Some aspects of the ecology of the echiuran worm Bonellia viridis and associated infauna

Schembri, Patrick J.; Jaccarini, V.

doi:10.1007/bf00397018

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…A possible role in chemical defence can be envisaged by virtue of its photodynamic properties (Agius, 1978;Agius, Jaccarini et al, 1979). We have suggested that photodynamism may be responsible for the unpalatibility of the pigmented integument of the adult female (Michel, 1932;Schembri, 1977). The toxicity of photodynamic chromes when ingested is well known (Needham, 1974) and natural selection may favour a reaction of distaste to a harmful substance .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The integumentary pigment of the echiuran worm Bonellia viridis, Rolando has aroused a great deal of interest because of its unique chemical structure (Pelter, Abela-Medici et al, 1978 ;Pelter, Ballantine, Murray-Rust et al, 1976; and its toxic properties (Baltzer, 1924;Lallier, 1955;Ruggieri & Nigrelli, 1962;Schembri, 1977;Cariello et al, in press;Agius, 1978;Agius, Jaccarini et al, 1979). The distribution of the pigment in the integument of the adult female has been described (Bosch, 1977).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Development of pigment in the echiuran worm Bonellia viridis

Agius

Jaccarini

1981

Journal of Zoology

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An account is given of the development of green pigment in the early larval stages of the echiuran worm, Bonellia viridis. The green pigment first appears in scattered epidermal cells of the gastrula, before the development of the trochal rings. It is contained in spherical vacuoles (0.5‐1.0 μm in diameter). As the gastrula develops into the trochophore there is an increase in total pigment content, as well as an increase in number of pigment cells and size of pigment vacuoles. The increase in pigment cell number in the trochophore results from the proliferation of the pigment cells of the gastrula. The pigment content increases rapidly before the trochophores hatch but shows little relative increase after hatching whilst the trochophores remain undifferentiated. We suggest that the pigment may have a protective role in the free‐living trochophore for camouflage or chemical defence. In trochophores that undergo male differentiation the pigmentation is lost. Since the males do not lead a free‐living existence but live as commensals inside the uterus of the female camouflage or chemical defence would be unnecessary. In trochophores undergoing female differentiation there is an increase in pigment content of the preoral lobe which develops into the proboscis. Following the enlargement of the coelom, clusters of coelomic cells accumulate green pigment whilst still in the coelom and then migrate to the integument of the body wall.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of pigment in the echiuran worm Bonellia viridis

Agius

Jaccarini

1981

Journal of Zoology

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“…These worms normally live as commensals in the rock burrows of the shrimp Upogebia deltaura (Schembri and Jaccarini, 1978) but are also found moving freely beneath loose boulders (Rolando, 1822;Jaccarini, 1977, 1978). During feeding, the proboscis is protruded from the burrows to graze over the surrounding substratum, and at full extension, the proboscis may have a length of up to 1.5 m Schembri, 1977a, 1977b).…”

Section: Bonellia Viridismentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of a chemical defence mechanism in the echiuran wormBonellia viridisRolando (Echiura: Bonelliidae)

Schembri

Jaccarini

1979

Marine Behaviour and Physiology

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Evidence for the existence of chemical defence in the echiuran Bonellia viridis is provided by investigating the palatability of Bonellia tissues to the shrimp Palaemon elegans, the teleosts Oblada melanura and Mugil labeo, and the anthozoan Anemonia sulcata. Bonellia tissues are shown to be highly distasteful to the shrimp. The results with the teleosts and the anthozoan are less clear-cut though Bonellia extracts are shown to be distasteful also to these species.

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“…In offshore environments, B. viridis inhabits areas with hard substrate, usually settling in the crevices between piles of boulders, showing a preference for rocky zones bordering sandy substrata, or rocks with small pockets of sediment or covered by fine layers of silt. B. viridis also colonizes abandoned burrows in the rock excavated by other animals (Schembri and Jaccarini 1978). In the Jameos del Agua lagoon, most individuals of B. viridis are found dwelling the crevices between boulders and gravel of the rocky bottom, with their proboscis extended to the surroundings for deposit feeding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the stygobiont polychaete community of the Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote, as a result of bioturbation by the echiurid Bonellia viridis

2009

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The Jameos del Agua is a natural anchialine cave lagoon that has been developed as a tourist attraction. It is semi-illuminated due to a partial collapse of the ceiling (known as "jameo"). A fine carpet of benthic diatoms covers the bottom, in 0.5-2 m depth of water, of the tidally influenced and fully marine lagoon. Interstitial polychaetes inhabit this diatomean carpet and the lava rubble mixed with sand and gravel. During the last decades, the echiurid Bonellia viridis became very abundant and its bioturbation activities have changed the natural bottom conditions. The whitish fecal material from B. viridis formed sediment mounds that sharply contrast with the black volcanic rock. This new habitat have been colonized by several endemic species (e.g., Fauveliopsis jameoaquensis), but also by abundant stygoxene macro-and meiofaunal opportunistic species that compete with the endemic stygobities. The most recent colonizers are mainly deposit-feeding polychaetes that take advantage of the high amount of trophic resources available (e.g., Notomastus spp., Trichobranchus glacialis, Aphelochaeta marioni, Cirrophorus lyra). As a result of the recent colonizations, it is necessary to establish monitoring of the communities and to evaluate the viability of controlling the population of B. viridis in the lagoon, since these alterations can also affect the endemic populations living in the water column.

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Some aspects of the ecology of the echiuran worm Bonellia viridis and associated infauna

Cited by 25 publications

References 11 publications

Development of pigment in the echiuran worm Bonellia viridis

Development of pigment in the echiuran worm Bonellia viridis

Evidence of a chemical defence mechanism in the echiuran wormBonellia viridisRolando (Echiura: Bonelliidae)

Changes in the stygobiont polychaete community of the Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote, as a result of bioturbation by the echiurid Bonellia viridis

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