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Water movement activating fragmentation: a new dispersal strategy for hydractiniid hydroids

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2000

G. Bavestrello
Affiliation:
Istituto di Scienze del Mare dell'Università di Ancona, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
S. Puce
Affiliation:
Istituto di Scienze del Mare dell'Università di Ancona, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
C. Cerrano
Affiliation:
Dipartimento per lo studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse dell'Università di Genova, Via Balbi 5, 16126 Genova, Italy
L. Castellano
Affiliation:
Acquario di Genova, Area Porto Antico, Area Porto Antico, 16100 Genova, Italy
A. Arillo
Affiliation:
Dipartimento per lo studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse dell'Università di Genova, Via Balbi 5, 16126 Genova, Italy
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Abstract

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The fragmentation process in Hydractinia pruvoti (Motz-Kossovska, 1905) which live on shells inhabited by hermit crabs is activated by the intensity of water movement that induces a rapid and abundant production of propagules by transversal fission. Being produced by all kinds of polyps in the polymorphic colony, fragments are very different from each other both in shape and size. After their liberation, fragments first settle on the bottom, then dedifferentiate and produce a network of hydrorhizae from which new polyps arise.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© 2000 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom