Delbare, D.

Fordeyn, J.

Groenendaal, B.

Huygens, M.

Lemey, E.

Mascart, T.

Pycke, B.F.G.

Semeraro, A.

Sterckx, T.

Van Hoey, G.

Vanagt, T.

Wyns, L.

Open Marine Archive

160 
Poster presentation Competition poster 
In vitro experiment on spawning induction of L. Conchilega and substrate 
preference during settlement of the larva  
Wyns Liam1, Semeraro Alexia2, Delbare Daan2, Groenendaal Bert3, Pycke Benny3, Sterckx Tomas4, 
Mascart Thibaud4, Huygens Marc4, Lemey Emile5, Fordeyn Jan5, Vanagt Thomas6 and Van Hoey 
Gert7 
1  Universiteit Gent, Onderzoeksgroep Mariene Biologie (UGent-MARBIOL), Campus De Sterre S8, 
Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Gent, Belgium 
 E-mail: liam.wyns@imbrsea.eu 
2  Animal Sciences Unit, Fisheries and Aquatic Production, ILVO, Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Oostende, 
Belgium 
3 Sioen Industries nv, Fabriekstraat 23, 8850 Ardooie, Belgium 
4  Dredging, Environmental & Marine Engineering NV (DEME), Haven 1025 - Scheldedijk 30, 2070 
Zwijndrecht, Belgium 
5  Jan De Nul, Tragel 60, B-9308 Aalst, Belgium 
6 eCOAST, Esplanadestraat 1, 8400 Oostende, Belgium 
7  Animal Sciences Unit, Aquatic Environment and Quality, ILVO, Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Oostende, 
Belgium 
 
Counteracting the undesired impacts of coastal erosion in the most beneficial way for both 
society and the ecosystem has been a topic of discussion many times. In Belgium, concrete 
dykes are placed perpendicular to the shoreline to diminish the wave impact and flood risk. 
Besides, regularly a huge amount of sand is nourished on the beaches to counteract the 
continuous loss. The consistent use of this costly and intensive engineering approach has led to 
the search for a more sustainable, ecosystem friendly alternative. The COASTBUSTERS project, 
formed by an agreement between ILVO, DEME, Jan De Nul, Sioen Industries and eCoast, plans on 
solving this issue by implementing 3 types of bio engineers in the field: mussel reefs, seaweed 
banks and sand mason worm (L. conchilega) aggregations. Reef forming bio engineers enhance 
resilience of the sediments, making them less susceptible to erosion, and promoting 
proliferation of abundance and biodiversity of organisms (Alves, 2007; Rabaut, 2009; Callaway, 
2010). This work investigates the potential of using L. conchilega for coastal defense, by trying to 
cultivate them and enhancing the settling process by using artificial substrates. 
 
L. conchilega is known to be an important eco system engineer in the intertidal zone. The 
tubeworms create a local hydrodynamic regime within the aggregations, hereby clogging up the 
sand and increasing abundance and diversity of other infaunal species (Alves, 2007; Rabaut, 
2009). To induce the formation of an L. Conchilega aggregation, its pelagic larvae need the 
appropriate benthic conditions for settlement (Keßler, 1963). The research question is if this can 
be enhanced? Preliminary in vitro observations in the lab revealed that artificial substrate 
structures are also used as anchoring structure by the larvae, next to adult tubes. On top of this, 
in situ placement of a substrate mat in Bredene seemed to facilitate settlement of the larvae, as 
multiple L. conchilega tubes were detected after a month, in an environment too turbid and 
dynamic for settlement under normal circumstances. For these reasons, the first in vitro 
substrate preference experiments of the aulophore larvae of the sand mason tubeworm are 
executed. Both spawning induction of the adults and substrate settlement preference of the 
larvae are assessed in one recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The adult containing 
breeding tanks are linked to Kreisel tanks, that will capture the larvae after each spawning cycle. 
Within the Kreisel sections, 3 different substrates and a control are carefully positioned, in 
search for the optimal artificial substrate for larval attachment & settlement. The cultivation of 
larvae, which is possible based on initial trials, allows to execute substrate tests independently 
of the availability of larvae from the field. This way, we can consistently repeat the substrate 
161 
tests after each spawning induction, whenever in time. The experiment is repeated 2 times with 
3 replicate systems each session, to increase the statistical power of the results obtained. With 
this experiment we hope to statistically quantify this enhanced settling effect previously 
observed. The results will help to improve the field set-up of in situ tests that will follow. If all 
successful, COASTBUSTERS plans on integrating the use of such biodegradable substrate mats in 
the field as a barrier against the impact of storm surges, wave erosion and sea level rise on 
sandy beaches, worldwide. 
 
References 
- Callaway, R., Desroy, N., Dubois, S. F., Fournier, J., Frost, M., Godet, L., ... & Rabaut, M. (2010). 
Ephemeral bio-engineers or reef-building polychaetes: how stable are aggregations of the 
tube worm Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766)?. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 50(2), 237-
250. 
- Keßler, M. (1963). Die Entwicklung von Lanice conchilega (Pallas) mit besonderer Berück-
sichtigung der Lebensweise. Helgoländer wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen, 8(4), 425. 
- Mamede da Silva Alves, R. (2017). Spatial structure and temporal dynamics of an intertidal 
population of the marine ecosystem engineering worm Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766) 
(Doctoral dissertation, Ghent University). 
- Rabaut, M. (2009). Lanice conchilega, fisheries and marine conservation: towards an 
ecosystem approach to marine management (Doctoral dissertation, Ghent University). 
 
Keywords: Lanice conchilega; In vitro; Larval settlement; Coastal defense; Coastbusters 
  


<em>In vitro</em> experiment on spawning induction of <em>L. conchilega </em>and substrate preference during settlement of the larva

http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/324994.pdf

<em>In vitro</em> experiment on spawning induction of <em>L. conchilega </em>and substrate preference during settlement of the larva

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Open Marine Archive