Owenia fusiformis

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Owenia fusiformis	Common name	Tubeworm
MCS Code	P1098	Recent Synonyms	None
Phylum	Annelida	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Polychaeta
Subclass		Order	Oweniida
Suborder		Family	Oweniidae
Genus	Owenia	Species	fusiformis
Subspecies
Additional Information	No text entered
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, Fauchald, 1977
General Biology
Growth form	Vermiform segmented	Feeding method	Passive suspension feeder, Active suspension feeder, Surface deposit feeder, Sub-surface deposit feeder
Mobility/Movement	Burrower	Environmental position	Infaunal
Typical food types	Phytoplankton and particulate organic matter.	Habit	Tubiculous
Bioturbator	Not researched	Flexibility	High (>45 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Insufficient information	Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	100-1000m	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Gregarious
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information	Owenia fusiformis can be up to 10 cm in length (Hayward & Ryland, 1990) and its tubes up to 30 cm in length (Rouse & Pleijel, 2001). Owenia fusiformis can suspension feed by ciliary filter feeding or in low water flow can deposit feed by bending their flexible tube over so that the feeding crown touches the sediment surface (Rouse & Pleijel, 2001). The maximum recorded density was 4660 individuals per m² but this fluctuated over each year with mortality and massive larval settlement (Menard et al., 1990).
Biology References	Rouse & Pleijel, 2001, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Menard et al., 1990, Gentil et al., 1990, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Heidi Tillin, unpub data
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Widespread around British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution	Widely distributed in coastal regions throughout northwest Europe, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	The cosmopolitan nature of Owenia fusiformis has been questioned by Koh & Bhaud (2001) who suggest a review of the Oweniidae because its taxonomy is now very old and more than one species may be included in Owenia fusiformis records.
Substratum preferences	Fine clean sand, Muddy sand, Sandy mud	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Estuary
Biological zone	Mid Eulittoral, Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Bathybenthic (Bathyal)	Wave exposure	Insufficient information
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Weak (<1 kn)	Salinity	Variable (18-40 psu), Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information	None entered
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	II
Distribution References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hayward et al., 1996, JNCC, 1999, Picton & Costello, 1998, Bruce et al., 1963, Koh & Bhaud, 2001, Hayward & Ryland, 1990
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Planktotrophic
Reproductive Season	May to June	Reproductive Location	Water column
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	3-5 years	Age at reproductive maturity	1-2 years
Generation time	1-2 years	Fecundity	70000
Egg/propagule size	100 µm diameter	Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential >10km Larval settlement period Insufficient information Duration of larval stage 11-30 days
Additional Information	This polychaete has a life span of up to four years in British waters (Rouse & Pleijel, 2001) and has a polymodal population structure of three to five year classes (Menard et al., 1990). The mortality rate increases gradually with age but suddenly increases in the fourth year of life (Menard et al., 1990). Growth is rapid in summer, slows in the autumn and is negligible in winter, resuming in April each year. Owenia fusiformis is an annual breeder, gonochoric, with external fertilization (Rouse & Pleijel, 2001). Up to 70,000 oocytes mature from September to April (Gentil et al., 1990) and are spawned during May and June (Rouse & Pleijel, 2001). Oocytes are up to 100 µm in diameter (Rouse & Pleijel, 2001). The sex ratio is female biased and is around 0.86:1. Maturity is size-dependent and all worms 6 cm long or more are mature but some individuals reach maturity at 2.4 cm. Some individuals may breed in their first year if they can grow fast enough (Gentil et al., 1990). In late May, larval densities can be up to 100,000 per m3 (Thiebaut et al., 1992) and settled densities vary from 4,000 to 15,000 juveniles per m² (Menard et al., 1990).
Reproduction References	Rouse & Pleijel, 2001, Menard et al., 1990, Gentil et al., 1990, Thiebaut et al., 1992, Barnay et al., 2003, Eckert, 2003, Heidi Tillin, unpub data