Larval development and metamorphosis in Balanus amphitrite Darwin (Cirripedia; Thoracica): significance of food concentration, temperature and nucleic acids

Abstract

The influence of food concentration (Chaetoceros calcitrans at 1×105 and 2×105 cells ml^-1) and temperature (20°C and 30°C) on the nucleic acid content of the nauplii and the cyprids of Balanus amphitrite, an acorn barnacle, was evaluated. Food concentration and temperature jointly determined the naupliar instar duration. The total naupliar development period lasted 9–11 days at 20°C and was longer when compared to 5–6 days observed at 30°C. Increase in rearing temperature and food concentration positively influenced the size of the larvae. Food concentration influenced the DNA of III and VI naupliar instars and temperature influenced the DNA of IV and V instar nauplii. The RNA content of IV–VI naupliar instars was also influenced by the rearing temperature. Naupliar experience determined cyprid metamorphosis capability. The RNA content of larvae, that had longer total naupliar duration at 20°C, was considerably less than those raised at 30°C. This difference in RNA content was reflected in the capability of the cyprids to survive at 5°C. The resultant cyprids at 20°C could only successfully metamorphose over 2–4 days, whereas, those at 30°C could do so over 8–16 days. Such differences in the capability to metamorphose will be of critical importance to recruitment and early post-settlement mortality.