Graduation Date
Spring 2022
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Biology
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Sean Craig
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Joe Tyburczy
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Joshua Mackie
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Community Member or Outside Professional
Fourth Committee Member Name
Dr. Paul Bourdeau
Fourth Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Subject Categories
Biology
Abstract
Many factors contribute to the potential of a non-indigenous species to invade an area and become established. For bryozoan colonies of the cryptic species complex Watersipora (Neviani, 1896), this may include larval characteristics such as settlement rate, competency of metamorphosis, swimming duration, and the ability to tolerate copper, a common component in marine anti-fouling paints. Two common groups of Watersipora that occur along the California coast are W. subatra Clade A and an undescribed new species, Clade N. The goal of this research work was to discover what differences, if any, exist in the larval traits and copper tolerances of these two clades. Colonies of Clade A and N were collected around Humboldt Bay and induced to release larvae. Individual larvae were pipetted into petri dishes with either a circle of copper paint or an unpainted control and placed in a common-garden experiment where larval characteristics were measured between species and experimental treatments. Both species had markedly different larval characteristics, with W. subatra settling faster and at a higher rate than Clade N in the control treatment. When exposed to copper anti-fouling paint, however, these trends reversed. This study is the first to investigate larval differences between these two species. A number of studies on bryozoans are presumed, but not verified, to be Watersipora subatra. This fact, coupled with the strong observed differences in larval behavior that these results show, suggests that a Watersipora species-specific approach needs to be taken in future work with this cryptic species complex.
Citation Style
CSE
Recommended Citation
Lopiccolo, Jason A., "Variation of larval traits and copper tolerance in an invasive cryptic species complex (Watersipora: Bryozoa)" (2022). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 539.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/539