Sexual reproduction of the Prochloron-bearing ascidians, Trididemnum cyclops and Lissoclinum bistratum, in subtropical waters: seasonality and vertical transmission of photosymbionts

The seasonality of sexual reproduction was studied in two Prochloron-bearing ascidians, Trididemnum cyclops and Lissoclinum bistratum, on a subtropical coral reef off Okinawajima Island, Japan. These colonial ascidians had testes and/or eggs/embryos from spring to summer. Embryos with tails occurred in summer. Whereas many photosymbiotic didemnids are thought to be sexually mature throughout the year in the tropics, sexual reproduction of the same species in subtropical waters may be limited to spring and summer. The subtropical winter may be too cold for gonad formation. A histological study of sexually mature colonies showed no Prochloron cells attached to ascidian larvae in the pre-hatch stage.