Planktonic larvae
Published: April 22, 2007, 7:02 pm
Updated: April 22, 2007, 7:02 pm
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Marion McClaryPlanktonic larvae, also known as "meroplankton" are the most common early life stage of marine invertebrates, many of whom live on the bottom as adults. Some examples are crabs, clams, sea stars, barnacles, shrimp, worms, sponges, corals, and sea urchins. These animals, except for crabs and barnacles, release sperm and eggs into the water column when they reproduce, and the eggs develop into planktonic larvae. Crabs copulate and barnacles pseudocopulate rather than release sperm and eggs into the water column. Some of the larvae (depending on the species) may still have some yolk that they can use for nutrition. They are called lecithotrophic larvae. Others must find and capture food, and are called planktotrophic. These juvenile stages living in the plankton are very vulnerable to being eaten themselves. Critical to their success is finding the proper environment to metamorphose into the adult stage. Most worms, for example, require a soft muddy bottom, while barnacles require a hard substrate. The larvae go to the bottom, and if the substrate is not proper, they can go back up and remain in the plankton additional time. Some species, such as oysters, increase the chances of larvae finding a suitable environment by having the larvae attracted to adults of the same species, which will increase their chances of finding a suitable environment for settling and metamorphosis.
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Citation
Judith S. Weis (Lead Author);Marion McClary (Topic Editor) "Planktonic larvae". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth April 22, 2007; Last revised Date April 22, 2007; Retrieved May 24, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Planktonic_larvae>
The Author
Dr. Judith Weis is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, Newark Campus. She received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, and MS and PhD from New York University. She served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University. She was a AAAS/American Society of Zoologists Congressional Science Fellow with the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She served for two years as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation, and has been a visiti ... (Full Bio)
Planktonic larvae, also known as "meroplankton" are the most common early life stage of marine invertebrates, many of whom live on the bottom as adults. Some examples are crabs, clams, sea stars, barnacles, shrimp, worms, sponges, corals, and sea urchins. These animals, except for crabs and barnacles, release sperm and eggs into the water column when they reproduce, and the eggs develop into planktonic larvae. Crabs copulate and barnacles pseudocopulate rather than release sperm and eggs into the water column. Some of the larvae (depending on the species) may still have some yolk that they can use for nutrition. They are called lecithotrophic larvae. Others must find and capture food, and are called planktotrophic. These juvenile stages living in the plankton are very vulnerable to being eaten themselves. Critical to their success is finding the proper environment to metamorphose into the adult stage. Most worms, for example, require a soft muddy bottom, while barnacles require a hard substrate. The larvae go to the bottom, and if the substrate is not proper, they can go back up and remain in the plankton additional time. Some species, such as oysters, increase the chances of larvae finding a suitable environment by having the larvae attracted to adults of the same species, which will increase their chances of finding a suitable environment for settling and metamorphosis.
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