Citation: Stebbing, A.R.D. 1972 Preferential settlement of a bryozoan and serpulid larvae on the young parts of Laminaria fronds. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 52: 765-772
Number of Pages: 8
Volume Part: 3
Keywords: Alga, Annelida, Bryozoa, Ecology, Fauna, Flora, Galway, Littoral, Marine, Polychaeta, Sea mat, Seaweed, Sublittoral, Worm
Abstract: Some preliminary experiments are described which indicate that the larvae of Scrupcelluria reptans (L), Spirorbis corallinae de Silva and Knight-Jones forma reptans l'Hardy and Quievreux and S. (Janua) pagenstecheri Quatrefages prefer to settle on the younger parts of fronds of Laminaria digitata (Huds) Lamour. Two possible explanations for the ecological significance of this behaviour are discussed and some supporting evidence given. All the material was collected from rapids near the mouth of Cashla Bay, Co. Galway.