Title: Survival of post-larval individuals of the cirratulid polychaetes<i>Dodecaceria fimbriata</i>and<i>D. concharum</i>at reduced salinity
Abstract: Abstract The distributions of Dodecaceria fimbriata and D. concharum were shown previously to differ slightly within Europe and this was thought to be due to variation in salinity of the sea. In the present study the ability of individuals of the two species with more than 35 chaetose segments to survive a range of dilutions was tested. The percentage survival of individuals from St Abbs (Borders, Scotland) for 24, 48 and 72 h at these salinities appeared to be the same for both species. From this can be inferred that the differences in geographical distributions are independent of the ability of post-larval individuals to withstand different salinities. These studies support the argument made earlier that the difference depends upon D. fimbriata reproducing asexually. The fragments produced are, unlike the adults, mobile and more likely to withstand lower salinities than the eggs and larvae of both species. This explanation can account for the presence of D. fimbriata and absence of D. concharum in the upper reaches of the Firth of Forth (Scotland).
Publication Year: 1999
Publication Date: 1999-12-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 1
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