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Settlement of larval blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, in response to green and red macroalgae

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Abstract

Surfaces from the habitat of adult Haliotis rubra were tested as inducers of larval settlement to determine the cues that larvae may respond to in the field. Settlement was high on the green algal species Ulva australis and Ulva compressa (Chlorophyta), the articulated coralline algae Amphiroa anceps and Corallina officinalis, and encrusting coralline algae (Rhodophyta). Biofilmed abiotic surfaces such as rocks, sand and shells did not induce settlement. Ulvella lens was also included as a control. Treatment of U. australis, A. anceps and C. officinalis with antibiotics to reduce bacterial films on the surface did not reduce the settlement response of H. rubra larvae. Similarly, treatment of these species and encrusting coralline algae with germanium dioxide to reduce diatom growth did not significantly reduce larval settlement. These results suggest that macroalgae, particularly green algal species, may play an important role in the recruitment of H. rubra larvae in the field and can be used to induce larval settlement in hatchery culture.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award to MJH, an ARC Large Grant to PDS and RdN, and the Centre for Marine Biofouling and Bio-Innovation. We thank Craig Brand and Nick Savva from NSW Fisheries Research Institute for both larval rearing and advice, and Rebecca Swanson for assistance in the laboratory. Three anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments to improve the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Rocky de Nys

    Present address: School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia

  2. Jane E. Williamson

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia

    Megan J. Huggett & Peter D. Steinberg

  2. Centre for Marine Biofouling and Bio-Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia

    Rocky de Nys, Jane E. Williamson & Peter D. Steinberg

  3. New South Wales Fisheries, Port Stephens Research Centre, Taylors Beach, New South Wales, 2316, Australia

    Mike Heasman

Authors
  1. Megan J. Huggett
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  2. Rocky de Nys
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  3. Jane E. Williamson
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  4. Mike Heasman
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  5. Peter D. Steinberg
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Correspondence to Megan J. Huggett.

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Communicated by M. S. Johnson, Crawley

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Huggett, M.J., de Nys, R., Williamson, J.E. et al. Settlement of larval blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, in response to green and red macroalgae. Marine Biology 147, 1155–1163 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-0005-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-0005-6

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