Starlet sea anemone  (Nematostella vectensis)

Asexually: Of asexual reproduction: reproduction that does not involve the formation of sex cells (‘gametes'). In many species, asexual reproduction can occur by fission (or in plants ‘vegetative reproduction'); part of the organism breaks away and develops into a separate individual. Some animals, including vertebrates can develop from unfertilised eggs, this process - known as parthenogenesis - gives rise to offspring that are genetically identical to the parent.
Copepod: Large and diverse group of minute marine and freshwater crustaceans belonging to the subclass Copepoda. They usually have an elongated body and a forked tail.
Inbreeding depression: The reduction in viability, birth weight, and fertility that occurs in a population after one or more generations of inbreeding (interbreeding amongst close relatives).
Larvae: Stage in an animal's lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.
Larval: Of the stage in an animal's lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.
Metamorphosis: An abrupt physical change from the larval to the adult form.

1. IUCN Red List (February, 2005)
   http://www.redlist.org
   
2. Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland (February, 2005)
   http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/index.html
   
3. UK BAP (February, 2005)
   http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=471
   
4. Animal Diversity Web (February, 2005)
   http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Nematostella_vectensis.html
   
5. Uhlinger, K.R. and Hand, C. (1992) The culture, sexual and asexual reproduction and growth of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Biological Bulletin, 182 (2): 169 - 176.