U.S.-Belgium-Italy Cooperative Research: Fertilization Dynamics of a Benthically-Spawning Nearshore Fish

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9322778 Warner This two-year award supports U.S.-Belgium-Italy cooperative research in fish ecology and fisheries. Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara (Robert A. Warner), University of Liege (Pierre Lejeune), and University of Padova (Andrea Marconato) will conduct a comparative study of fertilization rates of benthically spawning nearshore fish. Using a series of benthically spawning wrasses available only in the Mediterranean, the investigators will study the fertilization rates and sperm release. They will then conduct field experiments to demonstrate the relationship between spawning rate, sperm allocation, and the demands of male defense. The project takes advantage of facilities at the European marine station for underwater and oceanographic research in Corsica, France. It brings together U.S.-Belgium and Italian expertise and experience on an important economic topic. Fisheries worldwide depend on accurate estimates of fish fecundity and production. This study advances understanding of the fertilization process and factors related to increased production. This information eventually will be applied by fisheries in order to increase production. ***