z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
<p class="ZootaxaTitle"><strong>Nocturnally swarming Caribbean polychaetes of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, USA</strong></p>
Author(s) -
Nancy K. Prentiss
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
zoosymposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1178-9913
pISSN - 1178-9905
DOI - 10.11646/zoosymposia.19.1.12
Subject(s) - swarming (honey bee) , biology , full moon , ecology , geography , zoology
Nocturnally swarming polychaetes were sampled over a ten-year period (2007–2017) in shallow waters of the Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, United States Virgin Islands. While sampling was qualitative and conducted over different years, months and lunar phases, some patterns were noted in the emergence of swarming polychaetes. Three families (Nereididae, Opheliidae, and Syllidae) had members that swarmed on most nights, while reproductive epitokes from two families appeared only during specific lunar phases: Goniadidae around the full moon and Phyllodocidae around the new moon. Additional polychaete families represented included Amphinomidae, Dorvilleidae, and Scalibregmatidae, whose members swarmed during the waning or waxing lunar phases. This overview offers new information about the timing of reproductive swarming in Caribbean polychaetes and suggests some connections between lunar phases and the swarming of different families.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here