Biol. Bull. Sign up for etocs!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
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 Buckland-Nicks, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Buckland-Nicks, J.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 184, Issue 3 269-276, Copyright © 1993 by Marine Biological Laboratory

DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION

Hull Cupules of Chiton Eggs: Parachute Structures and Sperm Focusing Devices?

J. Buckland-Nicks
Department of Biology, Box 7, St. Francis Xavier University. Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2G 1CO

The extracellular hull of chiton eggs is often elaborated into cupules or spines that may be open or closed to the external environment. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the location of fertilizing sperm in eggs that had been exposed to a dilute sperm suspension to create natural fertilization or to a sperm concentrate to induce polyspermic egg penetration. The effect of cupules on sinking rates was tested in cupulous (free-spawning) and non-cupulous (brooding) species, by timing descent of eggs over a fixed distance in a large container of seawater. Densities of eggs were compared on Percoll gradients and found to be similar. It was found that hull cupules focus the sperm to specific regions of the egg surface in both brooding and free-spawning species. Furthermore, protruding cupules act as parachute structures that can significantly reduce sinking rates.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
J. Buckland-Nicks and E. Brothers
On Fertilization in Chaetopleura apiculata and Selected Chitonida
Biol. Bull., April 1, 2008; 214(2): 184 - 193.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Integr. Comp. Biol.Home page
D. R. Levitan
The relationship between egg size and fertilization success in broadcast-spawning marine invertebrates
Integr. Comp. Biol., June 1, 2006; 46(3): 298 - 311.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeologyHome page
K. J. Peterson
Macroevolutionary interplay between planktic larvae and benthic predators
Geology, December 1, 2005; 33(12): 929 - 932.
[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 HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1993 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.