Artificial Reproduction of Octocoral (Plumarella
flabellata)
Fariba Heidari and Negin Salamat*
Department of Marine Biology, School of Marine Science, Khorramshahr
Marine Science and Technology University, P. O. Box # 669,
Khorramshahr, Iran
*Corresponding author:
salamatnegin@yahoo.com
Abstract
The reproductive biology of Octocoral (Plumarella
flabellata)
in artificial habitats located in Northwest of Persian Gulf, Iran was studied by
histological examination of gonad development. Various sizes of colonies were
collected to determine the relationship between colony size and sexual maturity.
The colonies smaller than 15 cm height did not contain gonads. Moreover,
P.
flabellata
was a hermaphrodite species with gonads developed along with mesenteries. No
planulae were observed in the samples investigated. Therefore,
P.
flabellata
in
Iran
is most likely a broadcast spawener. The gonads were at the same developmental
stages in each season. The results showed that spawning of
P.
flabellata
probably occurred in July-August which is consistent with the suitable
environmental conditions such as higher water temperature and long day-light.
The present study indicated that
P.
flabellata
exhibits a remarkably high reproductive potential, which contributes to its
dominance in the artificial reef in Northwest of Persian Gulf.
Key words: Gonad,
Histology,
Persian Gulf, Plumarella
flabellate,
Sexual reproduction