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Response to light by trochophore larvae of Spirobranchus giganteus

Effects of level of irradiance, dark adaptation and spectral distribution

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Abstract

Trochophore larvae of Spirobranchus giganteus (Pallas) respond positively to white light at levels of illumination from 1 to 2 168×1014 quanta cm-2 s-1. In this range the strength of the response is not correlated with irradiance level. The response is increased by dark adaptation. At low levels of irradiance (0.1-2.0×1014 quanta cm-2 s-1) larvae respond positively to blue (360-510 nm, max. 430 nm) and green (475–620 nm, max. 530 nm) light but not to wavelengths of 590 nm or over. The light response develops gradually during the 12 h following the appearance of the eyespot and is maintained throughout the remainder of the planktonic phase.

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Communicated by R. W. Doyle, Halifax

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Marsden, J.R. Response to light by trochophore larvae of Spirobranchus giganteus . Marine Biology 93, 13–16 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428649

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428649

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