Revista de Biología Tropical ISSN Impreso: 0034-7744 ISSN electrónico: 2215-2075

OAI: https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/oai
Internal ultrastructure of the planktonic larva of the coral Porites panamensis (Anthozoa: Scleractinia)
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Keywords

ultrastructure
histology
planulae
larvae biology
larvae settlement
Eastern Pacific
ultraestructura
histología
plánula
biología larval
asentamiento larval
Pacífico Oriental

How to Cite

Santiago-Valentín, J. D., Rodríguez-Troncoso, A. P., Bautista-Guerrero, E., López-Pérez, A., & Cupul-Magaña, A. L. (2022). Internal ultrastructure of the planktonic larva of the coral Porites panamensis (Anthozoa: Scleractinia). Revista De Biología Tropical, 70(1), 222–234. https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop.v70i1.48648

Abstract

Introduction: The scleractinian coral life cycle includes planktonic larvae that settle on the benthos, allowing the primary polyp to clone and build a sexually reproducing adult colony. The larval physiology and ecology of Eastern Tropical Pacific scleractinians needs the exploration of basic aspects such as the internal morphology of planulae. Objective: To describe histological and cytological characteristics of Porites panamensis larvae. Methods: During August-July 2019, at Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve, Central Mexican Pacific, we made 14 collections of coral larvae and identified the species with C cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene. We used a scanning electron microscope and other techniques. Results: The ectoderm was composed by heterogeneous, mono-ciliated, columnar epithelial cells. Nematocysts were clustered at the oral pole of the ectoderm, and cells were evident in the aboral pole of the ectoderm gland. The endoderm had secretory cells, lipids and symbionts. Conclusions: The abundance of secretory cells and nematocysts in the aboral pole suggests their importance in substrate exploration and larval settlement. Our results support previous descriptions of larval ultrastructure in other coral species.

https://doi.org/10.15517/rev.biol.trop..v70i1.48648
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