Reproduction in Aquatic Animals

Book excerpt: This book provides an up-to-date overview of the various reproductive systems of a variety of aquatic animals, from invertebrates to fishes. While all terrestrial animals use internal fertilization, aquatic animals have diverse reproductive systems. Some are internal fertilizers with or without mating, but many perform external fertilization. Because of this diversity, the reproductive systems of aquatic animals represent excellent models for the study of adaptive evolution and the species specificity of fertilization. In addition, many aquatic animals, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, are important as fishery and aquaculture resources. In this book, up-and-coming researchers examine reproductive systems in representative aquatic animals, covering both the basic knowledge and late-breaking results. Reproduction in Aquatic Animals: From Basic Biology to Aquaculture Technology will be of interest to graduate and postgraduate students in biology and agricultural sciences, as well as to researchers and technicians in the fields of reproductive biology and fishery science and to non-academics.