ISSN:
0362-2525
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
The enigmatic lophophoral organs of phoronids are demonstrated to by accessory sex glands. In the hermaphroditic Phoronis vancouverensis, each mature adult has two pairs of such glands: female nidamental glands that facilitate the temporary brooding of the embryos and male accessory spermatophoral organs that function in spermatophore elaboration. Functional males of Phoronopsis harmeri have complex accessory spermatophoral organs while females of this non-brooding dioecious species lack accessory sex glands.In both species, coelomic spermatozoa are accumulated within the nephridia and passed en masse into the partially enclosed spermatophoral organs. There each sperm mass is molded into a characteristic shape and encased in one or more membranes before release as a spermatophore into the ambient water. The structure of the spermatophore is characteristic for each species and is correlated with the functional morphology of the distinctive spermatophoral organs.The existence of spermatophores, the non-primitive nature of the spermatozoa, and additional features of reproductive biology dictate that fertilization is internal in these species, but attempts to determine the means of sperm transfer proved futile. Reproductive potential and behaviour of male Phoronopsis, means of gamete segregation in Phoronis, and general pattern of reproductive biology for both phoronids were also studied.
Additional Material:
14 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051210205