BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Nemertesia antennina

Researched by

Olwen Ager

Data supplied by

MarLIN

Refereed by

This information is not refereed.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Nemertesia antennina

Common name

Sea beard

MCS Code

D463

Recent Synonyms

None

Phylum

Cnidaria

Subphylum

Superclass

Hydrozoa

Class

Leptolida

Subclass

Leptothecatae

Order

Conica

Suborder

Plumulariida

Family

Plumulariidae

Genus

Nemertesia

Species

antennina

Subspecies

Additional Information

None entered

Taxonomy References

Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Gibson et al., 2001, Cornelius, 1995b, Howson & Picton, 1997,

General Biology

Growth form

Arborescent / Arbuscular

Feeding method

Passive suspension feeder

Mobility/Movement

Permanent attachment

Environmental position

Epifaunal

Typical food types

Suspended organic particulates, inc. plankton

Habit

Attached

Bioturbator

Not relevant

Flexibility

High (>45 degrees)

Fragility

Fragile

Size

Medium(11-20 cm)

Height

Can be up to 25 cm

Growth Rate

2.64-4.6 cm / month (Hughes, 1977).

Adult dispersal potential

None

Dependency

Independent

Sociability

Colonial

Toxic/Poisonous?

General Biology Additional Information

None entered

Biology References

Cornelius, 1995b, Hughes, 1977,

Distribution and Habitat

Distribution in Britain & Ireland

Nemertesia antennina is widely distributed around the coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Global distribution

Nemertesia antennina is recorded in the northeast Atlantic, from at least the Faroes, Barents Sea and Iceland south through Mauritania to southern Africa, including the Mediterranean, Azores and Madeira.

Biogeographic range

Not researched

Depth range

10 m to almost 10,000 m (Cornelius, 1995b).

Migratory

Non-migratory / Resident

Distribution Additional Information

Substratum preferences

Coarse clean sand
Fine clean sand

Physiographic preferences

Biological zone

Wave exposure

Tidal stream strength/Water flow

Salinity

Habitat Preferences Additional Information

Found on hard substratum in sandy areas and preferentially settles on exiting hydrorhizal masses (Hughes, 1977).

Distribution References

Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Cornelius, 1995b, Picton & Costello, 1998, NBN, 2002,

Reproduction/Life History

Reproductive type

Gonochoristic

Developmental mechanism

Lecithotrophic

Reproductive Season

Insufficient information

Reproductive Location

As adult

Reproductive frequency

Annual episodic

Regeneration potential

Life span

<1 year

Age at reproductive maturity

Insufficient information

Generation time

<1 year

Fecundity

Variable

Egg/propagule size

Insufficient information

Fertilization type

Internal

Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential	10-100m	Larval settlement period	Insufficient information
Duration of larval stage	<1 day

Reproduction Preferences Additional Information

Life span is only 4-5 months and there are three generations per year, each featuring a period of growth, reproduction and death (Hughes, 1977). Planula larvae secrete a mucous thread which aids dispersal of the planula (Hughes, 1977) but which may also assist in getting caught in the tall branches of other Nemertesia antennina, thereby helping the species to form clumps (Gili & Hughes, 1995). Disperal of planula is, therefore, dependant on current speeed, turbulence and height of release, e.g. Hughes (1977) suggested a potential dispersal range of 5 - 50m in Torbay, Devon. Planulae also crawl (although probably no more than 2 m ) before settlement and it is possible that they attach to the substratum with mucous (Hughes, 1977). Hughes (1977) reported three reproductive periods in colonies off Torbay. Regenerated individuals made up ca 16 % of the Torbay population but these individuals had fewer gonagia (Hughes, 1977).

Reproduction References

Gili & Huges, 1995, Hughes, 1977, Hughes, 1979,