Short communication. Determination of generation time and asexual fecundity of doliolids (Tunicata, Thaliacea)

The goal of this study was to provide temporal information on thegeneration time of Dolioletta gegenbauri and some ofthe life cycle's components. At 20C and90 g C l^-1 ofingestible phytoplankton. D.gegenbauri's life cycle iscompleted in 20.5 days. Phorozooids 5 mm produce on average 11.0gonozooids day^-1 over a period of 8-18 days.Utilizing field data on the abundance and size distribution of anassemblage of phorozooids and nurses, in conjunction with experimentallyobtained rates, indicates that asexual production per cubic meter byphorozooids with that of nurses should result in rapid colonization of awide shelf by doliolids, as observed during July and August 1981 on thesoutheastern continental shelf of the USA.