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 Coon, S. L.
Right arrow Articles by Bonar, D. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Coon, S. L.
Right arrow Articles by Bonar, D. B.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 179, Issue 3 297-303, Copyright © 1990 by Marine Biological Laboratory

ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION

Ammonia Induces Settlement Behavior in Oyster Larvae

S. L. Coon, M. Walch, W. K. Fitt, R. M. Weiner and D. B. Bonar
Department of Zoology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742

Oyster larvae exposed to solutions of NH4Cl exhibit stereotypical settlement behavior similar to that which normally precedes cementation and metamorphosis. Un-ionized ammonia is the active chemical species. At pH = 8.0, the threshold concentration of NH4Cl (pH = 8.0) for newly competent larvae is 2.5 mM; maximum activity is at 7.9 mM, corresponding to calculated NH3 concentrations of 100 {mu}M and 310 {mu}M, respectively. Induction of settlement behavior is rapid, with >90% of larvae exposed to 310 {mu}M NH3 responding within less than 5 min. After 15 to 30 min, larvae become habituated to NH3 and resume swimming so that the percent exhibiting settlement behavior after 30 min is <10%. Other weak bases, such as methylamine and trimethylamine, induce similar behavior suggesting that NH3 acts by increasing intracellular pH. Evidence that NH3 and L-3,4-dihyrodxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) induce settlement behavior through different mechanisms is presented. Ammonia may be a natural environmental cue that promotes oyster settlement behavior and, ultimately, recruitment.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
S. Santagata
A Waterborne Behavioral Cue for the Actinotroch Larva of Phoronis pallida (Phoronida) Produced by Upogebia pugettensis (Decapoda: Thalassinidea)
Biol. Bull., October 1, 2004; 207(2): 103 - 115.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Integr. Comp. Biol.Home page
R. B. Forward Jr.,, R. A. Tankersley, and D. Rittschof
Cues for Metamorphosis of Brachyuran Crabs: An Overview
Integr. Comp. Biol., October 1, 2001; 41(5): 1108 - 1122.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Integr. Comp. Biol.Home page
E. M. Leise, K. Thavaradhara, N. R. Durham, and B. E. Turner
Serotonin and Nitric Oxide Regulate Metamorphosis in the Marine Snail Ilyanassa obsoleta
Integr. Comp. Biol., April 1, 2001; 41(2): 258 - 267.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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