Females of the maldanid polychaete Axiothella mucosa attach gelatinous egg masses to the surface openings of their vertical tubes. This study assessed the risks to the embryos due to environmental stresses. In Florida, embryonic development takes 7-8 d, after which the embryos crawl free from the egg mass and assume a benthic existence. Contrary to earlier suggestions, diatoms growing within and on the egg masses do not contribute significantly to embryonic nutrition. By marking cohorts of egg masses , it was shown that most egg masses become detached from the parental tube before natural release of the juveniles. A caging experiment established that water currents, rather than predators or other biological disturbances, are the cause of detachment.
Member of
Contributors
Date Issued
1986
Note
Language
Type
Genre
Extent
7 p.
Subject (Topical)
Identifier
3172814
Additional Information
Females of the maldanid polychaete Axiothella mucosa attach gelatinous egg masses to the surface openings of their vertical tubes. This study assessed the risks to the embryos due to environmental stresses. In Florida, embryonic development takes 7-8 d, after which the embryos crawl free from the egg mass and assume a benthic existence. Contrary to earlier suggestions, diatoms growing within and on the egg masses do not contribute significantly to embryonic nutrition. By marking cohorts of egg masses , it was shown that most egg masses become detached from the parental tube before natural release of the juveniles. A caging experiment established that water currents, rather than predators or other biological disturbances, are the cause of detachment.
This manuscript is available at http://www.esajournals.org/loi/ecol and may be cited as: Wilson, H. W., Jr. (1986). Detachment of egg masses of a polychaete: environmental risks of benthic protective development. Ecology, 67(3), 810-815. doi:10.2307/1937703
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #473.
Date Backup
1986
Date Text
1986
DOI
10.2307/1937703
Date Issued (EDTF)
1986
Extension
FAU
FAU
admin_unit="FAU01", ingest_id="ing10053", creator="creator:BCHANG", creation_date="2011-07-21 12:52:44", modified_by="super:FAUDIG", modification_date="2014-02-11 10:28:59"
IID
FADT3172814
Issuance
single unit
Organizations
Attributed name: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Person Preferred Name
Wilson, W. Herbert, Jr.
creator
Physical Description
7 p.
Title Plain
Detachment of egg masses of a polychaete: environmental risks of benthic protective development
Origin Information
1986
single unit
Title
Detachment of egg masses of a polychaete: environmental risks of benthic protective development
Other Title Info
Detachment of egg masses of a polychaete: environmental risks of benthic protective development