Comparative analysis of the gonadal structures of Cubozoa in the evolutionary context of Medusozoa (Cnidaria)

Abstract

Reproduction studies of Cubozoa are limited, hindering an evolutionary understanding on the subject, especially with respect to the existence of historical and functional patterns that could be characterized in this context. In this project, we propose to obtain histomorphological and ultrastructural data on the reproductive aspects of some cubo species with different reproduction strategies, comparing them with data from other classes of Cnidaria Medusozoa (viz., Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa and Staurozoa). We aim to (1) determine histomorphological and ultrastructural patterns of the female and male gonads in relation to the type of fertilization and; (2) to the Cubozoa phylogeny; (3) contextualizing these patterns in comparative analyzes with other classes of Cnidaria, and; (4) revealing possible structures or processes of sperm storage in the different taxa. Data will be obtained from histological analyzes and transmission electron microscopy to access the gonadal morphology in males and females of groups for which these data are not yet known. (AU)