Laboratory assessment of sea lamprey larvae burrowing performance

Abstract

To study the burrowing behaviour and performance of larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus L.), 120 ammocoetes were collected and observed in the laboratory. Burrowing movements of ammocoetes placed in an aquarium with sediments of differing grain size were video recorded. The video was reviewed and, for each larva, the total time spent moving, the number of stops during the burrowing movement, the total time spent stopped and total time elapsed until complete withdrawal below the substrate surface was registered. Smaller ammocoetes had lower burrowing performance than larger individuals, across all substrate types, but the differences were greater in coarser substrates. Additionally, coarser sediment particles increased the time spent on burrowing regardless of larval size.

Lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis and Lampetra planeri) ammocoete habitat associations at regional, catchment and microhabitat scales in Northern Ireland

“…Ammocoete distribution in other species has been shown to vary by size, with smaller individuals associated with finer sediments (Almeida & Quintella 2002; Sugiyama & Goto 2002). It has been shown experimentally (Quintella et al. 2007) that smaller ( P. marinus L.) ammocoetes have difficulty burrowing into coarser sediments.…”

Are lampreys homebodies? Studying ammocoetes with open population models

“…Smaller animals were also burrowed more superficially than larger ammocoetes (Quintella et al. ), but were large enough to be observed quickly after emergence.…”

“…Larger animals can also burrow faster, and into a larger array of sediments (Quintella et al. ) allowing them to move to new habitat with fewer risks. Older animals may also disperse to limit inbreeding and seek out new opportunities.…”

“…If another animal emerged while the first was being captured, it was ignored until the first animal could be captured. Smaller animals were also burrowed more superficially than larger ammocoetes (Quintella et al 2007), but were large enough to be observed quickly after emergence. ABL in Dyke Creek showed clearer differences between groups, with 1-year-old animals having higher / than >1-year-old animals for all estimates ( Table 5).…”

Available benthic habitat type may influence predation risk in larval lampreys

“…Ammocoetes were able to burrow into silt ⁄ clay and coarse sand, but possibly were unable to maintain burrows or adequately respire and feed, thus causing abandonment. For ammocoetes trying to evade capture, predation risk increases with time necessary to complete a burrow (Quintella et al 2007). Another possibility is that emerged ammocoetes are more vulnerable to predation resulting from increased burrowing times in silt ⁄ clay or coarse sand substrates (Quintella et al 2007).…”