Reproductive and growth variation of two gorgonians Junceella juncea nad Junceella fragilis in southern Taiwan

• Main Authors: I-Chu Huang, 黃意筑
• Other Authors: Tung-Yung Fan
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/22100577219407836357

碩士 === 國立屏東科技大學 === 水產養殖系所 === 95 === The sexual reproduction and growth of two gorgonian corals, Junceella juncea and Junceella fragilis, at Xiashuijui, Wanlitong, Talauko and Leidashi in southern Taiwan were compared in order to understand their life history strategies. Both species were gonochoric with few colonies of J. juncea at Xiashuijui and Wanlitong were hermaphroditic. The length of oogenesis for J. juncea was 10-11 months while that of J. fragilis at Xiashuijui and Wanlitong was longer (14-15 months). The length of spermatogenesis of J. juncea at Xiashuijui and Wanlitong was 2-3 and 5-6 months, respectively. Both species spawned from July to September during the end of seasonal disturbance. This may be benefitial to the survival of their offsprings. Most of the reproductive characteristics, including fertile polyps and fecundity for both females and males, as well as oocyte and spermary diameter of both species at Talauko were significantly higher than other populations. This may be benefited from the tidal induced upwelling with more nutrients. The fertile polyps and fecundity of both females and males, as well as spermary diameter of J. juncea were significantly higher, but oocyte diameter and thickness of fleshy tissue of J. juncea were significantly lower than those of J. fragilis. This suggests that they have different reproductive and growth strategies. For J. fragilis, axial skeleton was significantly thicker, but most of the reproductive chacteristics were significantly lower at Leidashi in comparison with other populations. This suggests that J. fragilis at Leidashi had higher investment in growth and may be an adaptation to the environment with strong wave.