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Constant timing of medusa release in bivalve-inhabiting hydrozoans of the genus Eugymnanthea (Hydrozoa: Leptomedusae: Eirenidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2008

Shin Kubota*
Affiliation:
Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Shirahama, Nishimuro, Wakayama 649-2211, Japan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Shin Kubota, Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Shirahama, Nishimuro, Wakayama 649-2211Japan email: shkubota@medusanpolyp.mbox.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Abstract

At the end of the breeding season in autumn, under natural conditions, mature medusae of Eugymnanthea japonica are released from its host Mytilus galloprovincialis at night-time. In laboratory experiments, mature medusae of the congeneric species E. inquilina are also released at night-time in autumn. At that time of the year, sunset is earlier and the water temperature is lower than in summer, when, under natural conditions, medusa release of E. japonica takes place at sunset instead. The release thus takes place at the same hours of the day in summer as well as in autumn. The circadial timing of medusa release of E. japonica is likely constant throughout the whole period in the breeding season and not correlated with the decrease of light intensity at sunset.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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References

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