Pollinators of the sea: A discovery of animal-mediated fertilization in seaweed

海洋中的 pollinator

Like bees of the sea, crustaceans ‘pollinate’ seaweed  (Jake Buehler, Science News, JULY 28, 2022 AT 2:09 PM)

Animal-driven fertilization may have emerged in the ocean long before it did on land

Pollinators of the sea: A discovery of animal-mediated fertilization in seaweed. Science. (E. Lavaut et al. Science 377 (6605):528, July 29, 2022)

This is the COVER of Science.  All the following description is from Science: An isopod (Idotea balthica), a type of crustacean, covers itself with male gametes while feeding on the epiphytes of the red alga Gracilaria gracilis. Isopods facilitate algal fertilization by carrying spermatia on their bodies. Such animal-mediated fertilization is akin to pollination in flowering plants. See pages 471 and 528. (Photo: Wilfried Thomas, Station Biologique de Roscoff)