, R., Berkelmans, R., Lough, J., Skirving, W. and Woolridge, S. (2003) Final Report to the State of Queensland Greenhouse Taskforce through the Department of Natural Resources and Mines. Australian Institute of Marine Science, pp. 51.Google Scholar
Eernisse, D.J. (1988) Reproductive patterns in six species of Lepidochitona (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from the Pacific Coast of North America. Biological Bulletin. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole 174, 286–302.Google Scholar
Ferreira, A.J. (1986) A revision of the genus Acanthopleura Guilding, 1829 (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). Veliger 28, 221–279.Google Scholar
Gaymer, C.F., Guisao, C., Brokordt, K.B. and Himmelman, J.H. (2004) Gonad structure and gamete morphology of the eastern south Pacific chiton Acanthopleura echinata (Barnes, 1824). Veliger 47, 141–152.Google Scholar
Giese, A.C. and Pearse, J.S. (1974) Introduction: general principles. In Giese, A.C. and Pearse, J.S. (eds) Reproduction of marine invertebrates, Volume I, acoelomate and pseudocoelomate metazoans. New York: Academic Press. pp. 1–49.Google Scholar
Glynn, P.W. (1970) On the ecology of the Caribbean chitons Acanthopleura granulata Gmelin and Chiton tuberculatus Linné: density, mortality, feeding, reproduction, and growth. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 66, 1–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Himmelman, J.H. (1978) The reproductive cycle of Katharina tunicata (Wood) and its controlling factors. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 31, 27–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Himmelman, J.H. (1979) Factors regulating the reproductive cycles of two northeast Pacific chitons, Tonicella lineata and T. insignis. Marine Biology 50, 215–225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Himmelman, J.H. (1980) Reproductive cycle patterns in the chiton genus Mopalia (Polyplacophora). Nautilus 94, 39–50.Google Scholar
Meyer, C.P., Geller, J.B. and Paulay, G. (2005) Fine scale endemism on coral reefs: archipelagic differentiation in Turbinid gastropods. Evolution 59, 113–125.Google ScholarPubMed
Olive, P.J.W., Rees, S.E. and Djundaedi, A. (1998) Influence of photoperiod on oocyte growth in the semelparous polychaete Nereis (Neanthes) viriens. Marine Biology Progress Series 172, 169–183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Loughlin, P.M. and Rowe, F.W.E. (2006) A systematic revision of the asterinid genus Aquilonastra O'Loughlin, 2004 (Echinodermata: Asteroidea). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 63, 257–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Orton, J.H. (1920) Sea temperature, breeding and distribution in marine animals. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 5, 339–366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearse, J.S. (1969) Reproductive periodicities of Indo-Pacific invertebrates in the Gulf of Suez. I. The echinoids Prionocidaris baculosa (Lamarck) and Lovenia elongata (Gray). Bulletin of Marine Science 19, 323–350.Google Scholar
Pearse, J.S. (1978) Reproductive periodicities of Indo-Pacific invertebrates in the Gulf of Suez. IV. The chitons Acanthopleura haddoni Winkworth and Onithochiton lyelli (Sowerby), and the abalone Haliotis pustulata Reeve. Bulletin of Marine Science 28, 92–101.Google Scholar
Pearse, J.S. (1979) Polyplacophora. In Giese, A.C. and Pearse, J.S. (eds) Reproduction of marine invertebrates, Volume 5, molluscs: pelecypods and lesser classes. New York: Academic Press, pp. 27–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearse, J.S. and Eernisse, D.J. (1982) Photoperiod regulation of gametogenesis and gonadal growth in the sea star Pisaster ochraceous. Marine Biology 67, 121–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearse, J.S., Eernisse, D.J., Pearse, V.B. and Beauchamp, K.A. (1986) Photoperiodic regulation of gametogenesis in sea stars, with evidence for an annual calendar independent of fixed daylength. American Zoologist 26, 417–431.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Polaczanska, E.S., Babcock, R.C., Butler, A., Hobday, A.J., Hoegh-Guldberg, O.Kunz, T.J., Matear, R., Milton, D.A., Okey, T.A. and Richardson, A.J. (2007) Climate change and Australian marine life. Oceanography and Marine Biology: an Annual Review 45, 407–478.Google Scholar
Rasmussen, K.A. and Frankenberg, E.W. (1990) Intertidal bioerosion by the chiton Acanthopleura granulata; San Salvador, Bahamas. Bulletin of Marine Science 47, 680–695.Google Scholar
Richter, H.P. (1976) Feinstrukturelle Untersuchungen zur Oogenese der Kaferschnecke Lepidochitona cinereus (Mollusca, Polyplacophora). Helgoländer Wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen 28, 250–303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Risbec, J. (1946) Etudes anatomiques sur les Amphineures de la Nouvelle-Caledonie. Journal of the Society of Oceanography 2, 129–190.Google Scholar
Sakker, E.R. (1986) Seasonal reproductive cycles of three Australian species of chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). International Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction and Development 10, 1–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Soliman, G.N. and Iskander, A.N. (1982) The reproduction and development of the common rock chiton Acanthopleura spiniger (Sowerby) from the northwestern Red Sea. Malacologia 22, 205–210.Google Scholar
Stephenson, A. (1934) The breeding of reef animals. Part II. Invertebrates other than corals. Great Barrier Reef Expedition 1928–29. Scientific Reports 3, 247–272.Google Scholar
Thorpe, S.R. (1962) A preliminary report on spawning and related phenomena in California chitons. Veliger 4, 202–210.Google Scholar
Tyler, P.A. and Grant, A. (1983) The analysis of data in studies of invertebrate reproduction. 1. Introduction and statistical analysis of gonad indices and maturity indices. Journal of Invertebrate Reproduction 6, 259–269.Google Scholar
Wells, F.E. and Sellers, R.J. (1987) Reproductive periodicity of the chiton Acanthopleura hirtosa on intertidal platforms in the Perth area of Western Australia. Journal of the Malacological Society of Australia 8, 87–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yoshioka, E. (1987) Annual reproductive cycle of the chiton Acanthopleura japonica. Marine Biology 96, 371–374.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yoshioka, E. (1989) Experimental analysis of the diurnal and tidal spawning rhythm in the chiton Acanthopleura japonica (Lischke) by manipulating conditions of light and tide. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 133, 81–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar