The term poecilogony was coined by Alfred Mathieu Giard to describe a polymorphism in larval development in marine invertebrates. To date, this life history trait is only known in a small number of polychaete taxa,[1] as well as some sacoglossan mollusks. In some cases, the variation in larval type is a 'plastic' trait in that it is environmentally mediated. In other cases, the larval type is genetically determined - a good example is the polychaete Streblospio benedicti, where some mothers release small planktotrophic eggs and other mothers release large lecithotrophic eggs.[2] In either case, the variation in larval type generally involves the production of larvae that differ in feeding mode and/or developmental time.

References

  1. "Learn About Tubeworms". A Snail's Odyssey. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  2. Levin, L. A. (1984). "Multiple patterns of development in Streblospio benedicti Webster (Spionidae) from three coasts of North America". Biological Bulletin. 166 (3): 494–508. doi:10.2307/1541157. JSTOR 1541157.
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