Fertilization and Development of Ctenophores
Ctenophores
commonly called " Comb Jellies " or " Moon
Jellies " are gelatinous macroplanctonic marine animals. Ctenophores
move within currents using 8 rows of irridescent comb rows called " ctenes ".
Most of the 90 species of ctenophores are hermaphrodites which produce eggs and sperm along 8 meridional canals situated beneath each comb row. Ctenophores develop directly and are characterized by an apical sense organ (statocyst) at the aboral pole, a large extensible mouth at the oral pole, and 3 types of tissues (triploblasts).
Beroe are large carnivorous ctenophores that may feed on other ctenophores like Pleurobrachia which are commonly called " cat’s eyes " or " sea gooseberry ". Different species of Beroe and other ctenophores can be collected in the bay of Villefranche sur Mer from February through May. We have used Beroe ovata, which produces very large (1mm diameter) transparent eggs, to study fertilization, pronuclear migration, surface contraction waves and the acquisition of the unique oral-aboral embryonic axis.
Most of the 90 species of ctenophores are hermaphrodites which produce eggs and sperm along 8 meridional canals situated beneath each comb row. Ctenophores develop directly and are characterized by an apical sense organ (statocyst) at the aboral pole, a large extensible mouth at the oral pole, and 3 types of tissues (triploblasts).
Beroe are large carnivorous ctenophores that may feed on other ctenophores like Pleurobrachia which are commonly called " cat’s eyes " or " sea gooseberry ". Different species of Beroe and other ctenophores can be collected in the bay of Villefranche sur Mer from February through May. We have used Beroe ovata, which produces very large (1mm diameter) transparent eggs, to study fertilization, pronuclear migration, surface contraction waves and the acquisition of the unique oral-aboral embryonic axis.
Fertilization and polyspermy in Beroe ovata
Collecting Beroe ovata in the Bay of Villefranche