Three different hemafroditic strategies on the Balearic Islands shelf (north-western Mediterranean sea)

1. Three different hermaphroditic sexual patterns on the Balearic Islands shelf (north-western Mediterranean sea) Alexandre Alonso-Fernández 1 , Josep Alós 2 , Amalia Grau 3 ,Rosario Domínguez-Petit 1 , and Fran Saborido-Rey 1 1 Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, IIM (CSIC). C/Eduardo Cabello, 6. Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain. Corresponding author: [email_address] 2 Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB). C/ Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain 3 Direcció General de Pesca, Govern de les Illes Balears, C/ Foners 10, 07006, Palma, Spain. Institute of Marine Research (CSIC) Vigo, Spain Fisheries Ecology http://pesquerias.iim.csic.es

7. In this study the three species selected to illustrate the coexistence of different hermaphroditic strategies in the same ecosystem were: the rainbow wrasse, Coris julis , the painted comber, S erranus scriba and the annular seabream, Diplodus annularis . These three fishes are the main recreational target species in the Balearic Islands, NW Mediterranean, and they have been recently reported that are vulnerable to the impact of some recreational angling activities. Coris julis S erranus scriba Diplodus annularis Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Introduction

8. The purpose of this study was to delineate the seasonal cycle of sexual maturation, timing and rhythm of spawning , ovarian development organization and establish the functional sexual pattern for each species under a histological approach . Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Introduction

10. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Material and Methods

12. Coris julis exhibit an asynchronous ovarian development organization. This asynchrony was reflected also by the continuous oocyte size-frequency distribution. There were several modes within the continuous oocyte size frequency distribution (several different batches of oocytes). Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies Primary growth Cortical alveoli advanced-VIT early-VIT 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

13. Study of ultrastructure of the testes showed unrestricted spermatogonial testicular type . Spermatogenesis is cystic in this species. Grier (1981) Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies Unrestricted Restricted 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

14. Study of ultrastructure of the testes showed unrestricted spermatogonial testicular type . Spermatogenesis is cystic in this species. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

15. Intersexual individuals were clearly identified after histological examination. The first evidence of sex-change was the presence of degenerating ovarian tissue . Spermatogonial nest spreads within the gonad. The highly prevalence of eosinophils in intersexual individuals could indicate a kind of association of this cells with sex-change process. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

16. Intersexual individuals were clearly identified after histological examination. The first evidence of sex-change was the presence of degenerating ovarian tissue . Spermatogonial nest spreads within the gonad. The highly prevalence of eosinophils in intersexual individuals could indicate a kind of association of this cells with sex-change process. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

17. Intersexual individuals were clearly identified after histological examination. The first evidence of sex-change was the presence of degenerating ovarian tissue . Spermatogonial nest spreads within the gonad. The highly prevalence of eosinophils in intersexual individuals could indicate a kind of association of this cells with sex-change process. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

18. Bimodal frequency distribution by length and age is clear, with smaller and younger modal for females than secondary males. Primary males also were younger and smaller than secondary males. Modal size and age of intersexual individuals is located in the middle of size and age range distribution. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

19. “ […] In monandric species, all males are derived exclusively from functional females through sex change (i.e. secondary male). Diandric species undergo two male developmental pathways; some males differentiate directly from juveniles through sexual differentiation (i.e. primary male), while others are secondary, as in monandry.[…]” Liu and Sadovy (2004) primary secondary

20. Diandric protoginy was identified for Coris julis , estimation of length and age at sex change was conducted excluding primary males and intersexual individuals ( GLM, link function=binomial) . Length-at-sex-change and age-at-sex-change were 132 mm and 4 years respectively Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

21. Reproductive cycle was evaluated using monthly variation of mean estimated GSI values and monthly maturity stage frequency . The seasonal variability in mean GSI values and the high proportion of females in actively spawning condition showed that the spawning season extends from late spring through early summer. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

22. In Serranus scriba , gonads revelled that ovary and testis are present and mature at the same time, enough evidence for simultaneous hermaphoditism diagnosis. Asynchronous ovarian development organization was present and testes are characterized by cystic spermatogenesis and unrestricted spermatogonial testicular type. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

23. Monthly variation in GSI values clearly shown a peak of reproductive activity in May and June. Attending to the proportion of mature stage the spawning season extends from late spring through mid summer. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies Rivulus marmoratus Serranus tabacarius Serranus triginus 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

24. Monthly variation in GSI values clearly shown a peak of reproductive activity in May and June. Attending to the proportion of mature stage the spawning season extends from late spring through mid summer. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies Rivulus marmoratus 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

25. Monthly variation in GSI values clearly shown a peak of reproductive activity in May and June. Attending to the proportion of mature stage the spawning season extends from late spring through mid summer. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies Serranus tabacarius Serranus triginus 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

26. Regarding ovarian development Diplodus annularis showed asynchronous organization and testes are of unrestricted spermatogonial testicular type and cystic spermatogenesis. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

27. When ovotestis were clearly identified only one of the tissues was functional, no intersexual individuals with degenerating tissue were found. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

28. Although the sex ratio was slightly biased to females, except for smaller sizes, the size and age frequency distribution for both sex were basically the same like in gonochoristic species. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

29. May and June showed the highest reproductive activity during the year with a sharply decrease in July, stating the spawning season in late spring-early summer. Theme session 1: Female and male reproductive strategies 4th Workshop on Gonadal Histology of Fishes 16-19 June 2009 - El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz, Spain Results

31. Thank You