Polydora ciliata

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Polydora ciliata	Common name	Bristleworm
MCS Code	P752	Recent Synonyms	None
Phylum	Annelida	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Polychaeta
Subclass		Order	Spionida
Suborder		Family	Spionidae
Genus	Polydora	Species	ciliata
Subspecies
Additional Information	There has been some confusion in the identification of Polydora ciliata because the characteristics used for separation of the species, such as the number of modified chaetae on the fifth segment, are not stable even in individuals from the same locality. It has been suggested that some other species of Polydora such as P. ligni, P. websteri, P. cirrosa and P. nuchalis may only be varieties of Polydora ciliata (Mustaquim, 1986).
Taxonomy References	Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Mustaquim, 1986
General Biology
Growth form	Vermiform segmented, Tubicolous	Feeding method	Passive suspension feeder, Active suspension feeder, Surface deposit feeder, Sub-surface deposit feeder
Mobility/Movement	Burrower	Environmental position	Epibenthic, Epilithic, Epizoic
Typical food types	Detritus, suspended particles and occasionally dead barnacles and other dead invertebrates.	Habit	Tubiculous
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small(1-2cm)
Height	A few milimeters	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	100-1000m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Gregarious
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information	Mode of life: Polydora ciliata burrows into the shells of oysters, mussels and periwinkles as well as into limestone rock and stones and lithothamnia or other encrusting coralline algae. The species makes a U-shaped tube from small particles (usually of mud, but may be whitish and calcareous if excavating in lithothamnia or other encrusting coralline algae (Hayward & Ryland, 1995). Much of this tube may be embedded in a burrow excavated in limestone rock, shells and calcareous algae, and the two ends extend a few millimetres above the surface of the substratum. It has been suggested that burrowing is achieved by mechanical action of the chaetae, especially those of the 5th segment, but this is open to some doubt as chemical action may also be involved (Fish & Fish, 1996). Feeding method: The species generally feeds on detritus that is removed from the sediment by the two long palps. It also feeds on suspended particles in the water, and on occasions has been observed to eat dead barnacles and other dead invertebrates.
Biology References	Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1990
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Polydora ciliata is widely distributed around Britain and Ireland.
Global distribution	Widely distributed in north-west Europe.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	None entered
Substratum preferences	Other species (see additional information), Algae, Artificial (e.g. metal/wood/concrete), Mud, Bedrock	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Estuary, Isolated saline water (Lagoon), Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Mid Eulittoral, Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral	Wave exposure	Exposed, Moderately Exposed, Sheltered, Very Sheltered, Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately Strong (1-3 kn), Weak (<1 kn)	Salinity	Low (<18 psu), Full (30-40 psu), Variable (18-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information	The species makes a U-shaped tube from small particles (usually of mud, but may be whitish and calcareous if excavating in lithothamnia or other encrusting coralline algae (Hayward & Ryland, 1995). Much of this tube may be embedded in a burrow excavated in limestone rock, shells and calcareous algae, and the two ends extend a few millimetres above the surface of the substratum. It has been suggested that burrowing is achieved by mechanical action of the chaete, especially those of the 5th segment, but this is open to some doubt as chemical action may also be involved (Fish & Fish, 1996).
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	IV
Distribution References	Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic
Reproductive Season	February to June	Reproductive Location	Adult burrow
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	1-2 years	Age at reproductive maturity	<1 year
Generation time	<1 year	Fecundity	1200 - 8800
Egg/propagule size	170µm	Fertilization type	Insufficient information
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential >10km Larval settlement period Insufficient information Duration of larval stage 1-2 months
Additional Information	Sperm are drawn into the burrow of the female in the respiratory current and the eggs are laid in a string of capsules. A single female produces many capsules, each containing up to about 60 eggs, the individual capsules being attached by two threads to the wall of the burrow. Capsules are brooded for about a week before the larvae are released into the water column. Spawning period varies, from February until June in northern England (Gudmundsson, 1985) and in the Black Sea spawning lasted from April - September (Murina, 1997). In Belgium (Daro & Polk, 1973) and northern England (Gudmundsson, 1985) three or even four generations succeeded one another during the spawning period. The number of offspring produced per female varied from 200 to 2200. After a week, the larvae emerge and are believed to have a pelagic life from two to six weeks before settling (Fish & Fish, 1996). Settlement and metamorphosis takes place when the larvae has 17-18 setigers. Larvae are substratum specific selecting rocks according to their physical properties or sediment depending on substrate particle size. Larvae of Polydora ciliata have been collected as far as 118km offshore (Murina, 1997) and along the Belgian coast were found in the plankton all year round with a peak in the summer (Daro & Polk 1973).
Reproduction References	Fish & Fish, 1996, Daro & Polk, 1973, Murina, 1997, Gudmundsson, 1985, Eckert, 2003, Giangrande, 1997