Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
12-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. MD Saydur Rahman
Second Advisor
Dr. John A. Breier
Third Advisor
Dr. Alejandro Fierro Cabo
Abstract
Environmental phenomena such as temperature, photoperiod, tidal cycle, and lunar rhythm act as external cues that stimulate the reproductive activity of marine organisms. In this study, I report the annual and lunar reproductive cycles, and changes in nutritive phagocytes (NPs) in relation to gonadal maturation of Atlantic sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata, a primeval species). Monthly and weekly changes in gonadal development/maturation were observed histologically. In male, the testicular lobules were densely packed with sperm from June to August. In female, on the other hand, mature eggs first appeared in some ovaries in May, numerically increased from June to July, and decreased in August. During gametogenesis, NPs in both sexes were depleted from June to August. Histological observations revealed that the gonad developed synchronously around the new moon. Collectively, these results suggest that A. punctulata spawns several times during the summer months according to lunar cycle in the Gulf of Mexico.
Recommended Citation
Hernandez, Eleazar II, "Histological Evidence of Annual and Lunar Reproductive Rhythms of Atlantic Sea Urchin, Arbacia punctulata in the Gulf of Mexico: Changes in Nutritive Phagocytes in Relation to Gametogenesis" (2019). Theses and Dissertations. 475.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/475
Included in
Earth Sciences Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons
Comments
Copyright 2019 Eleazar Hernandez. All Rights Reserved.
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