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Swimming in response to light by larvae of the tropical serpulid Spirobranchus giganteus

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Abstract

The planktotrophic trochophore of the serpulid polychaete Spirobranchus giganteus (Pallas) responds positively to visible light of wavelengths shorter than 590 nm. The response does not habituate, remaining effective for at least 2 h. The position and orientation of the 2-celled eyespot suggest that continuous forward movement occurs when the eyespot microvilli are shaded, a condition that could be caused by the pigment cell or by an outside shadow. Comparison with other larvae indicates interspecific differences in both light response and eyespot orientation. At the metatrochophore stage there is a loss of response to white light as well as changes in swimming speed and behaviour.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, McGill University, P.O. Box 6070, 101, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    J. R. Marsden

  2. The Bellairs Research Institute, St. James, Barbados

    J. R. Marsden

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  1. J. R. Marsden
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Communicated by R. W. Doyle, Halifax

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Marsden, J.R. Swimming in response to light by larvae of the tropical serpulid Spirobranchus giganteus . Marine Biology 83, 13–16 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393081

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393081

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