Survivorship and tube growth of reef‐building Serpula vermicularis (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) in two Scottish sea lochs

Abstract

In the UK, reef formation by the tubicolous polychaete Serpula vermicularis L. has been recorded in only two sea lochs in Argyll, west Scotland. Serpula vermicularis aggregations are now confined to Loch Creran, those in Loch Sween having died out for unknown reasons. Survivorship and tube extension rates were measured in situ in order to compare habitat quality of the two sea lochs and to determine the feasibility of artificial restoration of Loch Sween reefs using stock translocated from Loch Creran. After labelling and measurement, clusters of inhabited tubes collected from Loch Creran were re‐planted at two sites in Loch Sween and two in Loch Creran in July 2004, and monitored at intervals before recovery and remeasurement in July 2005. In Loch Sween the tube clusters gradually disappeared over the monitoring period. Only remnants were left by May 2005 and no growth data were obtained. In Loch Creran 76% of the labelled tubes were relocated. Confirmed mortality over the year was 5.3% and mean tube extension rate was 33 mmy−1. There was no significant difference in tube growth between the two Loch Creran sites and inter‐individual differences accounted for most of the variability in the data. Individual tube extension declined significantly with worm body mass but mean extension showed no relationship to total worm biomass in each cluster. Annual tube extension rate in Loch Creran was low in comparison with literature data from other serpulids, suggesting that tube growth is strongly seasonal. The 10‐month persistence of some living worms in Loch Sween suggests that there is no physiological barrier to survival of stock translocated from Loch Creran but in situ video monitoring would be necessary to determine the cause of tube disappearance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Biogenic stalactites in submarine caves at the Cape of Otranto (SE Italy): dating and hypothesis on their formation

“…Apart from these elements of discussion, we cannot exclude the possibility that pseudostalactites have a really different history, and the observed differences between them are partly due also to individual and ⁄ or intrinsic properties of each worm aggregation (Hughes et al 2008). For example, the length of each structure could be affected by the discontinuous presence of suitable conditions for the gregarious behaviour in P. tubularia (Kupriyanova et al 2001).…”

“…Apart from these elements of discussion, we cannot exclude the possibility that pseudostalactites have a really different history, and the observed differences between them are partly due also to individual and/or intrinsic properties of each worm aggregation (Hughes et al. 2008).…”

Where’s the ‘reef’? A five year study of serpulid tube bioerosion in a Scottish sea loch

“…Fieldwork was carried out on the southern shore of Loch Creran at a site (56°30.98' N, 05°22.05' W) used in an earlier study of survivorship and tube growth (Hughes et al 2008). Small clusters of tubes containing living Serpula vermicularis were collected by scuba divers in July 2004 and returned to the laboratory.…”

“…2 in Moore et al 2009 for distribution as of July 2005). The S. vermicularis aggregations in Loch Creran are regarded as biogenic 'reefs' (Holt et al 1998), and ongoing scientific studies aim to promote effective conservation management of this rare bio tope (Moore et al 1998, Poloczanska et al 2004, Chapman et al 2007, Hughes et al 2008.…”

“…In Loch Creran, Serpula vermicularis 'reefs' consist of masses of densely-intertwined tubes standing > 50 cm clear of the seabed and up to 60 cm in lateral extent (Moore et al 1998). Mature worms extend their tubes at a mean rate of 33 mm yr -1 (Hughes et al 2008). Collapse and subsequent upward regrowth of clusters of tubes create 'ring-reefs' up to 2 m in diameter (Moore et al 2009), with total coverage in some areas exceeding 10% of the seabed (Moore et al 1998).…”