Combined effect of cyprid age and lipid content on larval attactment and metamorphosis of Balanus amphitrite Darwin

Various algal diets of different lipid content and composition were used to rear batches of naupliar larvae of Balanus amphitrite. The cyprids in these larval batches differed in lipid content and were used to investigate the combined effect of cyprid lipid content and cyprid age on attachment and metamorphosis. For this purpose, cyprids were aged for 0, 3 and 6 d at 8degreesC prior to utilization in laboratory attachment assays. The percentage attachment of cyprids with similar lipid content differed significantly among the three age categories. A strong and a weak positive relationship between cyprid lipid content and attachment were monitored in young and old cyprids, respectively. A significant interaction (two-way ANOVA) between cyprid age and lipid content was observed, indicating that these factors jointly affect larval attachment and metamorphosis in B. amphitrite from the beginning of the cyprid stage.