Abstract
Polychaetes belonging to the Capitella ‘capitata’ species complex thrive in polluted or disturbed marine sediments. Sibling species differ in their reproductive and developmental features. Here we examine the life cycle of Capitella sp. G from Galveston Bay, TX. This species was collected in Galveston Bay and cultured in the laboratory. Brooding tubes were isolated from the culture and observed every 24 h. In addition to documenting normal development, we manipulated three brooding tubes by cutting them in half transversely and freeing the larvae in one of the fragments. In the unmanipulated cultures, development was direct, with the offspring emerging from the tubes after an average of 8 days as juveniles, following a trochophore and metatrochophore stage inside the brood tube. Individuals that were freed from the brood tubes in an early trochophore stage went through the same developmental stages as their siblings from the same brood; however, they showed large variation within a single brood and remained in the larval stage up to 33% longer.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
