Records of Breeding Activity of Marine Invertebrates at Kaikoura

Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand : Zoology, Volume 9, Issue 12, 19 June 1967, Page 169

Records of Breeding Activity of Marine Invertebrates at Kaikoura

J. F. C. Morgans

By

[Received by the Editor, 3 August 1966.]

Abstract

This paper summarises records of breeding activity of marine invertebrates at Kaikoura from May, 1962, until May, 1966. Although many records are derived from personal notes the majority are based on specimens preserved in the catalogued “ K ” Collection started by the author and stored at the Edward Percival Marine Laboratory.

The author established a catalogued collection of marine specimens as soon as possible after the establishment of the Edward Percival Marine Laboratory at Kaikoura. The cataloguing system has been described elsewhere (Morgans, 1965). The purpose of this collection was not only to provide stored specimens for handy reference but to include interesting specimens that could be referred to by their catalogue codes when, as was so often the case, proper identification could not be obtained.

It was the author’s intention, from the start, to accumulate as many records of breeding activity as possible and the method of cataloguing rendered this a simple matter. The first larva was catalogued in May, 1962, when the “K ” collection was started and, although the larva is still unidentified to species, it is identified by catalogue code and the specimen is stored for further examination.

The value of a summary of records of breeding activity is undoubted but accumulation of records is a lengthy process. Those summarised here are chiefly based on the months of May and late August-early September from 1962 to 1966 when zoology student field courses were run at Kaikoura during the short vacations. One of the projects set for the students in August-September was to seek out breeding activity and this emphasis must be expected to have biased the records. Other records were obtained during my visits in other months and I am indebted to helpful colleagues, Mrs F. R. Allison, Mr P. M. Johns and Mr I. Mannering, for their thoughtfulness in cataloguing valuable material in this cause. Although most records are referable to catalogued specimens (and this paper summarises entries from K.OOI to K. 923) there are many that were noted personally on the basis of specimens that unfortunately went astray in the turmoil of the student courses.

Records are summarised in tabular form. They are lacking for June, July and October: the scanty records of January to March are recorded under the section entitled “ Notes ” that follows the tabular summary.

The tabular summary contains either the catalogue code of the reference material (omitting the prefix “K ” because all specimens belong to the “K ” collection) or notes that the record was a personal observation (“ P.Obs. ”). In addition, brief reference is made to the habitat in which the material was found by the following conventions:

P = Plankton.

PD = Plankton, daytime

PN = Plankton, night.

HN = Taken by hand net from the Old Wharf at night (with lamplights).

B = From sandy beach.

F = From flotsam.

R From rocks, rock pools, etc.

Z From Zoster beds.

A = From algae on rocks.

D = From beneath holdfasts of Durvillea antarctica

Dr. Dredged offshore.

G = General collection by students and staff.

Notes

1. Four largish juveniles were spewed from stomodaeum.

2. Many small young (some of which were budding) within coelenteron.

3. Uterus contained early stage eggs.

4. Unidentified specimen with large white eggs in uterus.

5. In August, 1963, certain lAudouinia specimens were observed releasing (through a split in the side of the worm) bright yellow eggs stuck together in a gelatinous mass. They hatched to trochophores in the aquaria.

6. Not L. jacksoni or L. banksii.

7. Noted that the posterior end of many tubes was packed with eggs that hatched as small worms resembling the adult; and these juveniles appeared to remain awhile in the parental tube.

8. Taken from algae encrusting Leptomithrax longimanus that was taken in a craypot.

9. In the gums of the jaws of Isuropsis mako of 1121 b weight.

10. Attached to a detached, floating holdfast of Durvillea.

11. About 20 tiny isopods were attached beneath this specimen; possibly they were juveniles but Mrs F. R. Allison noted in September, 1965, that Epicarid isopods were found attached beneath A. falcifer.

12. In these Sphaeromids small isopods were found attached to the thoracic sternites and, so far as I can recollect, they appeared to be juveniles of the adult concerned. However, Mr P. Jansen (of this Department) informs me that parasitic Asellote isopod juveniles (e.g., lais spp.) may be found similarly attached.

13. It is possible that the identity of the specimens observed was Crabzyos elongatus.

14. From Macrocystis.

15. Found alive in a dry little rock crevice. The amphipod was observed to be plastering numerous reddish eggs to the internal walls of its house. Despite attempts to hatch the eggs and keep the larvae there were so many accidents that the larvae were all lost and the animal died after three days in captivity. It was preserved as K. 895 A.

16. From Lessonia holdfast.

17. These colourless juveniles were also taken in January (K. 366 A) from beneath rocks.

18. Eggs bright orange. On at least one occasion a clump of these eggs was found in a burrow without an adult present.

19. Found in May beneath a living Haliotis; in September from stipe of Lessonia.

20. September record from holdfast of Lessonia.

21. Eggs greyish-purple; over 150 counted on one adult. K. 321 A are newly-hatched zoaea, and K. 327 A are zoaea at 30-45 hours after hatching.

22. Taken in a craypot. This specimen may prove to be Paramithrax peroni.

23. From mussels ( Mytilus and Perna ) boiled to be eaten.

24. Many samples from nettings of tidal plankton over Armer’s Beach.

25. From holdfast of Carpophyllum.

26. Mr Penniket suggests that this is the Therevid Anabarhynchus (possibly bilineata) but that it may in fact be the larva of an Asilid. It is a distinctive, rather nematode-like pink maggot that is common in the supralittoral fringe fauna and in well decayed flotsam (Morgans, 1967 a, 1967 b).

27. Common in decaying algal flotsam.

28. From certain supralittoral rock pools in which they are frequently found.

29. This caddis was found amongst algae around low spring tide level.

30. Found in the sand of the supralittoral fringe.

31. K. 175 D taken from a wharf pile.

32. The numerous young are sheltered beneath the mantle groove.

33. Egg capsules dredged from 20 fathoms about five and a half miles north-east of the peninsula. Some of the capsules contained three young prosobranchs; the young were sufficiently developed to enable a provisional identification.

34. Graham’s (1941) accounts and illustrations are of considerable interest.

35. Found on rocks in January.

36. Capsules assumed to belong to this species because the adults were nearby. Capsules closely packed into a honeycomb pattern, about a quarter of an inch in height, each capsule about one eighth of an inch in diameter, whitish with a brownish spot above. Several groups of capsules on the undersides of rocks.

37. A bunch of eggs was found on the beach in March and brought to the marine laboratory.

38. Mr I. Mannering very kindly agreed to contribute the following notes on the spawning of Patellacea (personal communication): “The Patellacea of Kaikoura appear to be summer spawners; Cellana flava (late Nov.-Dee.), C. radians (late Dec.-Jan.), C. ornata (late Jan.-March), C. denticulata (Jan.-March, but there is some evidence that it also spawns, on a smaller scale, from May to August). The first three species exhibit distinct reproductive regression in winter. Of the Acmaeidae, Patelloida corticata spawns during Dec.-Jan. but there is little information concerning other species ”.

39. Collected and identified by Mr I. Mannering (of this Department) who inferred the egg string (K. 545 D) to belong to this species because of its proximity.

40. Flat masses of pale yellow eggs, several dozen eggs per mass.

41. The eggs were contained in an inverted, empty Haliotis shell upon which the parent brooded.

42. Eggs attached to the underside of a rock were collected and identified by Mr I. Mannering in February.

Acknowledgments

The following have very kindly identified specimens: Mrs F. R. Allison (Turbellaria and Cestoda), Dr V. M. Stout (Branchiopoda) and Mr P. M. Johns (Polyplacophora), all of the Zoology Department, University of Canterbury; Mr I. Estcourt (certain Polychaeta) of the N.Z. Oceanographic Institute; Dr R. B. Pike and Mr R. G. Wear (certain Decapod larvae) of the Zoology Department, Victoria University; Mr C. Devine, M.Sc. (Canterbury) (larvae of Callianassa and

Upogehia) ; Miss M. J. Gordon (Hymenosomid crabs), Zoology Department, University of Auckland; Professor W. G. Clark (Pycnogonida), University of Manawatu; Dr R. K. Dell (Prosobranch molluscs and Rohsonella) of the Dominion Museum; and Mr J. G. Penniket and Mr A. G. McFarlane (Insecta) of the Canterbury Museum.

My debt to certain colleagues who collected material has been mentioned so that I close with grateful acknowledgments to my various research assistants, in particular to Mr G. Hosking, and to the University of Canterbury for providing sundry funds for their employment.

Literature Cited

Graham, D. M., 1941. Breeding habits of twenty-two species of marine Mollusca. Trans. Proc. roy. Soc. N.Z. 71(2); 152-159.

Morgans, J. F. C., 1965. A simple and flexible cataloguing system for biological collections, large and small. Tuatara, 13(2): 116-121.

1967 a. The Macrofauna of an unstable beach discussed in relation to beach profile, texture and a progression in shelter from wave action. Trans, roy. Soc. N.Z. Zool., 9(10): 141-155.

1967 b. The Macrofauna of an excellently sorted isolated beach at Kaikoura; and certain tidal observations. Trans, roy. Soc. N.Z., Zool., 9(11): 157-167.

J. F. G. Morgans, Director, Oceanographic Research Institute, P.O. Box 736, Durban, South Africa.

Note Species April May August September November December SGYPHOZOA 053 G(P) (K AGTINOZOA 1 tenebrosa Actinia P.Obs. 2 thompsoni 378 F(Z) TURBELLARIA Mrs. F. R. A. Obs. 378 F(Z) (D) 3 4 Leptoplana NEMERTEA CESTODA Mrs. F. R, A. Obs. P.Obs. (D) : POLYCHAETA A t(G) 653 377 5 (K 6 A) with 377 exuding : 460 G(B) 540 A(B): 551 H(B): 460 C(B) or eggs sperm 540 A(B): 551 H(B): 7 rd 378 Poly 548 H(B) B(Z) 378 P.Obs. 378 with with eggs Scolecolepides Heteronereids, etc. 057 : F(HN) A(P) 144 396 : D(HN) P(A) 684 296 338 B(HN) 402 H(PN) Sacconereids BRANCHIOPODA 617 A(HN) 053 M(G) 653 338 A(HN) 401 8 393 D OSTRACODA (K : P.Obs. COPEPODA General: eggs P.Obs. with single, egg median egg I*.Obs. (P) P.Obs. (D) 061 L(Dr.) 343 D Lernaeopodoid (K 061 L): with eggs P.Obs. (P) P.Obs. (D) 061 L(Dr.) 343 D 9 343 (K CIRRIPEDIA with P.Obs. Obs with eggs 10 Nauplii A) A P.Obs! (P) MYSIDACEA and young Obs. P.Obs. 090 ISOPODA 090 p’Obs! 11 (Amphofoidea falcifer) P.Obs. (D) P Obs 12 (Cymodoce sp.) (Cymodoce sp.) P.Obs. (D) P Obs 12 (K : 598 K(R) Obs. ( ) 13 eggs P.Obs. 14 with eggs 413 elongate, with eggs General: eggs AMPHIPODA 654 ) 15 Phronima ? eggs 895 A(R) Talorchestia quoyana ; with young General: with orange-coloured eggs General: pink (K422 C, D): with eggs General: Caprellids: with eggs General: Gammarid (K 654J): with eggs 401 Q(PN) 422 C, D(A) 464 D(B): 465 B(B) 16 P.Obs. with young (K : young 654J(B) 353 B(R) with General: orange-coloured (K913B): General: with eggs 913 B(R) pink General: 422 with General: eggs 653 K(G): 654 F(B) General: eggs (K A); green General: with eggs eggs P.Obs. 401 Q(PN) 422 C, D(A) 464 D(B): 465 B(B) 531 A(R) General: with (K youngNATANTIA (K913B): General: with eggs in berry 654 J(B)P.Obs. 353 B(R) 913 B(R) with General: eggs (K ; sp. 653 K(G): 654 F(B) 053 E(P) (K A): green 401 A, berry 401 A, B(PN) Jasus lalandii: phyllosoma larvae 057 D(HN) 156 A(P) 168 A (PD) eggs 531 A(R) . NATANTIA Alope spinifrons: in berry , P.Obs. IGenades sp. (K 053 E): larva 053 E(P) Hippolyte spp. (K 401 A, B): in berry Jasus lalandii: phyllosoma larvae 156 A(P) 401 A, B(PN) 168 A (PD) 17 A) 057 D(HN) 385 A(HN) 657 A(R) 364 A berry 385 A(HN) 657 A(R) 364 A THALASSINIDEA 18 berry 641 642 B,G: 440 A(B) (B) ? 168 C(PD) larvae: sp. :

(K. : 901 Upogebia berry P.Obs. 340 A(G) 168 ? ANOMURA ?Anapagurus berry 340 berry 653 168 larvae 053 J(P) larvae: spinosus Petrolisthes in berry 091 H(PN) 340 : BRACHYURA 19 berry P.Obs. 372 A(R): 653 E(A) 424 20 : zoaea Elamena.' 295 340 B(G) Halicarcinus berry: 414 675 A(A) berry 653 B(G) 21 berry 653 E(G) 321 A(G) Hemigrapsus edwardsii berry P.Obs. 340 C(G): 327 P.Obs. berry: 888 : Q(Z) P.Obs. etc. L(Z) 22 Heterozius berry P.Obs. 340 : 653 in : Leptomithrax berry A 061 Paramithrax berry 096 : A(R) : A(R) 653 A(G) 23 Pilumnus berry P.Obs. Pinnotheres 665 A (R) : 296 General 401 X(PJN) P.Obs. (P) 401 X(PN) : Oxyrhynch P.Obs. (P) General: megalopae 095 N(PN) : 24 General: or megalopae PYCNOGONIDA 296 K(PN) 086 G: 508 etc. with eggs 532 A(R) 653 H(G) 596 A (Dr.) with larvae obliqua: General : eggs INSECTA 596 A(Dr.) 25 408 G(A) 26 A) 528 464 27 larvae pupae (B) A, : 469 A(B) 27 larvae 856 etc. E(F) 529 464 E(B) 527 B,C: 543 C: 464 E(B) 27 Coelopid pupae 527 B,C: 543 C: 27 27 Dipterous larvae Dipterous pupae larvae 844 B(R) G 013 856 E(R): N(F) 856 P(F) 678 678 702 L(R) 28 Tipulid pupae Mosquito 610 070 G(R) 702 P(R) 322 A(A) 702 P(R) 29 Philaniscus plebejus littorea: larva 880 322 A(A) 529 F(B) 542 B: 544 B: 30 larva Pericoptus 529 F(B) 30 larvaePStaphylinid 504 C(B) 542 B: 544 B: 504 C(B) 30 (K 879 529 31 : 847 : 852 848 A(R): 32 32 POLYPLACOPHORA Frembleya with P.Obs. (D) Onithochiton with neglect PROSOBRANCHIATA 341 A(D) 34 3534, capsules egg egg capsules 627 ) 34, haustorium: capsules (R) 37 General: 626 (K eggs A) General; Patellidae and Acmaeidae OPISTHOBRANCHIATA 38 General: Patellidae and Acmaeidae OPISTHOBRANCHIATA 39 Aplysia nigra 545 (K PULMONATA 545 34 Benhamina obliquata: whorls egg 660 A(R) 40 Onchidella CEPHALOPODA P.Obs. 41 42 Robsonella egg Octopus (K B) 602 A(R)