Influence of diatom exopolymers and biofilms on metamorphosis in the barnacle Balanus amphitrite

Patil, Jagadish S. ; Anil, Arga Chandrashekar (2005) Influence of diatom exopolymers and biofilms on metamorphosis in the barnacle Balanus amphitrite Marine Ecology Progress Series, 301 . pp. 231-245. ISSN 0171-8630

Full text not available from this repository.

Official URL: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v301/p231-24...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps301231

Abstract

Natural biofilms constitute a complex network of microorganisms (bacteria, diatoms, protozoa, fungi) and their extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which influence settlement in benthic invertebrates. We investigated the influence of diatom (Bacillariophyceae) films and EPS (>1000 molecular weight) on metamorphosis in the acorn barnacle Balanus amphitrite Darwin, a dominant fouling organism, using axenic and non-axenic films, and free and biofilm EPS, of 5 species of pennate diatoms: Amphora coffeaeformis and A. rostrata, and Navicula transitans var. derasa f. delicatula, N. crucicula and N. subinflata. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra revealed that the EPS produced by diatoms are of similar nature; however, the proportion of monosaccharides varies with species, indicating a potential role for influencing larval metamorphosis. Free EPS of axenic diatoms had no effect, whereas biofilm EPS induced larvae to metamorphose. Amphora spp. produced more biofilm EPS, but had relatively weaker effects than Navicula spp. Axenic diatom films also facilitated larval metamorphosis (depending on species and cell density) in some cases, suggesting that the cues provided by the diatoms themselves can also mediate invertebrate larval metamorphosis in the absence of microbial films. Non-axenic diatom films (which had higher cell densities) and biofilm EPS promoted metamorphosis to a greater degree than those of axenic diatoms. Enhancement of metamorphosis depended on diatom species and on their density in the films, as well as on the composition of their EPS. Differential responses of barnacle larvae to different diatom species and their EPS indicate that each diatom species provides a different set of physico-chemical signals to settling larvae.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Inter Research.
Keywords:Bacillariophyceae; Extracellular Polymeric Substances; Biofilms; Larvae; Balanus amphitrite
ID Code:99948
Deposited On:12 Feb 2018 12:09
Last Modified:12 Feb 2018 12:09

Repository Staff Only: item control page