Inductin of Attachment and Metamorphosis of Laboratory Cultures Mussel Mytilus <i>edulis galloprovincialis</i> Larvae by Microbial Film

Abstract

Competent pediveliger larvae (26-32 days old) of the mussel Mytilus edulis galloprovincialis attached and metamorphosed when exposed to microbial films but not to unfilmed surfaces. The inducing factor in the microbial film remained active after treatment with 5% formalin solution. However, microbial film lost activity to induce metamorphosis after autoclaving. The films produced by specific strains of bacteria that were isolated from microbial film induced larval attachment and metamorphosis. The two bacterial strains (C 1.1 and C 4.1) which were most potent in inducing larval attachment and metamorphosis were identified with the Pseudomonas-Alteromonas group. This is the first report which demonstrates the direct involvement of specific bacterial strains in the attachment and metamorphosis of mussel pediveliger larvae.