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The biology of a commensal copepod, Ascidicola rosea Thorell, in the ascidian Corella parallelogramma (Müller)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

R. V. Gotto
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Queen's University, Belfast

Extract

A study has been made of the feeding activities and reproductive behaviour of the copepod Ascidicola rosea within one of its ascidian hosts, Corella parallelogramma.

Ascidicola rosea feeds on particles which it removes from the food string as the latter is passing through the oesophagus of the host. When active feeding is not taking place, the copepod remains quiescent in the oesophageal bend. An inverted position within the oesophagus is sometimes adopted; this is generally associated with a meagre development of the food string. Certain peculiar structural features—notably the spinous pad on the penultimate segment and the long endopodal setae—are considered to be adaptations which assist the copepod while clinging to the food string.

The eggs of A. rosea are deposited in the ascidian's stomach and the nauplii pass through the host's alimentary canal still enveloped by the inner egg membrane. On reaching the anus, hatching takes place and the nauplii are expelled from the atrial siphon. There are four naupliar and two copepodid stages. Free-swimming life lasts for about 6 days.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1957

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