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Ciliary Hovering in Larval Lancelets (=Amphioxus).

M D Stokes, N D Holland

The Biological Bulletin

|December 28, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Lancelet larvae exhibit a distinct hovering behavior, suspending themselves in water using ciliary action. This behavior may explain their unusual asymmetry and the development of the giant amphioxides form.

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Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Evolutionary Biology
Marine Biology

Background:

Lancelet (Amphioxus) larvae are crucial for understanding vertebrate origins.
Larval lancelets display unique traits like the amphioxides form and body asymmetry.
Understanding larval behavior is key to their ecological role and evolutionary significance.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hovering behavior of pre-metamorphic lancelet larvae.
To explore the functional significance of hovering in relation to larval development and morphology.
To utilize improved culturing methods for observing larval behavior.

Main Methods:

Culturing of healthy pre-metamorphic lancelet larvae in deep containers.
Observation of larval behavior using improved methodologies.
Analysis of larval posture and movement patterns, including ciliary beating.

Main Results:

Lancelet larvae exhibit prominent hovering behavior, remaining suspended in midwater.
Larvae maintain a consistent posture, tilted towards the water surface, in both light and dark conditions.
Directional photosensitivity was observed in hovering larvae.

Conclusions:

Hovering behavior is a significant aspect of lancelet larval life.
This behavior may be linked to the development of the giant amphioxides form.
Hovering behavior could also be related to the observed larval asymmetry.