BIOTIC Species Information for Didemnum spp.
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| Researched by | Sean Lindsley-Leake | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Didemnum spp. | Common name | A colonial ascidian | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | ZD48 | Recent Synonyms | |||||||||||||
| Phylum | Chordata | Subphylum | Tunicata | ||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Ascidiacea | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Enterogona | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Aplousobranchia | Family | Didemnidae | ||||||||||||
| Genus | Didemnum | Species | |||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | |||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Feeding method | ||||||||||||||
| Mobility/Movement | Permanent attachment |
Environmental position | |||||||||||||
| Typical food types | phytoplankton | Habit | Attached | ||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Flexibility | Low (10-45 degrees) | |||||||||||||
| Fragility | Intermediate | Size | Small(1-2cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Growth Rate | ||||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | Dependency | Independent | |||||||||||||
| Sociability | Colonial | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | On collection all pores become invisible due to contraction of the colony, and the appearance changes considerably. 3mm thick x 10mm across as individual, large size from colonial mats up to 1m in size. They have the ability to attach tenaciously to substrates but the tunic is flaccid and tears easily. If even a small bit adheres to any organisms that are transported, it can rapidly colonize a new substrate and may already be in reproductive mode | ||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Bullard et al, 2007, nurc website, Dias & Sergio de Almeida, 2004, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | Found on many British and Irish coasts, although rare in eastern Scotland, south-east England and much of Ireland. | ||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | Found in north-west Europe from Norway to the Azores, in the Phillippines, off eastern Australia and New Zealand, and on west and east coasts of North America. | ||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | Temperate to warm temperate. | Depth range | |||||||||||||
| Migratory | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Substratum preferences | Physiographic preferences | ||||||||||||||
| Biological zone | Wave exposure | ||||||||||||||
| Tidal stream strength/Water flow | Salinity | ||||||||||||||
| Habitat Preferences Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution References | |||||||||||||||
| Reproduction/Life History | |||||||||||||||
| Reproductive type | Permanent hermaphrodite Vegetative Budding |
Developmental mechanism | Lecithotrophic |
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| Reproductive Season | July to Sept | Reproductive Location | Water column | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual protracted | Regeneration potential | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Life span | Insufficient information | Age at reproductive maturity | <1 year | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | <1 year | Fecundity | environmental variance | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | 0.2mm | Fertilization type | External | ||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | The fecundity of these ascidians appears to be susceptible to water temperature, precipitation and other factors that vary yearly. Fecundity may also vary due to environmental differences among microhabitats. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Bullard et al, 2007, nurc website, Valentine et al., 2007, Dias & Sergio de Almeida, 2004, Hurlbut, 1991a, | ||||||||||||||
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