Abstract
The common Pacific coast mudstone boring bivalve Adula californiensis (Phillippi) 1847 is useful for laboratory studies on molluscan development. It is in spawning condition from June through October in Oregon, USA. It is easily reared in the laboratory by the methods described in this paper, and its development is typical of the group. A description of major features of early development and the effect of temperature and salinity on developmental rate is given. At 33.2‰ S and 15°C, the first and second cleavages take place 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 h after fertilization. The trochophore stage is reached in 15 h and the shell gland becomes apparent at 31 h. By 72 h, the larval shell completely encloses the soft parts. Developmental rate increases linearly with temperature. Lowered salinity retards developmental rate, and development is abnormal below 26.3‰ S. Larvae do not congregate at salinity interfaces, but avoid low salinities in gradient experiments. Veligers swim rapidly and vertically in both directions, but show no ability to swim horizontally. After 3 days in laboratory culture, the larvae settled and survived for long periods of time; metamorphosis did not occur, however.
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Communicated by J. Bunt, Miami
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Lough, R.G., Gonor, J.J. Early embryonic stages of Adula californiensis (Pelecypoda: Mytilidae) and the effect of temperature and salinity on developmental rate. Marine Biology 8, 118–125 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350927
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350927