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Article: Articulated coralline algae of the genus amphiroa are highly effective natural inducers of settlement in the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina.(Report)
- Article from:
- The Biological Bulletin
- Article date:
- August 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Marine Biological Laboratory. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Introduction
The pelagobenthic life cycle is by far the most common life cycle in the ocean, and is shared by almost all marine invertebrate phyla, from sponges to echinoderms and urochordates. It is characterized by a planktonic larval dispersal phase that ends with settlement onto the substratum and metamorphosis into the benthic adult form. Settlement and metamorphosis can take place only after two conditions are met. First, planktonic dispersing larvae must have reached a development state known as competency, by which time they have a capacity to respond to environmental cues that induce settlement (Degnan and Morse, 1995; Hadfield et al .,2001). Second ...