The Role of Dissolved Organic Material in the Nutrition of Pelagic Larvae: Amino Acid Uptake by Bivalve Veligers

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Abstract
SYNOPSIS. Studies on the role of dissolved organic material in the nutrition of marine invertebrates have largely been confined to adults. However larval forms, with a higher surface area to volume ratio, have a greater weight specific capacity for absorbing dissolved organic material than adults. Autoradiographic, biochemical, and kinetic experiments with bivalve larvae all indicate that amino acid uptake and translocation mechanisms can operate efficiently at naturally occurring substrate concentrations. The mechanisms operate throughout the life-span of the animal, from fertilized egg to adult. Experimental evidence is presented to show that the kinetics of uptake by larvae allow them to compete with bacteria for dissolved organic material in sea water. In larvae, supplementary sources of energy may be more important than in adults since larvae are provided with minimal food reserves by the parent and must pass through periods when paniculate feeding cannot occur.

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