Influences of habitat and seasonal changes on gonadal maturation of Echinometra mathaei (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) and Tridacna squamosa (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in the Red Sea, Egypt.

ABSTRACT: The present work is aimed at investigating the effects of seasonal changes and habitat conditions on reproductive state and gonadal development of two macrobenthic fauna. Echinometra mathaei and Tridacna squamosa were collected seasonally (summer and winter) in July 2019 and January 2020 from three sites along the Red Sea coast, Egypt: Hamraween, Sedy Malek, and Porto Ghalb. Sexual differences and gonadal maturation in the two species were determined by performing biopsies of their gonads followed by morphologic analyses. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained gonadal sections were examined and analyzed. In E. mathaei, reproductive behavior was more active in the summer than in the winter; in T. squamosa, reproductive behavior was active almost all the year, especially during the winter. The reprod

SUBMITTER: El-Sokkary SG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10449673 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature