Year-round maturity of the chaetognath Aidanosagitta regularis in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand
Wesley H. Webb A B and Mary A. Sewell A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
B Present address: Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0632, New Zealand.
C Corresponding author. Email: m.sewell@auckland.ac.nz
Marine and Freshwater Research 66(9) 852-856 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF14279
Submitted: 9 September 2014 Accepted: 10 November 2014 Published: 19 March 2015
Abstract
The reproductive biology of planktonic chaetognaths is poorly known, particularly with regard to the importance of seasonal factors such as daylength, temperature and lunar phase. We undertook semilunar plankton sampling (March 2013–March 2014) in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, to survey sexual maturity of the abundant chaetognath Aidanosagitta regularis (the only chaetognath species present in sufficient numbers for reproductive study). Contrary to our expectations, breeding of A. regularis appeared unconstrained by seasonal factors, as reproductively mature individuals were available year-round. This finding has implications for embryological study of the chaetognaths.
Additional keywords: arrow worm, breeding cycle, reproduction, seasonality.
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