Notes on the reproductive strategies of the South African vermetid gastropods Dendropoma corallinaceum, Serpulorbis natalensis

Hughes, RN.; Hughes, RN

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Notes on the reproductive strategies of the South African vermetid gastropods Dendropoma corallinaceum, Serpulorbis natalensis

Hughes, RN.

Veliger 214: 423-427

1979

ISSN/ISBN: 0042-3211

Accession: 021443543

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Summary

D. corallinaceum forms sheet-like colonies on rock surfaces exposed to wave action in the temperate Cape Province of South Africa. S. natalensis forms loose aggregations under stones in calmer water. Adults of both species liberated crawling young when brought into the laboratory. Respiration rates of the young were measured at 15.degree. C in a Gilson respirometer. Samples were fixed in saline formalin for biochemical analysis in the UK. Newly hatched D. corallinaceum weighed about 37 .mu.g total dry weight (including protoconch) of which 35.5% was protein, 1% was carbohydrate and 7.4% was lipid, suggesting that lipid was an important energy source during the dispersal phase. At 15.5.degree. C the crawling young used 0.11 .mu.l O2/h; so the energy reserves would thus last 4-5 days. Newly hatched S. natalensis weighed about 126 .mu.g total dry weight with a biochemical composition fairly similar to that of D. coralinaceum. At 15.5.degree. C the crawling young used 0.07 .mu.l O2/h: so the energy reserves here would thus last 18-19 days. D. corallinaceum respired and crawled at twice the rate for a similar sized S. natalensis: but the potential maximum distance crawled prior to settlement may be much greater for S. natalensis, which has larger energy reserves. The majority of juveniles of both species probably disperse by crawling and settle near the parents, but a few may undergo long distance dispersal buoyed up by using water currents and a mucous thread.

Notes on the reproductive strategies of the South African vermetid gastropods Dendropoma corallinaceum, Serpulorbis natalensis

Hughes, RN.

Veliger 214: 423-427

1979

Full-Text Article emailed within 1 workday

Summary

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