Reproductive and nutritional periodicities in the starfish, Marthasterias glacialis, from Plymouth Sound

Abstract

The gonadial, pyloric caecal and somatic cycles over three consecutive years in a subtidal population of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis from Plymouth Sound are described. The study area lies towards the eastern limit of the up-Channel range of this species, and this is reflected in only partial reciprocity between gonadial and pyloric indices, and also by the apparent utilisation of somatic material during the build-up of gametes. The sequence of events at the cytological level during gonadial build-up is described.