Repetitive sex change in the stony coral Herpolitha limax across a wide geographic range

Scientific Reports
Lee Eyal-ShahamYossi Loya

Abstract

Sex change has been widely studied in animals and plants. However, the conditions favoring sex change, its mode and timing remain poorly known. Here, for the first time in stony corals, we report on a protandrous (youngest individuals are males) repetitive sex change exhibited by the fungiid coral Herpolitha limax across large spatial scales (the coral reefs of Japan, Jordan and Israel) and temporal scales (2004-2017). In contrast to most corals, this species is a daytime spawner (08:00-10:00 AM) that spawned at the same time/same date across all the study sites. The sporadically scattered populations of H. limax among the coral reefs of Eilat (Israel) and Aqaba (Jordan) exhibited significantly slower growth, earlier sex change, and lower percentages of reproduction and sex change in comparison to the densely aggregated populations in Okinawa (Japan). At all sites, sex ratio varied among years, but was almost always biased towards maleness. Growth rate decreased with size. We conclude that comparable to dioecious plants that display labile sexuality in response to energetic and/or environmental constraints, the repetitive sex change displayed by H. limax increases its overall fitness reinforcing the important role of reproducti...Continue Reading

References

Aug 22, 1989·Journal of Theoretical Biology·E L Charnov, J J Bull
Jun 1, 1969·The Quarterly Review of Biology·M T Ghiselin
Jun 24, 2004·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·David J Allsop, Stuart A West
May 1, 1979·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·E L Charnov
May 17, 2006·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Philip L MundayRobert R Warner
Aug 13, 1976·Science·D C FreemanK T Harper
Jul 10, 2008·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Yossi Loya, Kazuhiko Sakai
Jun 1, 1988·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·R R Warner
Aug 21, 2013·Global Change Biology·Maoz FineAmatzia Genin
Apr 30, 2014·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·R Vega-FrutisL Fromhage
Jan 1, 1980·Oecologia·D C FreemanE L Charnov
Apr 14, 2017·Ecology and Evolution·Hui WangMichiko Nakagawa

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 31, 2021·Scientific Data·Andrew H BairdSyafyudin Yusuf
Jul 19, 2021·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Mila GrinblatPeter F Cowman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
environmental stress

Software Mentioned

Eilat

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Yossi Loya, Kazuhiko Sakai
Transactions of the American Microscopical Society
F C Page
Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
Liang ChenZhao Wang
Current Biology : CB
Nancy Knowlton
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved