Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Am Alten Hafen 26, 27568, Bremerhaven, Germany.
University of Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
Sci Rep. 2023 Feb 14;13(1):2593. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-29620-x.
Little is known about the biology of cold-water corals (CWCs), let alone the reproduction and early life stages of these important deep-sea foundation species. Through a three-year aquarium experiment, we described the reproductive mode, larval release periodicity, planktonic stage, larval histology, metamorphosis and post-larval development of the solitary scleractinian CWC Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) huinayensis collected in Comau Fjord, Chilean Patagonia. We found that C. huinayensis is a brooder releasing 78.4 ± 65.9 (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) planula larvae throughout the year, a possible adaptation to low seasonality. Planulae had a length of 905 ± 114 µm and showed a well-developed gastrovascular system. After 8 ± 9.3 days (d), the larvae settled, underwent metamorphosis and developed the first set of tentacles after 2 ± 1.5 d. Skeletogenesis, zooplankton feeding and initiation of the fourth set of tentacles started 5 ± 2.1 d later, 21 ± 12.9 d, and 895 ± 45.9 d after settlement, respectively. Our study shows that the ontogenetic timing of C. huinayensis is comparable to that of some tropical corals, despite lacking zooxanthellae.
关于冷水珊瑚（CWCs）的生物学特性知之甚少，更不用说这些重要深海基础物种的繁殖和早期生活阶段了。通过为期三年的水族箱实验，我们描述了智利巴塔哥尼亚科马乌湾采集的独居石珊瑚 Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) huinayensis 的繁殖方式、幼虫释放周期性、浮游阶段、幼虫组织学、变态和后期幼虫发育。我们发现，C. huinayensis 是一种育幼者，全年释放 78.4 ± 65.9（平均值 ± 标准偏差 [SD]）个浮浪幼虫，这可能是对低季节性的一种适应。浮浪幼虫长 905 ± 114 µm，具有发达的胃腔系统。8 ± 9.3 天后，幼虫附着，经历变态，在 2 ± 1.5 天后发育出第一套触手。骨骼发生、浮游动物摄食和第四套触手的开始分别在附着后 5 ± 2.1 天、21 ± 12.9 天和 895 ± 45.9 天开始。我们的研究表明，尽管缺乏虫黄藻，但 C. huinayensis 的个体发生时间与一些热带珊瑚相当。
