Identification of adults and larvae in Spiochaetopterus (Polychaeta, Chaetopteridae): consequences for larval transport and recruitment

• Published in: Hydrobiologia 2003-04, Vol.496 (1-3), p.279-287
• Main Author: BHAUD, Michel R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptive radiation; Annelida; Annelida and closely related phyla: sipuncula. Echiura. Nemertinea; Biological and medical sciences; Chaetopteridae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invertebrates; Larvae; Marine; Marine biology; Morphology; Ocean, Atmosphere; Polychaeta; Sciences of the Universe; Spiochaetopterus; Spiochaetopterus costarum; Taxonomy; Worms
• ISSN: 0018-8158; 1573-5117
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1026165419638

Issue Title: Advances in Polychaete Research This work is based on recent studies describing new species in Spiochaetopterus (Annelida Polychaeta). New morphological features were brought to light in studies of adults from widely separate areas. A parallel study of planktonic larvae in three areas (northern Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of California, Mediterranean Sea) led to the isolation of several larval categories, each related to an already described species. The large number of species already described shows that the founder species has been subjected to an intense adaptive radiation and that in spite of the ability of larvae to disseminate, each species now inhabits only a limited geographical area. Teleplanic larvae are thus not as effective as is generally supposed in controlling the adult area. The new paradigm implies that individuals from widely separate areas belong to species other than Spiochaetopterus costarum. Although larvae of each species are capable of covering long distances, larval transport may be interrupted at various stages of the life cycle for a variety of reasons. The most powerful causes of failure are not linked to the lifespan of planktonic larvae, but rather to constraints on the ability to realize physiological functions, including fecundation. The putative cosmopolitanism of S. costarum, before new species were described, was the result of both inadequate morphological examination and the use of questionable ecological arguments linked to larval dispersal.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]