A waterborne behavioral cue for the actinotroch larva of Phoronis pallida (Phoronida) produced by Upogebia pugettensis (Decapoda: Thalassinidea)

Phoronis pallida (Phoronida) occurs as a commensal within the burrow of Upogebia pugettensis (Decapoda: Thalassinidea). Upogebia-conditioned seawater (UCSW) induced an exploratory swimming behavior in competent larvae of P. pallida in a dosage-dependent manner. This behavior included a significant increase in swimming speed that was directed downward, along with the repeated probing of the bottom with the sensory portion of the oral hood. The waterborne cue from the shrimp was present in the gut effluent, and the swimming behavior was not the result of the elevated ammonia concentration. Molecular weight separation of the UCSW estimated that the cue was between 10 and 50 kDa. Enzymatic treatments showed that the cue's activity could be eliminated by arginase and significantly reduced by lipase. Competent larvae were also induced to metamorphose when exposed to 20 mM CsCl for 30 min. Larvae did not respond to CsCl when cultured about 4 weeks past the onset of competence. Compared with actinotroch larvae of other phoronid species, P. pallida larvae exhibit greater behavioral specificity and neuronal differences within the hood sense organ. These anatomical and behavioral differences may have been maintained through a coevolutionary process among P. pallida and species of thalassinid shrimps that share Upogebia life-history characteristics.