2 research outputs found
Reproductive traits explain contrasting ecological features in sponges: the sympatric poecilosclerids Hemimycale columella and Crella elegans as examples.
16 páginas, 11 figuras.Our study focused on the Mediterranean
species Hemimycale columella and Crella elegans,
which have overlapping ecological distributions but
contrasting population densities and resilience. We
formulated the hypothesis that differential reproductive
traits were the main cause underlying these ecological
differences in the study area. The issues addressed were
whether recruits compete for the substrate, either
because their respective reproductive cycles overlap
or/and larval performance differs between species, and
whether a contrasting investment in reproduction
contributed to explain their diverse densities. Both
species were simultaneous hermaphrodites and incubated
their larvae. The reproductive period was notably
shorter in C. elegans than in H. columella, while
investment in reproductive tissue was higher in individuals
of H. columella than in C. elegans. In contrast,
C. elegans larvae harbored larger amounts of lipids and yolk inclusions than H. columella larvae. Moreover, the
former contained amazing collagen masses densely
packed among their inner cells. H. columella is likely to
produce a higher number of poorer equipped larvae
while C. elegans seems to produce a lower number of
more resistant, better fitted with energy reserves, and
thus potentially more successful larvae. These reproductive
patterns agree with a higher and stable density
of C. elegans in the study site compared with a more
variable abundance of H. columella.This study has been funded by
CTM2007-66635-C02-01 and CTM2010-22218-C02-01
projects (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) to MJU
and a project-associated fellowship (FPI) to ARP-P.Peer reviewe