Reproductive biology of Perinereis anderssoni (Polychaeta: Nereididae) in a subtropical Atlantic Beach

Abstract

Perinereis anderssoni is a nereidid species commonly found on rocky shores, with a wide distribution in western Atlantic – from Mexico to Parana State – Brazil. Monthly samples were taken between April 2009 and April 2010 and between March 2011 and April 2012 in Itaipu Beach – Niterói, RJ, in order to study its reproduction. Collected individuals were measured for the width of the 10th chaetiger, classified according to sex, analyzed and classified in stages according to presence and development of reproductive modifications. Results show that the species reproduces through epitoky, with different development degrees between males and females, as well as the development of structures restricted to males. Sexual proportion along the studied time was approximately 1:1. Reproduction seems to occur during most of the year, showing a seasonal peak between August and November 2009 and between September and October 2011.

• Keywords
• Nereididae
• Perinereis
• reproductive cycle
• epitoky
• reproductive modifications

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Wilson Malafaia for the English review. We also would like to thank CAPES for supporting this study. Lastly, we also thank the anonymous reviewers for valuable comments on the manuscript.