Occurrence and identity of “white spots” in Phylactolaemata
Gruhl, A. (2013). Occurrence and identity of “white spots” in Phylactolaemata, in: Ernst, A. et al. Bryozoan Studies 2010. Lecture Notes in Earth System Sciences, 143: pp. 91-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16411-8_7 In: Lecture Notes in Earth System Sciences. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 2193-8571; e-ISSN 2193-858X, more |
| Keywords | Properties > Biological properties > Toxicity
Techniques > Methodology > Analytical methods > Microscopy > Confocal microscopy
Ultrastructure
Bryozoa [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal | | Author keywords | Epidermal glands; Statoblast pore:; |
| Abstract | Localised epidermal gland complexes of unknown function have previously been recognised as “white spots” in Pectinatella magnifica and Lophopodella carteri, but not in other phylactolaemate species. In this study a similar glandular organ is described for Lophopus crystallinus. It is a complex epidermal gland that consists of two types of gland cells, one of which contains light-refracting, possibly lipidic, vesicles. This gland is situated at the anal side of the duplicature, distal to a pore, which most likely resembles the vestibular or statoblast pore. Such a pore had always been postulated, but histological evidence was lacking so far. The most likely functions of the glandular organs could either be connected to statoblast expulsion or to chemical defence. |
|
