AGGREGATION AND FUSION BETWEEN CONSPECIFICS OF A SOLITARY ASCIDIAN

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Abstract
Fusion between conspecifics in a solitary ascidian is reported for the 1st time. Molgula complanata Alder and Hancock showed aggregated settlement on Perspex panels in the field allowing contact between conspecifics after some increase in size. Histological sections of adult animals which were in contact with one or more conspecifics showed that some individuals were fused to others. The frequency of fusion between contacting specimens was 20%. The outer membranes of the tunicates were absent between fused animals but not in unfused ones. Fusion was thus characterized by contiguous matrices which contained cellular elements. No barrier to interchange of tunicate cells between fused animals was observed. Fusion may oppose inbreeding in hermaphroditic, viviparous ascidians with minimal dispersal.

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