BIO

Kassia Stevens is a fourth-year biology student, graduating in May 2024, with a focus in ecology and evolution. She is currently part of an FSU pathway program for Geographic Information Systems and intends to pursue a career in conservation biology after attending graduate school.

The Effects of Food Availability on Reproduction in Simultaneous Hermaphrodite Doto chica

Abstract

Understanding the impact of environmental factors on reproductive activity is crucial when it comes to studying population dynamics, particularly in ever-changing coastal marine ecosystems. The present study explores the effects of food availability on the mating behavior of Doto chica, a simultaneous hermaphrodite nudibranch found along the Gulf coast of Florida. Through controlled laboratory trials, we investigate whether varying levels of food access has an influence in copulation dynamics in this species. While copulation initiation remains unaffected by food availability, our results indicate a significant correlation between food access and copulation duration; individuals with restricted food access exhibit shorter mating durations compared to those with unrestricted food access. Oviposition rates, though, do not differ significantly across treatments, suggesting potential resilience to short-term food scarcity. These findings suggest that D. chica may allocate reproductive energy based on resource availability, which would align them with the concept of ‘capital breeders.’ This study emphasizes the importance of considering environmental factors when analyzing the reproductive strategies of marine invertebrates in intertidal zones.

Keywords: Reproductive biology, Invertebrate, Marine science