Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Barcelona, Spain.
Institut de Ciències i Tecnologia Ambiental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
PLoS One. 2018 Sep 26;13(9):e0203308. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203308. eCollection 2018.
This study examined the sexual reproductive cycle, energy storage and metabolic requirements of a Mediterranean gorgonian in a mesophotic ecosystem (~70 m depth). Paramuricea macrospina resulted to be a gonochoric internal brooding species with a 1:1 population sex ratio. Oogenesis lasted ~12-14 months, whereas spermatogenesis was significantly shorter, only lasting 6 months. Fertilization occurred during late summer (August) and larval release occurred during autumn (September-October). The organic matter and total lipid content showed a slight seasonal variability. Stable isotopic composition remained constant throughout the year, reflecting a general stability in gorgonian food sources. Conversely, the free fatty acid composition varied seasonally, reflecting changes in P. macrospina energetic demands probably related to gametogenesis and larval brooding. The reproductive ecology and biochemical composition of P. macrospina significantly differ from shallow coastal gorgonian species, reflecting the higher environmental stability of deeper environments.
本研究考察了中光层生态系统（约 70 米深）中一种地中海海扇的性生殖周期、能量储存和代谢需求。Paramuricea macrospina 是一种雌雄同体的内部育幼物种，种群性别比例为 1:1。卵发生持续约 12-14 个月，而精子发生明显较短，仅持续 6 个月。受精发生在夏末（8 月），幼虫释放发生在秋季（9-10 月）。有机质和总脂质含量表现出轻微的季节性变化。稳定同位素组成全年保持不变，反映出海扇食物来源的一般稳定性。相反，游离脂肪酸组成随季节变化，反映了 P. macrospina 能量需求的变化，可能与配子发生和幼虫育幼有关。P. macrospina 的生殖生态学和生化组成与浅海海扇物种显著不同，反映了更深环境中更高的环境稳定性。
