The role of gametes and asexual products of algae in the food chain of aquatic medium

Abstract

Experiments conducted by keeping mussel larvae in filtered sea water along with fragments of Viva sp., Chaetomorpha sp. and Cladophora sp. capable of readily releasing gametes in the medium showed that the larvae could metamorphose to settling stage with in 15 to 18 days by actively feeding on the gametes released by these algae. It is also noticed that the breeding cycle of the above algae along with the other algae in the locality coincides with the peak breeding period of mussel in Vizhinjam and in other mussel bed areas. The asexual reproductive products of these algae have also been observed to play in similar role as diet of the larvae and adult mussels.