Sediment-associated cues for larval settlement of Polydora cornuta and Streblospio benedicti (Polychaeta, Spionidae)

Patchy distribution of infaunal polychaetes may result from active site selection of larvae guided by sediment associated bacterial cues. This hypothesis was tested in still water laboratory settlement assays with and without choice option for larvae of two spionid polychaetes with indirect development: Polydora cornuta and Streblospio benedicti. Larvae were able to accept or reject attractive and unattractive sediment qualities in the assays in a species specific manner. Two out of 15 tested bacterial isolates significantly triggered settlement of P. cornuta and S. benedicti larvae in a cell density dependent manner. The heat labile sediment associated settlement cue was at least partially of bacterial origin but not related to a unique bacterial genus. Furthermore, the settlement of P. cornuta was influenced by gregarious behavior and the signal was mainly harboured in sediments formerly inhabited by conspecific adults.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Universität Oldenburg

Year

2007

Author dc:creator

• Sebesvari, Zita

• [Keine Schlagwörter von Autor/in vergeben.]

Repository record source_url

http://oops.uni-oldenburg.de/48

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oops.uni-oldenburg.de:48