Extreme CH 10- Reproductive strategies

sequential hermaphrodites

Organisms that change sex during their lifetime, often from male to female or vice versa, depending on environmental or social conditions.

clownfish

about 30 species in genus Amphiprion and are sequential hermaphrodites.

all are born males and the largest/most dominant are the female, and the next largest make has the functioning testes

What relationship to clownfish and sea anemones have?

symbiotic relationship: the clownfish have a mucus coating to protect from the anemone’s nematocysts, receiving protection from predators, and in return cleans and defends the anemone and helps with nutrition

sexual dimorphism

significant physical differences between sexes beyond reproductive gonads (size and appearance)

Anglerfish

example of sexual dimorphism, the male is tiny but has very strong sensory organs to be able to search for females to then attach to and dissolve its mouth into in order to reproduce with the female

explain anglerfish male sexual dimorphism

the small male uses its strong sensory organs to find females to bite them and fuse to her body. The male’s organs dissolve, and his testes are all that remains; the female can send chemical signals to make the testes release sperm to reproduce.

metamorphosis

when the body shape and anatomy changes due to entering a new phase of life/development

Example of metamorphosis

Palolo worm, once a year the intestines dissolve, gonads grow, and the epitokes holding the gametes develop

why are seahorses reproductively interesting?

males get pregnant and give birth, the mother sprays its eggs towards the male’s pouch and the males fertilizes them as they go into his pouch

Why are the sergeant major damselfish reproductively interesting?

the males have very intense dedicated paternal care for sometimes over 200,000 eggs they guard them for about a week until they hatch

Why are Giant Octopus moms reproductively interesting?

The female is able to reproduce very early in their life. They lay their eggs in cave-like areas, then use rocks to trap themselves and its eggs inside. They spend months to years protecting their eggs, starving herself in the process. When the eggs hatch, she uses her last amount of strength to break the wall of rocks so the young can escape. She stays inside and dies inside the caved area.

reef accretion

building of new corals on top of old skeletons

slippery slope to slime

degradation of coral reefs, where overfishing, pollution, and climate change cause corals to die and be replaced by algae and slime