Effects of
self-fertilization on growth and survival of larvae and juveniles of the
scallop Argopecten purpuratus L.
F.M. Winkler, B.F. Estévez-2003
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 292(1): 93-102
Abstract:
Argopecten purpuratus
Lamarck (1819) is a functional hermaphrodite that releases successively male
and female gametes during their spawning process. Because the short period
between the release of both kind of gametes, the chance of
self-fertilization exists, even in natural conditions. The
self-fertilization rate was quantified in 10 scallops as the proportion of
spontaneous (nonartificially fertilized) cleaving eggs. The existence of
inbreeding depression was tested comparing families produced by self- and
cross-fertilization. An average of 9.9% of spontaneous self-fertilization
was detected. No differences in survival or growth in either larvae or
juvenile were found between families produced by self-fertilization and pair
mating.
(Departamento
de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del
Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo, Chile, e-mail: fwinkler@ucn.cl)