Hello annelid enthusiasts,
Just to add a footnote to the poecilogony reference list, I have a paper
coming out with Pam Arnofsky that provides a review of the subject with
respect to spionid polychaetes:
Blake, J.A. and P.L. Arnofksy. In Press. Reproduction and larval
development of the spioniform Polychaeta with application to systematics
and phylogeny. Hydrobiologia.
This paper is part of the proceedings of a symposium on the Reproductive
and Developmental Strategies of Annelids that was hosted by Wilfried
Westheide and Adriaan Dorresteijn in Osnabruck, Germany in September
1997. Proofs of the various papers have been returned and we understand
that publication by Kluwer will occur later this year.
Largely as a result of discussions on poecilogony that arose during the
symposium, the section on the subject of poecilogony was expanded in our
paper.
According to the literature reviewed, the following spionids may be
considered to exhibit poecilogony: Boccardia proboscidea, Dipolydora
quadrilobata, Pygospio elegans, Pseudopolydora kempi, Spio decoratus,
Spio martinensis, Spio setosa, and Streblospio benedicti. However, in my
opinion, it is possible that the different populations of D. quadrilobata, P.
kempi, and the three Spios exhibiting differing modes of reproduction might
represent separate sibling species once appropriate studies are
conducted.
Also note that there are numerous records of Polydora, Boccardia, etc.
where nurse eggs have been reported as present or absent according to
timing of collection and locality. All of these records are summarized in the
paper but few have been documented or studied further. I think the subject
is a fertile one for research.
Best wishes,
Jim Blake
ENSR Marine & Coastal Center
89 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
PH: 508-457-7900
FAX: 508-457-7595
(jablake at ix.netcom.com)
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