Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-lrblm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-26T18:50:52.068Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Spontaneous Squirting of an Ascidian, Phalliusia Mammillata Cuvier

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

Graham Hoyle
Graham Hoyle
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University College London
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The previous work on spontaneous activity in ascidians is briefly reviewed: there is clear evidence for the existence of spontaneous contractions of the siphons of certain monascidians but no function has been ascribed to this activity. Phallnsia mammillata exhibits spontaneous contractions of its siphons at intervals of 6-9 min. over long periods in Plymouth tank sea water. The siphon contractions are synchronous. The frequency of the contractions may shift fairly quickly under constant conditions to a higher or lower rate which is usually twice or one half the normal rate.

A method of recording the volume of water propelled by spontaneous activity is described. The method also records the ciliary through-current at the same time as the squirts.

The frequency of the squirting is increased during a period of partial or complete starvation. It is reduced again by adding food cultures to the water.

The physiological mechanisms involved in the spontaneous activity are investigated and comparisons are made with the spontaneous activity exhibited by Metridium senile and Arenicola marina. It is finally suggested that the spontaneous squirting of certain ascidians is an integral part of their feeding mechanism.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 31 , Issue 3 , February 1953 , pp. 541 - 562
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1953

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bacq, Z. M., 1935. Observations physiologiques sur le cceur, les muscles et le systeme nerveux d'une ascidie, Ciona intestinalis. Arch. Int. Physiol., T. 40, pp. 357–73.Google Scholar
Batham, E. J. & Pantin, C. F. A., 1950. Phases of activity in the sea anemone Metridium senile, and their relation to external stimuli. Journ. Exp. Biol., Vol. 27, PP. 377–99.Google Scholar
Carlisle, D. B., 1950. Alcune osservazioni sulla meccanica dell'alimentazione della salpa. Pubbl. Staz. Zool. Napoli, Vol. 22, pp. 146–55.Google Scholar
Carlisle, D. B. 1951. On the hormonal and neural control of the release of gametes in ascidians. Journ. Exp. Biol., Vol. 28, pp. 463–72.Google Scholar
Collier, ARay, S. & Magnitzky, W., 1950. A preliminary note on the naturally occurring organic substances in sea water affecting the feeding of oysters. Science, Vol. III, pp. 151–2.Google Scholar
Day, E. C., 1919. The physiology of the nervous system of the tunicate. Journ. Exp. Zool., Vol. 28, pp. 307–35.Google Scholar
Fedele, M. 1933. Sulla nutrizione degli animali pelagica. 3,. Ricerche sui Salpidae. Boll. Soc. Nat. Napoli., Vol. 55, pp. 49–118.Google Scholar
Fol, H., 1876. Uber die Schleimdriise oder den Endostyl der Tunicaten. Morph. Jahrb., Bd. I, pp. 222–42.Google Scholar
Frohlich, A., 1903. Beitrag zur Frage der Bedeutung des Centralganglions bei Ciona intestinalis. Pfliig. Arch. ges. Physiol., Bd. 95, pp. 609–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garstang, W., 1891 On some ascidians from the Isle of Wight. Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc, Vol. 2, pp. 119–40.Google Scholar
Hecht, S., 1916. The water current produced by Ascidta atra Leseur. Journ. Exp. Zool., Vol. 20, pp. 429–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hecht, S., 1918. The physiology ofAscidia atra Leseur. Journ. Exp. Zool., Vol. 25, pp. 229–99.Google Scholar
Hoyle, G., 1952. The response mechanism in ascidians. Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc, Vol. 31, pp. 287–305.Google Scholar
Hunter, G. W., 1898. Notes on the peripheral nervous system oiMolgula manhattensis Journ. Comp. Neurol., Vol. 8, pp. 202–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jordan, H. Von, 1908. Über reflexarme Tiere. Ein Beitrag zur vergleichenden Physiologie des zentralen Nervensystems, vornehmlich auf Grund von Versuchen an Ciona intestinalis und Oktopoden. Zeit. allg. Physiol., Bd. 7, pp. 86–135.Google Scholar
Julin, C., 1881. Recherches surl'organisation des Ascidies simples. Surl'hypophyseet quelques organes qui s'y attachent. Arch. Biol. Paris, T. 2, 59–126 and 211–32.Google Scholar
Kupffer, C. Von, 1875. Zoologische Ergebnisse der Nordseefahrt. VII. Tunicata. Jber. Comm. Untersuch. dtsch. Meere in Kiel, J. II–III, pp. 197–228. (See Garstang, 1891).Google Scholar
Magnus, R., 1902. Die Bedeutung des Ganglions bei Ciona intestinalis. Mitt. Zool. Stat. Neapel, Vol. 15, pp. 483–6.Google Scholar
Metcalf, M. M., 1895. Notes on tunicate morphology. Anat. Anz. Bd. 11, Vol. 329–40.Google Scholar
Moore, B., Edie, E. S., Whitley, E. & Dakin, W. J., 1912. The nutrition and metabolism of marine animals in relation to (a) dissolved organic matter and (b) paniculate organic matter of sea water. Biochem. Journ., Vol. 6, pp. 255–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Orton, J. H., 1913. The ciliary mechanisms on the gill and the mode of feeding in Amphioxus, ascidians and Solenomya togata. Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc, Vol. 10, pp. 19–49.Google Scholar
Polimanti, O., 1911. Beitrage zur Physiologie des Nervensystems under Bewegung bei den niederen Tieren. Ciona intestinalis. Arch. Anat. Physiol., Phys. Abt. Suppl. pp. 39–152.Google Scholar
Pople, W., 1952. The controlled electrical stimulation of a nerve-muscle preparationof the holothurian Cucumaria sykion Lampert. (Unpublished thesis, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.)Google Scholar
Redfield, E. S. P., 1917. The rhythmic contractions in themantle of lamellibranchs. Journ. Exp. Zool., Vol. 22, pp. 231–9.Google Scholar
Roule, L., 1884. Recherches sur les ascidies simples de cotes de Provence. Ann. Mus.Hist. Nat. Marseilles, T. 2, pp. 1–270.Google Scholar
Van Weel, P. V., 1940. Beitrag zur Ernahrungsbiologie der Ascidien. Pubbl. Staz. Zool. Napoli, Vol. 18, pp. 50–79.Google Scholar
Wells, G. P., 1937. Studies on the physiology of Arenicolamarina L. 1. The pace–1 maker role of the oesophagus, and the action of adrenaline and acetylcholine. Journ. Exp. Biol., Vol. 14, pp. 117–57.Google Scholar
Wells, G. P., 1949. The behaviour of Arenicola marina L. in sand, and the role of spontaneous activity cycles. Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc, Vol. 28, pp. 465–78.Google Scholar
Wells, G. P., 1950. Spontaneous activity cycles in polychaete worms. Symp. Soc Exp. Biol., Vol. 4, pp. 127–42.Google Scholar
Wells, G. P. 1951. On the behaviour of Sabella. Proc Roy. Soc B., Vol. 138, pp. 278–99.Google Scholar
Wells, G. P. & Dales, R. P., 1951. Spontaneous activity patterns in animal behaviour. The irrigations of the burrow in the polychaetesChaetopterus variopedatus Renier, and Nereis diversicolor O. F. Muller. Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc, Vol. 29, pp. 661–80.Google Scholar
Widmark, E. M. P., 1913. Über die Wasserstromungen indem GastrovaskularapparatvonAmelia aurita L. Zeit. Allg. Physiol., Bd. 15, pp. 33–48.Google Scholar
Yamaguchi, Z., 1931. Some notes on the physiology of Styela clava. Sci. Rep. Tohoko Imp. Univ., Vol. 6, pp. 597–607.Google Scholar
Young, J. Z., 1950. The Life of Vertebrates. Oxford. 767 pp.Google Scholar