Environmental control of the breeding of three boreo-arctic cirripedes

Abstract

Three species of barnacles with boreo-aretic distribution were shown to require maintenance for several weeks below a critical temperature before the breeding condition could be attained. The temperatures critical for Balanus balanoides (L.) Balanus balanus (L.) and Balanus crenatus (Bruguiere) were found to be between 10° and 12°C, 10° and 14°C, and at about 17°C, respectively. Although the strong influence of continuous light and the weak influence of continued feeding in delaying the onset of breeding in B. balanoides were confirmed, there remained some outstanding anomalies between the breeding behaviour of this species under laboratory conditions and between the tide marks. It was found impossible to initiate breeding by the application of conditioning procedures significantly in advance of the time of the normal Autumn breeding season in B. balanoides. Breeding appears to be inhibited, independently of external conditions, for a set period after the preceding brood cycle. Evidence points to a similar, largely endogenous, control of breeding in B. balanus which also breeds once annually, but not in B. crenatus which breeds continuously so long as food and temperature levels permit.