Observe sea star reproduction, from egg and sperm release and fertilization to development of zooplankton embryos and larvae
Learn about sea star reproduction by observing the release of eggs and sperm, egg fertilization, and development of zooplankton embryos and larvae.
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Transcript
NARRATOR: Some starfishes reproduce by releasing their eggs directly into seawater.
About the time the eggs are released by female sea stars, males release their sperm. A large male starfish like this one will fill the water with billions of sperm cells.
When the sperm cells come together with the eggs, the eggs are fertilized and begin to divide.
The resulting embryos become part of the animal-like community of plankton, known as zooplankton.
Like all members of the zooplankton, sea star embryos drift with the currents, feeding, growing, and changing.
Eventually they develop into larvae, which in time return to the seafloor and become starfishes.
About the time the eggs are released by female sea stars, males release their sperm. A large male starfish like this one will fill the water with billions of sperm cells.
When the sperm cells come together with the eggs, the eggs are fertilized and begin to divide.
The resulting embryos become part of the animal-like community of plankton, known as zooplankton.
Like all members of the zooplankton, sea star embryos drift with the currents, feeding, growing, and changing.
Eventually they develop into larvae, which in time return to the seafloor and become starfishes.
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