Acclimation of gametes to reduced salinity prior to spawning inLuidia clathrata (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

AdultLuidia clathrata (Say) were held at salinities lower and higher (25 to 35) than environmental salinity (29) during gametogenesis and after sperm and primary oocytes were produced. The sperm and primary oocytes acclimated to the experimental salinities in both cases. Fertilization and development through gastrulation were not affected at the salinities at which the parents were held, but were affected at altered salinities. This indicates that intracellular osmoregulation can occur both during gametogenesis and after the stage of arrested activity has been reached. This is an important capacity forL. clathrata, which lives in estuaries with variable salinities.