BIOTIC Species Information for Poecilochaetus spp.
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| Researched by | Sean Lindsley-Leake | Data supplied by | MarLIN | ||||||||||||
| Refereed by | This information is not refereed | ||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy | |||||||||||||||
| Scientific name | Poecilochaetus spp. | Common name | A polychaete worm | ||||||||||||
| MCS Code | P717 | Recent Synonyms | |||||||||||||
| Phylum | Annelida | Subphylum | |||||||||||||
| Superclass | Class | Polychaeta | |||||||||||||
| Subclass | Order | Spionida | |||||||||||||
| Suborder | Family | Poecilochaetidae | |||||||||||||
| Genus | Poecilochaetus | Species | |||||||||||||
| Subspecies | |||||||||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Taxonomy References | |||||||||||||||
| General Biology | |||||||||||||||
| Growth form | Feeding method | ||||||||||||||
| Mobility/Movement | Crawler Burrower |
Environmental position | |||||||||||||
| Typical food types | Habit | Tubiculous | |||||||||||||
| Bioturbator | Flexibility | High (>45 degrees) | |||||||||||||
| Fragility | Intermediate | Size | Small-medium(3-10cm) | ||||||||||||
| Height | Growth Rate | ||||||||||||||
| Adult dispersal potential | Dependency | ||||||||||||||
| Sociability | Solitary | ||||||||||||||
| Toxic/Poisonous? | No | ||||||||||||||
| General Biology Additional Information | |||||||||||||||
| Biology References | Rouse & Pleijel, 2001, Allen, 1905, | ||||||||||||||
| Distribution and Habitat | |||||||||||||||
| Distribution in Britain & Ireland | |||||||||||||||
| Global distribution | |||||||||||||||
| Biogeographic range | 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 | Gonochoristic |
Developmental mechanism | Planktotrophic |
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| Reproductive Season | spring to summer | Reproductive Location | Water column | ||||||||||||
| Reproductive frequency | Annual episodic | Regeneration potential | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Life span | Insufficient information | Age at reproductive maturity | <1 year | ||||||||||||
| Generation time | <1 year | Fecundity | Insufficient information | ||||||||||||
| Egg/propagule size | 200 µm | Fertilization type | External | ||||||||||||
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| Reproduction Preferences Additional Information | Two stages of development, 1) the metatrocophore stage, 2) the nectosome stage with reduced ciliation, well developed occipital tentacles, and swimming with the help of serpetine movements. For the main part, propulsion is by muscular movement, which is rare among polychaete larvae. A mucous thread, produced from the ventral ciliated pit, is used for feeding but it probably aslo plays a role in the buoyancy of the larva. A larva with a 50-setiger body is about 10mm long. Larval life is entirely pelagic and lasts for four weeks. Dispersal in this polychaete is aided by its association with marine snow, both for food and facilitation of dispersal. | ||||||||||||||
| Reproduction References | Rouse & Pleijel, 2001, Allen, 1905, Nozais et al., 1997, | ||||||||||||||
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