Sea Anemone Reproduction

Photo by areefcreation.com Anemones can reproduce either asexually or sexually.  Each method of reproduction has distinct advantages and disadvantages.  With asexual reproduction, the offspring are genetically identical to the original parent.  Asexual reproduction allows for larger numbers of individual offspring to be produced more quickly with less energy expenditure as compared to sexual reproduction.  In stable marine environments this is a reliable, efficient and effective means of reproduction. However, this lack of genetic diversity in offspring could collapse an entire population of genetically identical animals if environmental pressures were to swing too far from tolerable conditions.  On the other hand, rapid rates of asexual reproduction allows for faster responses to environmental pressures as they are occurring and could raise the rate of survival if