PAKISTAN
VETERINARY
JOURNAL
     
 
previous page   Pak Vet J, 2012, 32(3): 403-407   next page
 
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

 
   

ISSN 0253-8318 (Print)
ISSN 2074-7764 (Online)



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