Dear Worm people:
During a recent SCAMIT meeting on Eumida (phyllodocids) there was some
discussion of their large dorsal cirri. The point was made that these
cirri are not constructed as true branchia (with vessels) to facilitate
respiration, but are instead embedded with numerous mucus-secreting
glands. Heavy mucus production is a common live condition of these (and
some other) phyllodocids with large dorsal cirri. I have several
questions about this and possibly readers of this mailing might have data on
dorsal cirri/mucous function.
Why do these worms need so much mucus?
Can it be predator protection?
Protection from physical damage from sediments?
Could the mucus serve to improve respiration at the body wall? If so,
could phyllodocid body pigments have either a respiratory exchange or
storage function?
Any info along these lines would be appreciated.
P.S. I don't know about anybody else, but if I had major body surfaces
dedicated to mucus production I'd have a hard time breathing!
Bye,
Tom Parker
Marine Biology Laboratory
LACSD
mblcsdla at netcom.com
