Kelp reproduce asexually without mates in new study
A study published on 12 November in PLoS Biology shows that Laminaria pallida kelp can reproduce asexually when potential mates are scarce.
Laboratory findings reveal flexibility
Scientists studied Laminaria pallida, which inhabits the Atlantic shores of South Africa and Namibia. Outside human influence, 523 separate kelp specimens displayed no obvious signs of asexual replication. By contrast, microscopic male and female specimens grown in separate laboratory dishes produced offspring without fertilization. This process involves unfertilized eggs developing into offspring while sperm cells also develop without mating.
Gene expression changes occur
In asexual reproduction, male gene expression shifted so they resembled females more closely. Daniel Liesner of the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel observed that kelp reproduce with greater flexibility than was previously thought. Reina Veenhof of the Scottish Association for Marine Science stated that these algae do all kinds of stuff. Olivier De Clerck from Ghent University highlighted that this ability is striking because sperm cells are small and have few resources.
Chemical signals detect partners
If lab-grown kelp encountered a member of the opposite sex, they preferred sexual reproduction. The researchers suggest that kelp can detect nearby partners through chemical signals. Such adaptability in development clarifies the way shifts in genetic function enable kelp to reproduce through various methods.
Reported by one outlet
Only one outlet has published this. Nothing here has been checked against a second report, so read it as that outlet's account and follow the link below for the original.
Reported by
1 independent outlet. Headline as published. Links open the original report.