The longevity of actinosporean spores from oligochaetes of Lake Sasajewun,Algonquin Park, Ontario, and their reaction to fish mucus

The longevity of 7 forms of actinosporean sports and the reaction of 6 form s of actinosporeans to fish mucus were investigated. The maximum longevity of actinosporean spores kept at ambient laboratory temperatures was 14 days . Spore longevity ranged from ii to 14 days among actinosporeans. The react ion of spores to fish mucus varied among the actinosporeans. Trinctinomyxon F of Xiao and Desser, 1998 reacted only to the mucus of the common shiner Luxilus cornutus, and golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas, whereas the au rantiactinomyxon form of Xiao and Desser, 1998, and raabeia B of Xiao and D esser, 1998 reacted readily to mucus of all fish species tested. The differ ences in reaction to fish mucus among actinosporeans may indicate their dif ferent host range. These results indicate that actinosporean spores are sho rt-lived and that actinosporeans respond to their hosts by chemodetection.