New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research ISSN: 0028-8330 (Print) 1175-8805 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnzm20 Common bivalve larvae from New Zealand: Leptonacea J. D. Booth To cite this article: J. D. Booth (1979) Common bivalve larvae from New Zealand: Leptonacea, New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 13:2, 241-254, DOI: 10.1080/00288330.1979.9515799 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00288330.1979.9515799 Published online: 30 Mar 2010. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 74 View related articles Citing articles: 8 View citing articles Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tnzm20 Download by: [203.118.161.175] Date: 13 February 2017, At: 23:33 New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 1979, 13 (2) : 241-254. Common bivalve larvae from New Zealand: Leptonacea J. D. BOOTH* Marine Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand The late stage larvae of three erycinid bivalves (Mollusca: Pelecypoda: Leptonacea) taken from the brood chamber of the adult are described (Kellia cycladiformis, Lasaea rubra hinemoa, and L. maoria), and the provisionally identified late stage larva of the erycinid Arthritica bijurca taken from the plankton is described. Also, the D-shaped larvae of the erycinid bivalves Kellia cycladiformis, Borniola reniformis, Arlhritica crassijormis, and A. bifurca taken from the parent brood chamber are described. The seasonal occurrence of each late stage larva in the plankton at the Bay of Islands (35° 15'S, 174° 10'E), Wellington Harbour (41° 16'S, 174° 51'E), and Raumati Beach (40° 56'S, 174° 58'E), New Zealand is described. Aspects of the reproductive cycles of Lasaea rubra hinemoa and Arthritica bifurca are presented. INTRODUCTION have been grown in the laboratory (A. bifurca late This is the third paper in a series (Booth 1977, 1979) stage larva). on the common bivalve larvae recovered from No New Zealand leptonacean larvae have hitherto plankton samples taken at the Bay of Islands, Wel- been described, although several overseas species lington Harbour, and Raumati Beach, New Zealand have received attention. Jorgensen (1946) and Rees during 1970-72 (Booth 1972). The paper deals with (1950) noted, in particular, that the hinge lacked a the larvae of six leptonacean (= erycinacean) true provinculum, although, the straight edge of the species: Family Erycinidae — Kellia cycladiformis hinge of larger larvae may appear rough or corru- (Deshayes), Lasaea rubra hinemoa Finlay, L. maoria gated, thereby giving the impression of feebly de- (Powell), Borniola reniformis (Suter), Arlhritica veloped teeth. Chanley & Chanley (1970) emphasised crassijormis Powell, and A. bifurca (Webster). the difficulties in identifying pelagic erycinacean ( = The late stage pelagic veligers (veliconchae) and leptonacean) larvae, and summarised the usual larval pediveligers of Kellia cycladiformis and Arthritica features of this group; long hinge line, umbo ap- bifurca are described (but, for A, bifurca, the des- pears late in development and remains low and cription and identification remain only provisional) rounded; larvae more laterally compressed, paler, and the seasonal occurrences of both species of larvae and attain a larger pelagic size than most other bi- in the plankton are outlined. Other larvae described valve larvae. are the D-shaped larvae of Kellia cycladiformis, Bor- niola reniformis, Arthritica crassijormis, and A. The incubatory habit within the genus Kellia is bifurca, and the late stage larvae and postlarvae of well known (Lebour 1938, Howard 1953, Oldfield Lasaea rubra hinemoa and L. maoria. Also presented 1964), with the larvae being released at a small are aspects of the reproductive cycle of L. rubra size (60-120 /nn) in K. suborbicularis and K. laper- hinemoa and Arthritica bifurca. ousi. In the genus Lasaea, the free veliger stage has All these species incubate their larvae to some been suppressed; the young are liberated as miniature extent. Where descriptions are based on larvae re- adults (Oldfield 1955, 1964). Ponder (1967) recog- moved from the parent brood chamber, the larval nised the incubatory habit of Borniola reniformis, identifications are positive (Kellia cycladiformis, with, the small veligers closely resembling "those of Lasaea rubra hinemoa, and L. maoria late stage Kellia (suborbicularis)." The incubation of Arlhritica larvae; Kellia cycladiformis Borniola reniformis, crassijormis larvae to a length, of at least 109 /*m Arlhritica crassijormis, and A. bifurca D-shaped lar- has been documented by Ponder (1965), and Wear vae), but identification of larvae collected from the (1966) pointed out the incubation of A. bijurca plankton must remain tentative until the species larvae "at least to the shelled prodissoconch stage." Received 9 August 1978; revision received 13 November 1978 * Present address: Fisheries Research Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, P.O. Box 19062, Wellington, New Zealand Fisheries Research Division Publication 353 242 New Zealand journal of Marine & Freshwater Research, 1979, 13 (2) Although bivalves of the superfamily Leptonacea hinge characters. Terminology relating to the incuba- are well represented in New Zealand (Ponder 1971), tory habit of the species considered is derived from and are numerically the commonest bivalves on the Ockelmann (1965) and Chanley (1969). The dimen- shore (Morton & Miller 1968), there is relatively sions given for pelagic late stage larvae (which, in little information on the distribution and ecology of this study, refer to both late veliger and pediveliger the adults. Kellia cycladiformis (= Marikellia stages) are the range of sizes of larvae most often rotunda) is widespread throughout New Zealand (F. observed in the plankton samples. Dimensions for M. Climo, National Museum, Wellington, pers. incubated larvae are the range of sizes observed at comm.), mainly inhabits intertidal rock crevices particular stages of development. Hinge line length (Morton & Miller 1968), and reaches at least 18 mm is the length of the straight edge section of the hinge; in length. Lasaea rubra hinemoa is a small bivalve other details relating to the descriptions of larvae are (up to 4.6 mm in length) occurring throughout New noted in Booth (1977). Zealand, but is most abundant towards the south Adults were collected at various times of the year (Ponder 1971). It usually occurs in crevices or to obtain incubated larvae. For Kellia cycladijormis, amongst barnacles or mussels in moist, low light con- a group of adults and juveniles (individuals measured ditions, and most commonly near low tide. Lasaea 8 mm, 5 mm, 3 mm, 2 mm, and 1 mm in length) maoria is a bivalve of similar size and lives only in and several pediveligers, all linked by byssal threads, moist, dark conditions, and occurs as far south as were removed from an empty Mylilus edulis aoteanus Cook Strait (Ponder 1971). Borniola reniformis is shell in the low midiittoral zone at Wairoa Bay, near also a small bivalve (up to 7 mm in length), "moder- Waitangi, Bay of Islands on 28 October 1970. The ately common ... at low tide in clean, coastal situa- largest adult was incubating 12 late stage larvae. In tions" throughout New Zealand and to a depth of at addition, three adults 8 mm long examined at the least 190 m (Ponder 1967). Arthrhica crassiformis National Museum, Wellington contained numerous (up to 5.4 mm in length) occurs commensally with D-shaped larvae. These were collected in March the rock-boring bivalve Barnea (— Anchomasa) sim- 1976 at Whangarei Heads and D'Urville Island. ilis, at least throughout the North Island (Ponder Forty adults of Lasaea rubra hinemoa (most ap- 1965, Morton 1973). Arthritica bifurca, a bivalve of pearing to be of the vexata type — see Ponder 1971) similar size, occurs free-living in mud or muddy greater than 1.5 mm in length were collected at sand, though probably not deeper than 190 m Wairoa Bay approximately monthly from February (Ponder 1965), and also in association with the 1971 to May 1972. A total of 27 adults of L. maoria tubeworm Pectinaria australis according to Wear were collected at Eastbourne, Wellington Harbour on (1966). Observations made in Bay of Islands estu- 21 January and 30 March 1972. Forty-five adults of aries (Table 2, also Booth 1972) suggest that in this Borniola reniformis over 4.0 mm long were collected area at least, the species is common in its free-living at Wairoa Bay, Bay of Islands during 1971. Forty mode, and it was not found in association with the adults of Arthritica crassiformis more than 2.5 mm P. australis present. long were taken at Te Puna, Bay of Islands, on 12 January and 17 May 1972 from beds of the pholad Barnea similis. Thirty to forty adults of A. bifurca SAMPLING AREAS AND METHODS more than 2.5 mm long were taken approximately monthly at Petone Beach from October 1971 to Details of the plankton sampling programme, includ- October 1972 from their association with the tube ing the areas, times, and methods have been described worm Pectinaria australis. by Booth (1974, 1975, 1977). In brief, three plankton stations were occupied in the Bay of Islands (35° 15'S, 174°10'E) (Apr 1970 - Dec 1971), four in Wellington Harbour (41°16'S, 174°51'E) (May 1970 - LARVAL DESCRIPTIONS, SEASONAL Feb 1972) and four at Raumati Beach (40°56'S, 174° OCCURRENCE, AND NOTES ON THE 58'E) (Jun 1971 - Jun 1972); the positions of these BREEDING CYCLE OF SOME ADULTS stations are given in Booth (1977; figs 1 & 2). Details The seasonal occurrences of each pelagic late stage of the hydrology of the Bay of Islands and Wellington larva that was found in significant numbers in the Harbour during the sampling period are given in Bay of Islands and Wellington Harbour are presented Booth (1974, 1975).