Biol. Bull. Sign up for etocs!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Carroll, D. J.
Right arrow Articles by Kempf, S. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Carroll, D. J.
Right arrow Articles by Kempf, S. C.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 179, Issue 3 243-253, Copyright © 1990 by Marine Biological Laboratory

DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION

Laboratory Culture of the Aeolid Nudibranch Berghia verrucicornis (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia): Some Aspects of Its Development and Life History

D. J. Carroll and S. C. Kempf
Department of Zoology and Wildlife Science and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, 101 Cary Hall, Auburn University, Alabama 36849-5508

Adult Berghia verrucicornis individuals lay white, spiral egg masses containing zygotes. Egg masses are easily cultured in aerated, Millipore-filtered, seasoned aquarium water. Development proceeds quickly, with the bilobed velum apparent by the end of the second day, and the larval shell appearing at the beginning of the third day after oviposition. Hatching occurs 11 to 12 days after oviposition (23.9 +/- 1.3{deg}C). If egg masses are incubated without aeration, poecilogonous development is observed; both larvae and juveniles hatch from the same undisturbed egg mass. The larvae metamorphose soon after hatching, losing the velum and larval shell. A habitat-specific inducer is not required for metamorphosis; but a factor associated with the sea anemone Aiptasia pallida appears to enhance a larva's tendency to metamorphose. Juveniles begin feeding on A. pallida three to four days after metamorphosis. Reproductive maturity is achieved as early as 47 days after oviposition. Because B. verrucicornis can be cultured, along with its prey A. pallida, at inland facilities, this nudibranch species may be a useful model for laboratory-oriented life history and neurobiological investigations.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
S. C. Kempf and L. R. Page
Anti-Tubulin Labeling Reveals Ampullary Neuron Ciliary Bundles in Opisthobranch Larvae and a New Putative Neural Structure Associated With the Apical Ganglion
Biol. Bull., June 1, 2005; 208(3): 169 - 182.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1990 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.