Reproduction of the
Barnacle
Balanus glandula
Erin Breck
Oregon State University
Advisor Dr. Bruce Menge
Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal
Oceans (PISCO)
Outline

Background

Hypotheses

Methods

Results
Life History
Free swimming larvae,
100-300 um long
Cyprid, 500 um length
Adult, 5-10 mm diameter
Significance

Contribute
knowledge of
early life history

Model for
marine
population
dynamics
Oregon Coast Study Sites
45o
Fogarty Creek
Newport
Bob Creek
44o
43o
Cape Blanco
Hypotheses
1)
The number of embryos is positively
correlated with barnacle size.
2)
Embryo size increases with barnacle size.
3)
Barnacles at the southern site produce more
embryos than those at the northern site.
Methods
 Collect
Embryos
 Prepare
Samples
 Count
 Measure
The number of embryos is positively
correlated with barnacle size.
Mean Embryos per Barnacle
P-value < 0.0001
Number of embryos
R2 = 0.558
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
Volume of Barnacle (cm3)
0.25
0.3
Embryo size is slightly correlated with
barnacle size.
Size of Embryos for a Barnacle
P-value = 0.0126
Embryo Size (um)
R2 = 0.4172
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
Volume of Barnacle (cm3)
0.2
0.25
Barnacles at the southern site produce more
embryos than those at the northern site.
Mean Embryos per Site
Number of Embryos
P- value = 0.0188
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
BC
FC
Site
Summary
1)
The number of embryos is positively
correlated with barnacle size.
2)
Embryo size is slightly correlated with
barnacle size.
3)
Barnacles at the southern site produce more
embryos than those at the northern site.
Implications
1) Evolutionary
constraints
2) Documented a
significant difference in
reproduction between
north and south
Determine condition of barnacle
larvae


Measure Lipids
Method:





Stain with dye
Use fluorescent
microscope
Photograph
Computer Analysis
Predicted Results:

South versus north sites
50 um
Next Steps

More Counting

Data Analysis
Acknowledgements
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Howard Hughes Medical
Institute
Brian Breck
Francis Chan
Kaitlin Fraser
Helen Harker
Heather Leslie
Dr. Jane Lubchenco
Dr. Bruce Menge
Ruth Milston
Alana Nicovich
Mae Noble
Shannon Oda
Dr. Barbara Taylor
The Lubmengo crew