Age, growth, and reproduction in Hector's dolphins

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1689-1700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Slooten
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Fishing Gear ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Pulp Cavity ◽  
Traditional Procedure ◽  
History Of ◽  
Growth And Reproduction ◽  
Beach Cast

Data are provided on the reproductive biology and life history of Hector's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus hectori, a species found only in New Zealand waters. Samples were taken from 60 dolphins found beach-cast or killed incidentally in fishing gear. Male and female reproductive tracts were examined macroscopically and histologically, and tooth sections provided an age estimate for each individual. The traditional procedure for preparing dolphin teeth was simplified by using a faster stain and more readily available embedding and sectioning equipment. An important advantage of this method is that it facilitates the cutting of thinner sections, increasing the chances of obtaining a section through the centre of the pulp cavity. Sectioning revealed an open pulp cavity in all the teeth examined. The maximum observed age was 19 years for females and 20 years for males. Females reach a larger body size than males, and are apparently larger than males at any given age. Males appear to reach sexual maturity between 6 and 9 years of age, whereas females give birth to their first calf at 7–9 years of age. Mature males have extremely large testes relative to their body size. The largest male found in this study weighed 41.5 kg, with testes (including epididymides) totalling 1.21 kg.

scholarly journals Life history of Tendaguru sauropods as inferred from long bone histology

Fossil Record ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Sander
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Bone Histology ◽  
Long Bone ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Growth Series ◽  
History Of

Abstract. Sauropod dinosaurs present exceptional challenges in understanding their biology because of their exceptional body size. One of these, life history, can be inferred from the histology of their bones. For this purpose, the diverse sauropod assemblage of the Upper Jurassic Tendaguru beds was sampled with a new coring method which provided unprecented access to and insights into sauropod bone histology. Growth series of humeri and femora as well as long growth records from single bones suggest that all four sauropod taxa are characterized by continued growth after sexual maturity but that growth was determinate. Fibrolamellär bone is dominant in the samples, indicating that the bones of the Tendaguru sauropods grew at rates comparable to those of modern large mammals. The growth pattern of these sauropods thus combines typically reptilian traits with typically mammalian traits. In the details of their bone histology, the Tendaguru sauropod taxa show considerable variation which reflects life history. In addition, Barosaurus exhibits probable sexual dimorphism in bone histology. Das Verständnis der Biologie der sauropoden Dinosaurier wird durch ihre enorme Körpergröße außerordentlich erschwert. Allerdings kann ein Aspekt, die Lebensgeschichte, anhand der Histologie ihrer Knochen untersucht werden. Zu diesem Zweck wurde die diverse Sauropoden-Vergesellschaftung der oberjurassischen Tendaguru-Schichten beprobt, und zwar mit einer neuartigen Kernbohrmethode, die einen herausragenden Zugang und Einblick in die Knochenhistologie der Sauropoden ermöglichte. Wachstumsserien von Humeri und Femora sowie umfassende Überlieferungen des Wachstums von Individuen anhand einzelner Knochen machen es wahrscheinlich, daß alle vier Sauropoden-Taxa der Tendaguru-Schichten durch ein auch nach der Geschlechtsreife anhaltendes Wachstum gekennzeichnet waren. Allerdings ging das Wachstum nicht bis zum Tode des Tieres weiter, sondern kam bei einer etwas variablen Maximalgröße zum Stillstand. Fibrolamellärer Knochen ist der vorherrschende Knochentyp in den Proben, was anzeigt, daß die Tendaguru-Sauropoden mit für Säugetieren typische Raten wuchsen. Die Tendaguru-Sauropoden kombinerten also ein für Reptilien typisches Muster des Wachstums, nämlich nach der Geschlechtsreife anhaltendes Wachstum, mit für Säuger typischen Raten des Wachstums. Die verschiedenen Sauropoden-Taxa zeigen erstaunliche Unterschiede in den Details ihrer Knochenhistologie, die Unterschiede in der Lebensgeschichte belegen. Bei Barosaurus scheint außerdem ein Geschlechtsdimorphismus in der Histologie der Langknochen vorzukommen. doi:1002/mmng.1999.4860020107

The life history of Halosaccion ramentaceum

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. van der Meer
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Chromosome Number ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Mutant Phenotype ◽  
Sexual Cycle ◽  
Palmaria Palmata ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Haploid Male ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mendelian Transmission

The complete life history of Halosaccion ramentaceum has been determined. It is very similar to that of Palmaria palmata, consisting of haploid male and female gametophytes alternating with a diploid tetrasporophyte. As for P. palmata, there is no carposporophyte. Male and female gametophytes attain sexual maturity almost a generation apart. Whereas male plants require approximately 1 year's growth before producing spermatia, female gametophytes are microscopic and reach sexual maturity only a few days after tetraspore germination. The diploid tetrasporophyte initiates its development on the female, but almost immediately forms an independent holdfast on the substratum beside the female. The first diploid fronds arise from that holdfast after it is well established.The existence of a complete sexual cycle was proven by demonstrating: fertilization of trichogynes by spermatia; meiosis in tetrasporangia, with a chromosome number of n = ~24 in gametophytes and 2n = ~48 in tetrasporophytes; and by documenting the Mendelian transmission of a mutant phenotype from the male parent to the F1 gametophytes.

Life history of the frog Crinia signifera in Tasmania, Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lauck
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Pitfall Trap ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Female Life History ◽  
Primary Determinant ◽  
History Of ◽  
One Year

A pitfall-trap study was used to investigate the importance of body size, age, body condition (males only), season and growth history as determinates of male and female life-history fitness traits in a population of the frog Crinia signifera. Specimens were dissected to determine physiological characteristics and skeletochronology was used to determine age. Females lived longer and attained a larger size than males by delaying sexual maturity. Most females and males attained sexual maturity after three and two years, respectively; although eggs were found in females as young as one year old. Body size (but not age) was the primary determinant of fecundity, total reproductive output (clutch mass) and oviduct mass for females. Season was the predominant influence on egg size, with smaller eggs produced in summer than in other seasons. Direct investment in male gonads (testes size) was determined by body size and also by age. This, and the fact that sexual size dimorphism in amphibians is commonly female biased, suggests that male size is not necessarily the primary determinant of male reproductive success in C. signifera. Whereas selection on reproductive traits in females is likely to act predominantly on body size, selection in males is also likely to act on survival.

Growth and reproduction of the red alga Rhodomela larix

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 1499-1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla D'Antonio
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Red Alga ◽  
Oregon Coast ◽  
Perennial Plants ◽  
History Of ◽  
Lower Site ◽  
Intertidal Site ◽  
Observation Period ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Components of the growth and life history of the red alga Rhodomela larix (Turner) C. Agardh were studied during an 18-month period at a high intertidal and a low intertidal site on the central Oregon coast. Growth was measured by following (i) individually marked upright axes, (ii) clumps of axes thought to represent individual plants, and (iii) large patches of R. larix. Variation in size and growth was common among axes, and portions of some axes were clearly perennial. Plants grew most rapidly in the spring and summer (up to 1.2 mm/day) with a large amount of variation occurring between and within zones and among seasons. Overall, plants at the higher site were shorter and had fewer branches during most of the year than plants at the lower site. Gametophytes were more common in the higher site, while tetrasporophytes predominated at both sites. Reproductive axes were present throughout the observation period, although little recruitment of sexual propagules was seen, implying that populations may be maintained by vegetative perennation of individual plants.

On the Correlation of the Life-history of the Acephaline Gregarine, Gonospora, with the Sexual Cycle of its Host

Parasitology ◽  
1930 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Hentschel
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Sexual Cycle ◽  
History Of

1. In general there is a correlation between the life-history of Gonospora arenicolae and the sexual cycle of its host, Arenicola ecaudata, similar to that between G. varia and Audouinia tentaculata.2. In the species under consideration the correlation is not so definite and the life-history of a generation of parasites does not necessarily coincide with a sexual cycle of the host. This is complicated by the double annual spawning of the host.3. The formation of sporocysts is simultaneous with the sexual maturity of the worm.4. It is suggested that, as in Audouinia, a secretion produced by the gonads stimulates the development of the gregarine.5. The ejection of the sporocysts with the gametes was observed.6. It is suggested that phagocytosis may be the cause of the rupture of the gametocysts in this species.

Life history of Mysis stenolepis Smith (Crustacea, Mysidacea)

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 942-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Amaratunga ◽  
S. Corey
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Life History ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Shallow Water ◽  
Field Study ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Shallow Waters ◽  
Passamaquoddy Bay ◽  
History Of

A 17-month field study showed that Mysis stenolepis in Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick lives for about 1 year. Young are released in shallow water early in spring and grow rapidly during the summer. In the fall, young adults migrate to deeper water where they reach sexual maturity. Transfer of sperm lakes place during winter in deeper regions of the Bay. soon after which the males die. Females survive and in spring migrate to shallow waters to release young after which they die. Females breed once and carry an average of 157 young per brood. Developmental stages of the postmarsupial young are described and discussed.

LIFE HISTORY STUDIES OF THE TOBACCO FLEA BEETLE, EPITRIX HIRTIPENNIS (MELSHEIMER) (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE)

1987 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Davis Martin ◽  
G. A. Herzog
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Larval Stage ◽  
Flea Beetle ◽  
Pupal Stage ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Adult Longevity ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Controlled Conditions ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Mean

The life history of the tobacco flea beetle, Epitrix hirtipennis (Melsheimer) (= Epitrix parvula Fab.) was studied under the controlled conditions of 27 ± 2.8°C, 80 ± 6% and a 14L:10D photophase. Eggs matured in ca. 4 days, the larval stage, including 3 instars, developed in 13 days, prepupal development took 3 days and the pupal stage lasted approximately 5 days. There was a 24 day interval between oviposition and adult emergence. Females laid 3.1 eggs/day with a 13 day period between adult emergence and first oviposition. The mean number of total eggs/female was 138.6 ± 14.7. Female oviposition continued until a few days before death and adult longevity was approximately 70 days. A visual means of distinguishing between male and female beetles was also developed.

Comparative life history features of the western spotted frog, Rana pretiosa, from low- and high-elevation populations

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1254-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence E. Licht
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Female Fecundity ◽  
Size At Sexual Maturity ◽  
Rana Pretiosa

Comparisons are made of life history features of the western spotted frog, Rana pretiosa pretiosa, living at 70 m in southwestern British Columbia, and 2600 m in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming.Lowland tadpoles remain longer as larvae and transform at twice the body size as highland tadpoles.Growth rates of juveniles and adults are rapid in the lowland population and the same amount of growth achieved by them in 2–3 years takes 8–10 years for highland frogs.Body size at sexual maturity is the same for frogs from both populations, but B.C. frogs breed at half the age of Wyoming frogs. Female fecundity, the number of eggs at spawning, is the same, but lowland females breed annually, while high-elevation females breed only every 2 or 3 years.Various explanations are put forth to account for observed differences.

STUDIES ON CESTODES OF THE GENUS TRIAENOPHORUS FROM FISH OF LESSER SLAVE LAKE, ALBERTA: V. DESCRIPTION AND LIFE HISTORY OF TRIAENOPHORUS STIZOSTEDIONIS N.SP.

1945 ◽  
Vol 23d (5) ◽  
pp. 117-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Male Genitalia ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Parietal Peritoneum ◽  
Stizostedion Vitreum ◽  
Pike Perch ◽  
History Of

Triaenophorus stizostedionis is a pseudophyllidean cestode that occurs as an adult in the intestine of the pike-perch, Stizostedion vitreum. It differs from T. crassus and T. nodulosus in several morphological characters but particularly in the shape of the scolex hooks and the size and disposition of the male genitalia. Sexual maturity is attained in the spring; spawning and death take place during the first two weeks of June. The eggs average 56 μ long by 40 μ wide. The coracidia average 73 by 71 μ. The procercoid develops in the copepod, Cyclops bicuspidatus, in from 10 days to two weeks. When fully grown it reaches 220 μ. The plerocercoids occur encysted on the visceral and parietal peritoneum of the trout-perch, Percopsis omiscomaycus. The life history is completed when an infested trout-perch is swallowed by a pike-perch.

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