Settlement behaviour of ascidian larvae: preliminary evidence for inhibition by sponge allelochemicals

Abstract

Some 63% of larvae of the colonial ascidian Podoclavella moluccensis settled on their first contact with the substratum, while a small percentage made ten or more contacts prior to settlement. Two species of subtidal sponge, Mycale sp. and Crella incrustans, were consistently avoided by settling larvae. Settlement by ascidian larvae may be inhibited by natural products released from or at the surface of these sponges. -from Authors