Acontia and mesentery nematocysts of the sea anemone <i>Metridium senile</i> (Linnaeus, 1761) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Carina Östman; Jens Roat Kultima; Carsten Roat; Karl Rundblom

doi:10.3989/scimar.2010.74n3483

Authors

Carina Östman Animal Development and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University
Jens Roat Kultima Uppsala University
Carsten Roat Department of Ecology, Environment and Geology, Umeå University
Karl Rundblom Uppsala University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2010.74n3483

Keywords:

cnidae, SEM, acontia, mesenterial filaments

Abstract

Acontia and mesentery nematocysts of Metridium senile (Linnaeus, 1761) are described from interference- contrast light micrographs (LMs) and scanning electron micrographs (SEMs). The acontia have 2 nematocyst categories grouped into small, medium and large size-classes, including 5 types: of these, large b-mastigophores and large p-amas- tigophores are the largest and most abundant. Mesenterial tissues, characterised by small p-mastigophores and medium p-amastigophores, have 3 nematocyst categories grouped as small and medium, including 6 types. Attention is given to nematocyst maturation, especially to the differentiation of the shaft into proximal and main regions as helical folding of the shaft wall proceeds. Groups of differentiating nematoblasts occur along acontia, and near the junction between acontia and mesenterial filaments. Nematoblasts are sparsely found throughout mesenterial tissues.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Anthony, K.R.N. and I. Svane. – 1994. Effects of flow-habitat on body size and reproductive patterns in the sea anemone Metridium senile in the Gullmarsfjord, Sweden. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 113: 275-269. doi:10.3354/meps113257

Batham, E.J. and C.F.A. Pantin. – 1951. The organization of muscular system of Metridium senile. Q. J. Microsc. Sci., 92: 27-54.

Bucklin, A. and D. Hedgecock. – 1982. Biochemical genetic evidence for a third species of Metridium (Coelenterata: Actiniaria). Mar. Biol., 66: 1-7. doi:10.1007/BF00397248

Calder, D.R. – 1977. Nematocysts of the ephyra stages of Aurelia, Chrysaora, Cyanea, and Rhopilema (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa). Trans. Amer. Microscop. Soc., 96: 13-19. doi:10.2307/3225958

O. – 1929. Uber eine Actiniariengattung mit besonderen Fangtentakeln. Zool. Anz., 81: 109-113.

Carlgren, O. – 1933. The Godthaab Expedition 1928. Zoantharia and Actiniaria. Meddelelser om Grönland, 79(8): 1-55.

Carlgren, O. – 1934. Some actiniaria from Berings Sea and arctic waters. J. Washington Acad. Sci., 24(8): 348-353.

Carlgren, O. – 1940. A contribution to the knowledge of the structure and distribution of the cnidae in the Anthozoa. Acta Univ. Lund (ser 2), 36(3): 1-62.

Carlgren, O. – 1945. Further contribution to the knowledge of the cnidom in the Anthozoa especially in the Actiniaria. Acta Univ. Lund (ser 2), 41(9): 1-24.

Carré, D. – 1972. Etude du development des cnidocystes dans le gastrozoide de Muggiaea kochi (Will, 1844) (Siphonophore calycophore). C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 275: 1263-1266.

Carré, D. – 1980. Hypothese sur la mechanisme de l’evagination du filament urticant des cnidocystes. Europ. J. Cell Biol., 20: 265-271.

Carré, C. and D. Carré. – 1973. Etude du cnidome et de la cnidogenese chez Apolemia uvaria (Lesueur, 1811) (Siphonophore Physonecte). Exptl. Cell Res., 81: 237-249. doi:10.1016/0014-4827(73)90130-4

Cutress, C.E. – 1955. An interpretation of the structure and distribution of cnidae in Anthozoa. Syst. Zool., 4: 120-137. doi:10.2307/2411864

Edmunds, M., G.W. Potts, R.C. Swinfen and V.L. Waters. – 1976. Defensive behaviour of sea anemones in response to predation by the opistobranch mollusc Aeolidia papillosa (L). J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U. K., 56: 65-83. doi:10.1017/S0025315400020440

Fautin, D.G. – 1988. Importance of nematocysts to actinian taxonomy. In: D.A. Hessinger and H.M. Lenhoff (eds.). The Biology of Nematocysts. pp. 487-500. Academic Press, San Diego.

Fautin, D.G. and C. Hand. – 2000. Metridium farcimen, the valid name of a common North Pacific sea anemone (Cnidaria: Actiniaria: Acontiaria). Proc. Biol. Soc., Washington, 113(4): 1151-1161.

Fautin, D.G., and R. Mariscal. – 1991. Chapter 6, Cnidaria: Anthozoa. In: F.W. Harrison and J.A. Westfall (eds), Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates. Placozoa, Porifera, Cnidaria, and Ctenophora, 2: 267-358.

Fautin, D.G., A. Bucklin and C. Hand. – 1990. Systematics of sea anemones belonging to genus Metridium (Coelentera: Actiniaria), with a description of M. giganteum new species. Wasmann J. Biol., 47(for 1989): 77-85.

Francis, L. – 2004. Microscaling: Why larger anemones have longer cnidae. Biol. Bull., 207: 116-129. doi:10.2307/1543586 PMid:15501853

Greenwood, P.G. and R.N. Mariscal. – 1984. Immature nematocyst incorporation by the aeolid nudibranch Spurilla neapolitana. Mar. Biol., 80: 35-38. doi:10.1007/BF00393124

Hand, C. – 1956. The sea anemones of central California part III. The acontiarian anemones. Wasmann J. Biol., 13(2): 189-251.

Holstein, T. – 1980. An ultrastructural and kinematographic study of the nematocyst morphogenesis in selected coelenterate species. In P. Tardent and R. Tardent (eds.): Developmental and cellular Biology of Coelenterates, pp. 313-318. Elsevier/North Holland, Amsterdam.

Holstein, T. – 1981. The morphogenesis of nematocysts in Hydra and Forskålia: An ultrastructural study. J. Ultrastr. Res., 75: 276-290. doi:10.1016/S0022-5320(81)80085-8

Kramer, A. and L. Francis. – 2004. Predation resistance and nematocyst scaling for Metridium senile and M. farcimen. Biol. Bull., 207: 130-140. doi:10.2307/1543587 PMid:15501854

Mariscal, R.N. – 1974. Nematocysts. In: L. Muscatine and H.M. Lenhoff (eds.), The Biology of Nematocysts, Coelenterate Biology, pp. 129-178. Academic Press, New York.

Östman, C. – 1987. New techniques and old problems in hydrozoans systematic. In: J. Bouillon, F. Boero, F. Cigogna and P.F.S Cornelius (eds.), Modern trends in the Systematics, Ecology and Evolution of Hydroids and Hydromedusae, pp. 67-82. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Östman, C. – 2000. A guideline to nematocyst nomenclature and classification, and some notes on the systematic value of nematocysts. Sci. Mar., 64(1): 31-46.

Östman, C., W.R. Kem and S. Pirano. – 1991. Nematocysts of the Mediterranean hydroid Halocordyle disticha. Hydrobiologia, 216/217: 607-613. doi:10.1007/BF00026520

Östman, C. and J. Hydman. – 1997. Nematocyst analysis of Cyanea capillata and Cyanea lamarckii (Scyphozoa, Cnidaria). Sci. Mar., 61(3): 313-344.

Östman, C., J. Roat Kultima and S.Y.G. Wong. – 2010. Dart formation in nematocysts of the sea anemone Metridium senile (Linnaeus, 1761) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa). Sci. Mar., 74: 499-510. doi:10.3989/scimar.2010.74n3499

Picken, L.E.R. and R.J. Skaer. – 1966. A review of researches on nematocysts. In W.J. Rees (ed.): The Cnidaria and their evolution. Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond., 16: 19-50.

Schmidt, H. – 1969. Die Nesselkapseln der aktinien und ihre differentialdiagnostische bedeutung. Helgol. Wiss. Meeresunters., 19: 284-317. doi:10.1007/BF01625610

Skaer, R.J. – 1973. The secretion and development of nematocysts in a siphonophore. J. Cell Sci., 13: 371-393. PMid:4148557

Skaer, R.J. and L.E.R. Picken. – 1965. The structure of the nematocyst thread and the geometry of discharge in Corinactis viridis Allman. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., 250: 131-164. doi:10.1098/rstb.1965.0022

Slautterback, D.B. – 1961. Nematocyst development. In. H.M. Lenhoff and W.F. Lomis (eds.): The Biology of Hydra, pp. 77-130. Univ. of Miami Press, Coral Gables, Florida.

Slautterback, D.B. and D.W. Fawcett. – 1959. The development of the cnidoblasts of Hydra: an electron microscope study of cell differentiation. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol., 5: 441-452. doi:10.1083/jcb.5.3.441

Wahl, M. – 1985. Metridium senile: dispersion and small scale colonization by the combined strategy of locomotion and asexual reproduction (lacertation). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 26: 271-277. doi:10.3354/meps026271

Watson, G.M. – 1988. Ultrastructure and cytochemistry of developing nematocysts. In: D.A. Hessinger and H.M. Lenhoff (eds.), The Biology of Nematocysts, pp. 143-164. London, Academic Press, San Diego.

Watson, G.M. and R.N. Mariscal. – 1983. Comparative ultrastructure of catch tentacles and feeding tentacles in the sea anemone Haliplanella. Tissue Cell., 15(6): 939-953. doi:10.1016/0040-8166(83)90059-9

Watson, G.M. and R.N. Mariscal. – 1984a. Calcium cytochemistry of nematocyst development in catch tentacles of the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) and the molecular basis for tube inversion into the capsule. J. Ultrastruct. Res., 86: 202-214. doi:10.1016/S0022-5320(84)80059-3

Watson, G.M. and R.N. Mariscal. – 1984b. Ultrastructure and sulfur cytochemistry of nematocyst development in catch tentacles of the sea anemone Haliplanella luciae (Cnidaria: Anthozoa). J. Ultrastruct. Res., 87: 159-171. doi:10.1016/S0022-5320(84)80075-1

Watson, G.M. and R.L. Wood. – 1988. Colloquium on terminology. In: D.A. Hessinger and H.M. Lenhoff (eds.), The Biology of Nematocysts, pp. 21-23. London, Academic Press, San Diego.

Weill, R. – 1934. Contribution à l’étude des cnidaires et de leurs nématocystes. I, II. Trav. Stn. zool. Wimereux, 10-11: 1-701.

Westfall, J.A. – 1965. Nematocysts in the sea anemone Metridium. Amer. Zool., 5: 377-393. PMid:14345243

Westfall, J.A. – 1966. The differentiation of nematocysts and associated structures in the Cnidaria. Z. Zellforsch., 75: 381-403. doi:10.1007/BF00336871