Biol. Bull.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Levitan, D. R.
Right arrow Articles by Chia, F. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Levitan, D. R.
Right arrow Articles by Chia, F. S.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 181, Issue 3 371-378, Copyright © 1991 by Marine Biological Laboratory

DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION

Kinetics of Fertilization in the Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus franciscanus: Interaction of Gamete Dilution, Age, and Contact Time

D. R. Levitan, M. A. Sewell and F. S. Chia
Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9

Determining fertilization success of free spawning organisms in the field requires knowledge of how eggs and sperm interact under varying encounter frequencies and durations. In the laboratory, we investigated the relative influence of sperm concentration, egg concentration, sperm-egg contact time, and sperm age on fertilization in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus franciscanus. Our results indicated that sperm concentration, sperm-egg contact time, sperm age, and individual variability were sequentially the most important factors influencing fertilization success. Egg concentration was not significant over the range tested. A theoretical model of fertilization (Vogel-Czihak-Chang-Wolf model) was used to estimate the two rate constants of fertilization kinetics: the rate constant of sperm-egg encounter and rate constant of fertilization. This model explained 91% of the variation in fertilization success, provided estimates of the rate constants involved in fertilization, and indicated the proportion (3%) of sperm-egg contacts that result in fertilization. Estimates of sperm swimming velocity and egg diameter were used to independently calculate the rate of sperm-egg encounter and confirm the predictions of the model. This model also predicts the non-significant effect of egg concentration on fertilization success found empirically.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol LettHome page
T. N. Rosenstiel and S. M. Eppley
Long-lived sperm in the geothermal bryophyte Pohlia nutans
Biol Lett, December 23, 2009; 5(6): 857 - 860.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J HeredHome page
J. L. Petersen, A. M. Ibarra, J. L. Ramirez, and B. May
An Induced Mass Spawn of the Hermaphroditic Lion-Paw Scallop, Nodipecten subnodosus: Genetic Assignment of Maternal and Paternal Parentage
J. Hered., March 11, 2008; (2008) esn012v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
J. A. Riffell and R. K. Zimmer
Sex and flow: the consequences of fluid shear for sperm egg interactions
J. Exp. Biol., October 15, 2007; 210(20): 3644 - 3660.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
J. A. Pechenik, J. S. Pearse, and P.-Y. Qian
Effects of Salinity on Spawning and Early Development of the Tube-Building Polychaete Hydroides elegans in Hong Kong: Not Just the Sperm's Fault?
Biol. Bull., April 1, 2007; 212(2): 151 - 160.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
H. R. Lasker
High fertilization success in a surface-brooding Caribbean gorgonian.
Biol. Bull., February 1, 2006; 210(1): 10 - 17.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
F. M. Harper and M. W. Hart
Gamete Compatibility and Sperm Competition Affect Paternity and Hybridization Between Sympatric Asterias Sea Stars
Biol. Bull., October 1, 2005; 209(2): 113 - 126.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
S. L. Johnson and P. O. Yund
Remarkable Longevity of Dilute Sperm in a Free-Spawning Colonial Ascidian
Biol. Bull., June 1, 2004; 206(3): 144 - 151.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
A. Phillippi, E. Hamann, and P. O. Yund
Fertilization in an Egg-Brooding Colonial Ascidian Does Not Vary With Population Density
Biol. Bull., June 1, 2004; 206(3): 152 - 160.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
T. M. Jantzen and J. N. Havenhand
Reproductive Behavior in the Squid Sepioteuthis australis From South Australia: Interactions on the Spawning Grounds
Biol. Bull., June 1, 2003; 204(3): 305 - 317.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
G. S. Farley
Helical Nature of Sperm Swimming Affects the Fit of Fertilization-Kinetics Models to Empirical Data
Biol. Bull., August 1, 2002; 203(1): 51 - 57.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
R. D. Podolsky
Fertilization ecology of egg coats: physical versus chemical contributions to fertilization success of free-spawned eggs
J. Exp. Biol., June 1, 2002; 205(11): 1657 - 1668.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
M. E. Williams and M. G. Bentley
Fertilization Success in Marine Invertebrates: The Influence of Gamete Age
Biol. Bull., February 1, 2002; 202(1): 34 - 42.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
S. K. Meidel and P. O. Yund
Egg Longevity and Time-Integrated Fertilization in a Temperate Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis)
Biol. Bull., August 1, 2001; 201(1): 84 - 94.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
M. A. Rahman, T. Uehara, and J. S. Pearse
Hybrids of Two Closely Related Tropical Sea Urchins (Genus Echinometra): Evidence Against Postzygotic Isolating Mechanisms
Biol. Bull., April 1, 2001; 200(2): 97 - 106.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1991 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.