Some factors affecting the growth of prosobranch veligers

Abstract

1. Larvae of Crepidula fornicata (L.) and Nassarius reticulatus (L.) were used for experiments. The conditions under which they thrived proved successful for veligers of other species. 2. They were kept in glass-filtered sea water (pore size 3.0 μ) in acid-clean glass containers, provided with algal foods and handled carefully by means of a pipette. Trapping larvae in a coarse filter as a means of transferring them from one vessel to another was injurious. 3. Shell length was used to estimate growth. 4. The growth of 20 veligers in 30 ml sea water (depth 8 cm) was compared with that of 333 veligers in 500 ml (depth 9 cm). Growth in the larger volume was better, but in all cases the differences were not significant at the 10% level. 5. Growth rate is influenced by light intensity. For comparing the value of different foods experiments were carried out under a constant intensity of 155 lux at the water surface. In the dark, mortality of algal cells stimulates growth of bacteria. 6. The water temperature was maintained at 12° C. Low temperatures, even 8° C, reduce the activity of veligers of Crepidula fornicata and Nassarius reticulatus; high temperatures favour bacterial growth. 7. The growth of recently hatched veligers feeding on one of 10 species of unicellular algae and on some mixtures of these was recorded for 2 (C. fornicata) or 3 (N. reticulatus) breeding seasons. Food was given at different concentrations (2 × 103, 20 × 103, 40 × 103 cells/ml) which were calculated from haemocytometer counts of the stock cultures, though this gives only an approximate value. Experiments lasted up to 4.5 weeks and a few for a longer period. 8. Cricosphaera ap. carterae and Exuviaella baltica were the best foods for Crepidula fornicata, especially at higher concentrations, and larvae were ready to metamorphose in 40 days or less. C. ap. carterae and Dunaliella primolecta were good for Nassarius reticulatus, especially the former, and E. baltica consistently poorer. 9. Monochrysis lutheri and Pyramimonas grossii were moderately good foods, but with these none of the larvae metamorphosed. When fed to Crepidula fornicata at high concentrations (80 × 103, 120 × 103 cells/ml) growth of the former approached that with Cricosphaera ap. carterae whilst with the latter growth decreased with increased concentration. The food value of Phaeodactylum tricornutum is lower; the large frustules irritate the gut and act as a purgative. 10. Chlamydomonas parkeae, Brachiomonas submarina, Exuviaella pusilla and Olisthodiscus sp. are poor foods; the last two are toxic. 11. When the food was 2 species of alga mixed in equal proportions the good value of Cricosphaera ap. carterae was still evident. Examination of the stomach contents showed that the larvae were not feeding selectively on this alga. When the second alga was one with smaller cells (Monochrysis lutheri or Pyramimonas grossii) these were ingested in greater numbers in accordance with the ease with which the velar cilia manipulated them. 12. Algal cells are subjected to mechanical treatment in the stomach; their walls may be shattered but no fragment has been seen in the cells of the digestive gland. The resistance of cells with complete cellulose walls suggests the absence of a cellulase. 13. With some algal foods (species of Monochrysis, Pyramimonas, Phaeodactylum) the walls produce a high proportion of faecal waste which, in less vigorous larvae, may clog the exhalant passage of the mantle cavity. 14. Plant pigments are egested by the veliger. They are intimately linked with food, taken into ingesting cells of the digestive gland and later excreted. They thus delay the cycle of events in the gland. 15. Differences in food value of the various algae may be due to differences in micronutrients and vitamins essential to growth. The fact that one species of alga may produce good growth in one species of veliger and not another must reflect either differences in requirements or in assimilation of the food. 16. Prosobranch veligers are found in numbers well below the compensation depth as well as in other areas where the density of algal cells is low. It is suggested that organic detritus in the sea is an important item of food. © 1970 Biologischen Anstalt Helgoland.