Water movement activating fragmentation: a new dispersal strategy for hydractiniid hydroids

Authors
Bavestrello, G Puce, S Cerrano, C Castellano, L Arillo, A
Citation
G. Bavestrello et al., Water movement activating fragmentation: a new dispersal strategy for hydractiniid hydroids, J MARINE BI, 80(2), 2000, pp. 361-362
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
ISSN journal
00253154 → ACNP
Volume
80
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
361 - 362
Database
ISI
SICI code
0025-3154(200004)80:2<361:WMAFAN>2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
The fragmentation process in Hydractinia pruvoti (Motz-Kossovska, 1905) whi ch live on shells inhabited by hermit crabs is activated by the intensity o f water movement that induces a rapid and abundant production of propagules by transversal fission. Being produced by all kinds of polyps in the polym orphic colony, fragments are very different from each other both in shape a nd size. After their liberation fragments first settle on the bottom, then dedifferentiate and produce a network of hydrorhizae from which new polyps arise.