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Complete Cycle of Development of a Pelagic Chaetognath in Culture

Nature volume 227, page 381 (1970)Cite this article

Abstract

THE complete cycle of development from egg to egg for a pelagic species of chaetognath has not been achieved previously1 in the laboratory. Dallot2 maintained Sagitta setosa and Murikami3,4 S. crassa long enough to observe cyclic reproductive changes. Murikami reared larvae for several days as I did5 with S. hispida. Otherwise, the life span of most chaetognaths brought into the laboratory has been measured in hours6. Extended studies of live chaetognaths would be useful because these are among the commonest marine macroplanktonic carnivores and, as such, must play a major part in the trophodynamics of the sea. They have also frequently been used as “indicator species” for water masses7.

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References

  1. Ghirardelli, E., Adv. Mar. Biol., 6, 364 (1968).

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  2. Dallot, S., Rapp. Comm. Intern. Mer. Medit., 19, 521 (1968).

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  3. Murikami, A., Bull. Naikai Reg. Fish. Res. Lab., 12, 4 (1959).

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  4. Murikami, A., Inform. Bull. Planktol. Jap., 13, 64 (1966).

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  5. Reeve, M. R., in Marine Food Chains (edit. by Steele, J. H.), 168 (Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1970).

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  6. Hyman, L. H., The Invertebrates, 5 (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1959).

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  7. Alvarino, A., Oceanog. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev., 3, 180 (1965).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida, 33149

    M. R. REEVE

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  1. M. R. REEVE
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REEVE, M. Complete Cycle of Development of a Pelagic Chaetognath in Culture. Nature 227, 381 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/227381a0

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