Larval Nutrition Effects on Juvenile Performance in the Natural Habitats of the Estuarine Barnacle Bafanlls improvislis (Cirripedia: Thoracica)
Abstract
The significance of larval dietary history in many benthic invertebrates is
relatively unknown. Our study examined the significance of larval dietary history on
juvenile survivorship and growth rate in the barnacle species, Balanus improvisus. The
larvae were raised in the laboratory from wild adults and reared under uniform dietary
conditions until the sixth instar of development. The larvae were then divided into high
and low food diet treatment groups during the sixth instar. Juveniles were placed in two
sites at Coos Bay, Oregon (USA), and monitored for mortality and growth rates. Neither
larval treatment nor location had a significant effect on mortality rates. Our laboratory
studies indicated that larval dietary history significantly affects cyprid size. Postmetamorphosed
individuals < 6 days) also varied in size relative to their dietary history.
Both larval dietary history and location in the estuary had significant effects on barnacle
growth rates, although location was the stronger effect.