2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Boring Mechanism of Spionid Polychaetes (Annelida) Which Inhabit the Calcareous Substrates
| Project/Area Number |
11660176
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
General fisheries
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| Research Institution | Tohoku University |
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Principal Investigator |
SATO-OKOSHI Waka Tohoku University, Faculty of Agriculture, Research Associate, 農学部, 教務職員 (20233083)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1999 – 2001
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| Keywords | Annelida / Polychaete / Calcareous substrates / Boring Mechanism / Shell microstrcture / Infestation |
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| Research Abstract |
Burrow structure of boring spionid species was examined using SEM. The surface of burrows excavated in four types of shell microstructure was studied to obtain information about the boring mechanism of these spionids. Small characteristic concentric-edged holes, worm eaten crystals, bottom parallel scratches, and lateral scratched structures were observed on the surface of the burrows. We speculated that the polydorid worms (1) secrete some chemical substance which directly acts and dissolves the crystal and a part of organic matrix first and makes them weaker and (2) scratch and loosen them mechanically both in moving back and forth along the burrow and by a rotary motion within the burrow. We further speculated that some chemidasubstance secreted by worms and organs involved in the boring activity may be the same among the polydorid species, that the boring mechanism among polydorid species may be the same, and that the existence of concentric-edged holes or worm-eaten structure provides evidence of polydorid infestation.
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