Ultrastructural and morphological alterations in chilling-induced gorgonian (Ellisella robusta) oocytes

• Main Authors: Cheng-Chia Lin, 林政嘉
• Other Authors: Chiahsin Lin
• Format: Others
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/19808986427983736234

碩士 === 國立東華大學 === 海洋生物研究所 === 103 === Coral reefs play a vital role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem by acting as natural breakwaters and sequestering carbon. Despite their known importance, coral populations continue to suffer degradation from excessive coastal development and unfavourable climate change. In the present study, the effect of low temperature on ultrastructure of Ellisella robusta oocytes was observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy to understand the chilling injury and patterns of the important organelles in coral oocytes. The results showed that yolk body and lipid granule were presented as yolk materials in this study. Different types of vesicles contained granules and homogeneous yolks from different types of inclusions were abundantly observed. The following chilling experiments showed that when compared to all the other treated groups, 1M Methanol reduced low temperature injuries when oocytes were incubated for 12, 24, 48 and 96h. Chilling injuries caused fusion and coalescence of oocytes. However, higher concentration of methanol (2M) resulted the appearance of the uneven and nonhomogeneous vesicles in the yolk materials. This study increased the understanding of coral oocytes to low temperature impact, particularly at the cellular level, and will be mainly helpful for future coral conservation.