Diplopteraster verrucosus is a sea star that incubates its offspring in nidamental chambers. The offspring rely exclusively on maternally provided nutrition. The retention of the embryonic stages allows the allocation of nutritional supplies from the female to the brooded juveniles during the brooding period. The main objectives of this study are, first, to quantify the reproductive investment of D. verrucosus and, second, to describe the morphology, energetics, and oxidative metabolism throughout early ontogenetic stages. A skewed sex ratio of 2:1 females:males was found, and 17 of 39 females were brooding. Both brooding and non-brooding females showed higher energy density and total antioxidant capacity in their gonads than males. We identified three cohorts of offspring being retained within the female body simultaneously. Energy density and reactive oxygen species increased significantly with the offspring’s volume throughout ontogeny. Moreover, we found evidence of at least two key events during ontogeny. First, the depletion of antioxidants, the increase of reactive oxygen species, and the development of a complete digestive system appear to trigger feeding on the mothers’s pyloric caeca. Second, another oxidative imbalance appears to be associated with the release of the brooded juveniles to the environment. Therefore, oxidative balance and energetic variances may be associated with development of autonomous feeding and juvenile release in D. verrucosus.

中文翻译：

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在南大洋中孵化：翼星科海星 Diplopteraster verrucosus 的案例（Sladen，1882 年）

Diplopteraster verrucosus 是一种海星，它在 nidamental 室中孵化其后代。后代完全依赖母体提供的营养。胚胎阶段的保留允许在育雏期间将营养供应从雌性分配给育雏幼鱼。本研究的主要目标是，首先，量化 D. verrucosus 的生殖投资，其次，描述整个早期个体发育阶段的形态学、能量学和氧化代谢。发现雌性：雄性 2:1 的性别比例偏斜，39 只雌性中有 17 只正在育雏。育雏和非育雏雌性的性腺能量密度和总抗氧化能力均高于雄性。我们确定了三个同时保留在女性体内的后代。在整个个体发育过程中，能量密度和活性氧随着后代体积的增加而显着增加。此外，我们发现了个体发育过程中至少两个关键事件的证据。首先，抗氧化剂的消耗、活性氧的增加以及完整消化系统的发育似乎会引发对母亲幽门盲肠的喂养。其次，另一种氧化失衡似乎与将育雏幼鱼释放到环境中有关。因此，氧化平衡和能量变化可能与 D. verrucosus 中自主进食和幼体释放的发展有关。活性氧的增加和完整消化系统的发育似乎会引发对母亲幽门盲肠的喂养。其次，另一种氧化失衡似乎与将育雏幼鱼释放到环境中有关。因此，氧化平衡和能量变化可能与 D. verrucosus 中自主进食和幼体释放的发展有关。活性氧的增加和完整消化系统的发育似乎会引发对母亲幽门盲肠的喂养。其次，另一种氧化失衡似乎与将育雏幼鱼释放到环境中有关。因此，氧化平衡和能量变化可能与 D. verrucosus 中自主进食和幼体释放的发展有关。