Developmental mechanism
|
Definition |
| Oviparous |
A type of reproduction in animals in which the fertilized eggs are laid or spawned by the mother. |
| Spores (sexual or asexual) |
A plant reproductive cell capable of developing into a new individual, directly or after fusion with another spore. Spores may be produced either by meiosis or mitosis (Lincoln et al. 1998). |
| Planktotrophic |
Feeding at least in part on materials captured from the plankton (Barnes et al., 1993). |
| Lecithotrophic |
Development at the expense of internal resources (i.e. yolk) provided by the female (Barnes et al., 1993). |
| Direct development |
Development without a larval stage (Barnes et al., 1993). |
| Ovoviviparous |
A type of reproduction in animals in which the embryo(s) develop in persistent membranes and hatch within the maternal body. No nutrition is derived from the mother. |
| Viviparous |
A type of reproduction in animals in which the embryo(s) develop within and derive nourishment from the maternal body. |
| Brooding |
The incubation of eggs either inside or outside the body. Eggs may be brooded to a variety of developmental stages. Males or females may be responsible for brooding (adapted from Ruppert & Barnes, 1994). |
References
- Barnes, R.S.K., Calow, P. & Olive, P.J.W., 1993. The invertebrates: a new synthesis. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd.
- Lincoln, R., Boxshall, G. & Clark, P., 1998. A dictionary of ecology, evolution and systematics (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University of Press.
- Ruppert, E.E. & Barnes, R.D., 1994. Invertebrate zoology (6th ed.). Fort Worth, USA: Saunders College Publishing
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