Summary
Pre-hatching developmental times for prosobranch gastropods are greatly influenced by temperature and taxonomic affinity. If the data used here (including all available data from the Muricacea) are a representative sample, then reasonably accurate estimates of developmental time can be obtained for most prosobranchs knowing only temperature and taxon. Times are also significantly affected by egg or hatching size. Correlations between developmental time and hatching form are probably accounted for by egg size. Prehatching periods are little, if at all, longer for metamorphosed hatchlings than for swimming hatchlings; in any event, differences are small relative to typical free swimming periods. Therefore, the planktonic period is a substantial addition to the total pre-juvenile period. Many embryos die before hatching. More would survive if development were faster; development is, therefore, prolonged at a measurable selective cost. Factors promoting extended developmental periods should be evaluated with these costs in mind. For example, providing much of the yolk as nurse-eggs may allow a species to have a large hatching size and at the same time a relatively brief developmental time.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amio, M.: Studies on the eggs and larvae of marine gastropods. I. J. Shimonoseki Coll. Fish. 7, 107–116 (1957)
Amio, M.: A comparative embryology of marine gastropods, with ecological emphasis. J. Shimonoseki Coll. Fish. 12, 229–353 (1963)
Anderson, D. T.: The reproduction and early life histories of the gastropods Notoacmaea petterdi, Chiazacmaea flammea, and Patelloida alticostata. Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales 90, 242–251 (1965)
Anderson, D. T.: Further observations on the life histories of the littoral gastropods in New South Wales. Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales 90, 242–251 (1967)
Anonymous: Surface water temperature and density, Pacific Coast, North and South America and Pacific Ocean Islands. U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Publ. 31-3 (1967)
Berrill, N. J.: Studies in tunicate development. Part III — differential retardation and accleration. Phil. Trans. B 225, 255–326 (1935)
Blaxter, J. H. S.: Development: eggs and larvae. In: Fish physiology, Vol. III, W. S. Hoar, D. J. Randall, eds. New York: Academic Press 1969
Bokenham, N. A. H., Neugebauer, F. L. M.: The vertical distribution of certain intertidal marine gastropods in False Bay, with notes on the development of two of them. Ann. Natal Museum 9, 113–137 (1938)
Buckland-Nicks, J., Chia, F. S., Behrens, S.: Oviposition and development of two intertidal snails, Littorina sitkana and Littorina scutulata. Canad. J. Zool. 51, 359–365 (1973)
Carriker, M. R.: Critical review of the biology and control of oyster drills Urosalpinx and Eupleura. U.S. Fish & Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci. Rept. Fisheries 148, 1–150 (1955)
Chapman, W. M., Banner, A. H.: Contributions to the life history of the Japanese Oyster Drill (Tritonalia japonica) with notes on the other enemies of the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida). Wash. Dept. Fish. Biol. Rept. 49a, 167–200 (1949)
Chari, V. K.: Breeding habits of Thais bufo. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 49, 317–318 (1950)
Chess, J. R., Rosenthal, R. J.: On the reproductive biology of Mitra idae. Veliger 14, 172–183 (1971)
Cole, H. A.: The American Whelk Tingle, Urosalpinx cinerea, on British oyster beds. J. Mar. Biol. Assn. 25, 477–508 (1942)
D'Asaro, C. N.: The egg capsules, embryogenesis, and early organogenesis of a common oyster predator, Thais haemastoma floridana. Bull. Mar. Sci. 16, 884–914 (1966)
D'Asaro, C. N.: The comparative embryogenesis and early organogenesis of Bursa corrugata and Distorsio clathrata. Malacologia 9, 349–389 (1969)
Dehnel, P. A.: Rates of growth of gastropods as a function of latitude. Physiol. Zool. 28, 115–144 (1955)
Edwards, D. C.: Reproduction in Olivella biplicata. Veliger 10, 297–304 (1968)
Emlen, J. M.: Time, energy and risk in two species of carnivorous gastropods. Thesis, University of Washington (1966)
Feare, C. J.: Aspects of the ecology of an exposed shore population of dogwhelks Nucella lapillus (L.). Oecologia (Berl.) 5, 1–18 (1970)
Federighi, H.: Studies on the oyster drill, Urosalpinx cinerea. Bull. U.S. Bureau Fish. 47, 85–115 (1931)
Fioroni, P.: Zur Morphologie und Embryogenesie des Darmtraktes und der transitorischen Organe bei Prosobranchiern (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Rev. Suisse de Zool. 73, 621–876 (1966)
Fotheringham, N.: Life history patterns of the littoral gastropods Shaskyus festivus (Hinds) and Ocenebra poulsoni Carpenter (Prosobranchia: Muricidae). Ecology 52, 742–757 (1971)
Franc, A.: Recherches sur le developpement d' Ocenebra aciculata Lamarck. Bull. Biol. Fr. Belg. 74, 327–345 (1940)
Fretter, V.: Metamorphic changes in the velar musculature, head and shell of some prosobranch veligers. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 52, 161–177 (1972)
Ganaros, A. E.: On the development of the early stages of Urosalpinx cinerea (Say) at constant temperatures and their tolerance to low temperatures. Biol. Bull. 114, 188–195 (1958)
Giglioli, M. E. C.: The egg masses of the Naticidae (Gastropoda). J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 12, 287–327 (1955)
Gohar, H. A. F., Eisawy, A. M.: The egg masses and development of five Rachiglossan Prosobranchs (from the Red Sea). Publ. Mar. Biol. Sta. Al-Ghardaqa, Egypt 14, 216–266 (1967)
Hadfield, M. G., Kay, E. A., Gillette, M. U., Lloyd, M. C.: The Vermetidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of the Hawaiian Islands. Mar. Biol. 12, 81–98 (1972)
Hancock, D. A.: The structure of the capsule and the hatching process in Urosalpinx cinerea. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 127, 565–571 (1956)
Hancock, D. A.: The biology and control of the American Whelk Tingle, Urosalpinx cinerea, on English oyster beds. Fishery Invest. Lond. 22 (2), 1–66 (1959)
Hancock, D. A.: The ecology of the mulluscan enemies of the edible mollusc. Proc. malac. soc. (London) 34, 123–143 (1960)
Hathaway, R. R., Woodburn, K. D.: Studies on the cown cronch Melogena corona Gmelin. Bull. Mar. Sci. Gulf. Carib. 11, 45–65 (1961)
Hewatt, W. G.: Ecological studies on selected marine intertidal communities of Monterey Bay. Thesis, Stanford University (1934)
Hirase, S.: Eiablage von Rapana thomasiana Crosse. Arch. für Molluskenkunde 60, 173–178 (1928)
Hurst, A.: The egg masses and veligers of thirty northeast Pacific opisthobranchs. Veliger 9, 255–288 (1967)
Kohn, A. J.: Studies on spawning behavior, egg masses, and larval development in the gastropod genus Conus. Part I. Observations on nine species in Hawaii. Pacific Science 15, 163–179 (1961)
Lamy, E.: La ponte chez les gastéropodes prosobranches. J. Conchyliologie 72, 80–126 (1928)
Lewis, J. B.: The fauna of rocky shores of Barbados, West Indies. Canad. J. Zool. 38, 391–435 (1960)
MacKenzie, C. L., Jr.: Growth and reproduction of the oyster drill, Eupleura caudata, in the York River, Virginia. Ecology 42, 317–338 (1961)
Mangold-Wirz, K.: Biologie des Cephalopodes benthiques et nectoniques de la Mer Catalane. Vie Milieu (Suppl.) 13, 1–285 (1963)
McLaren, I. A., Corkett, C. J., Zillioux, E. J.: Temperature adaptations of copepod eggs from the Arctic to the tropics. Biol. Bull. 137, 486–493 (1969)
Murray, F. V., Goldsmith, M. H.: Some observations on the egg capsules and embryos of Torvamurex territus. (Reeve, 1845). J. Malac. Soc. Australia 7, 21–25 (1963)
Natarajan, A. V.: Studies on the egg masses and larval development of some prosobranchs from the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. 46, 170–228 (1957)
Oba, T.: Studies on the propagation of an abalone, Haliotis diversicolor supertexta Lischke-II On the development (English summary). Bull. Jap. Soc. Sci. Fish. 30, 808–818 (1964)
Paine, R. T.: Reproduction of Olivella mutica. Nautilis 75, 139–142 (1962)
Pearce, J. B., Thorson, G.: The feeding and reproductive biology of the red whelk, Neptunea antiqua (L.) (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia). Ophelia 4, 277–314 (1967)
Phillips, B. F.: The population ecology of the whelk Dicathais aegrota in Western Australia. Aust. J. Mar. Freshw. Res. 20, 225–265 (1969)
Randall, J. E.: Contribution to the biology of the queen conch. Strombus gigas. Bull. mar. sci. Gulf. Caribb. 14, 246–295 (1964)
Rasmussen, E.: Faunistic and biological notes on marine invertebrates. II. The eggs and larvae of same Danish marine gastropods. Vidensk. Meddr dansk naturh. Foren. 113, 201–249 (1951)
Rosenthal, R. J.: Observations on the reproductive biology of the Kellet's Whelk, Kelletia kelletii. Veliger 12, 319–324 (1970)
Sacher, G. A., Staffeldt, E. F.: Relation of gestation time to brain weight for placental mammals: implications for the theory of vertebrate growth. Amer. Natur. 108, 593–615 (1974)
Scheltema, R. S.: The relationship of temperature to the larval development of Nassarius obsoletus (Gastropoda). Biol. Bull. 132, 253–265 (1967)
Spight, T. M.: Pattens of change in adjacent populations of an intertidal snail, Thais lamellosa. Thesis, University of Washington (1972)
Spight, T. M.: Sizes of populations of a marine snail. Ecology 55, 712–729 (1974)
Spight, T. M., Birkeland, C., Lyons, A.: Life histories of large and small murexes (Prosobranchia: Muricidae). Marine Biol. 24, 229–242 (1974)
Steele, D. H., Steele, V. J.: The biology of Gammarus (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in the northwestern Atlantic. VII. The duration of embryonic development in five species at various temperatures. Canad. J. Zool. 51, 995–999 (1973)
Struhsaker, J. W., Costlow, J. D., Jr.: Larval development of Littorina picta (Prosobranchia, Mesogastropoda), reared in the laboratory. Proc. Malac. Soc. Lond. 38, 153–160 (1968)
Thorson, G.: Studies on the egg-capsules and development of arctic marine prosobranchs. Medd. Grønland 100, 1–71 (1935)
Thorson, G.: Reproduction and larval development of Danish marine Bottom invertebrates. Medd. Danm. Fisk.-og Havunders., Ser. Plankton 4, 1–523 (1946)
Thorson, G.: Reproductive and larval ecology of marine bottom invertebrates. Biol. Rev. 25, 1–45 (1950)
Thorson, G.: Length of pelagic larval life in marine bottom invertebrates as related to larval transport by ocean currents. In: Oceanography, p. 455–474. Amer. Assn. Adv. Sci. N.Y. (1961)
Underwood, A. J.: On models for reproductive strategy in marine benthic invertebrates. Amer. Natur. 108, 874–878 (1974)
Wear, R. G.: Incubation in British decapod Crustacea, and the effects of temperature on the rate and success of embryonic development. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K. 54, 745–762 (1974)
West, D. L.: Notes on the development of Colus stimpsoni (Prosobranchia: Buccinidae). Nautilus 87, 1–4 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spight, T.M. Factors extending gastropod embryonic development and their selective cost. Oecologia 21, 1–16 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345889
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345889