Open AccessRelevance of biofilm bacteria in modulating the larval metamorphosis of Balanus amphitrite
Author(s) -
Khandeparker Lidita,
Chandrashekar Anil Arga,
Raghukumar Sheshagiri
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2006.00177.x
Subject(s) - balanus , biology , metamorphosis , barnacle , larva , bacteria , biofilm , biofouling , microorganism , ecology , marine bacteriophage , thoracica , zoology , biochemistry , genetics , membrane
Natural microbial communities found on different substrata exposed to the marine environment, including barnacle shell surfaces, are reported to have varying influences on the settlement and metamorphosis of competent cypris larvae. Experiments were carried out to compare the influence of settlement‐inducing compounds from the bacteria isolated from the shell surface of Balanus amphitrite on its larval metamorphosis. The effect of multispecies bacterial film was also assessed. The production of different molecules by the bacteria was influenced by the nutrient media under which they were grown. It was observed that the promotory multispecies bacterial film turned to inhibition mode in the presence of the adult extract of the barnacle, indicating that bacteria–adult extract interactions alter the synthesis of different compounds produced by bacteria. The studies also show that the waterborne and the surface‐associated cues from the bacteria function differentially in mediating larval metamorphosis. Understanding the complexities involved in such interactions and identification of the factors governing them would be a step forward.