Turbulence, cleavage, and the naked embryo: a case for coral clones.
Science
; 335(6072): 1064, 2012 Mar 02.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22383841
ABSTRACT
After mass spawning events, coral embryos, lacking the protective capsule of other metazoans, are directly exposed to the environment at the ocean surface. Here, we present evidence that modest turbulence disrupts the integrity of these embryos, which fragment into totipotent cells that develop into proportionately smaller functional larvae. The level of turbulence required to fragment coral embryos can be generated from small wind-generated waves, which occur frequently during coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef. The formation of planktonic coral clones, through natural embryo fragmentation of broadcast spawn, is a previously unknown mode of reproduction in the animal kingdom.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Água do Mar
/
Movimentos da Água
/
Antozoários
/
Embrião não Mamífero
/
Recifes de Corais
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article