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Algal epibiosis on M egabalanus tintinnabulum and its role in segregation of the B alanus amphitrite population
Author(s) -
Eswaran Ranjith,
Khandeparker Lidita
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/maec.12105
Subject(s) - barnacle , algae , biology , population , metamorphosis , balanus , botany , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , larva , demography , genetics , sociology
U lva sp. and G racilaria sp. were found colonizing shell surfaces of an acorn barnacle, M egabalanus tintinnabulum . However, this association was not noticed in the case of B alanus amphitrite , which was a co‐inhabitant. Such a difference in intergeneric interactions with the algae was examined in laboratory experiments. For this, the influence that extracts of algae, extracts of algae‐associated bacteria and natural leachants from M . tintinnabulum exerted on cyprid metamorphosis of B . amphitrite was examined. Extracts of algae and associated bacteria showed no effect on the metamorphosis of B . amphitrite . This may be attributed to absence of cue‐specific sugars in the exopolysaccharides and culture supernatants of bacteria. On the other hand, natural leachants of M . tintinnabulum, which showed the presence of N ‐acetyl‐ d ‐glucosamine, a known algal spore attractant, also inhibited metamorphosis of B . amphitrite . Thus, hosting specific epibionts could have important roles in the segregation of barnacle population.