Diplosoma listerianum

Researched By	Dan Bayley	Data Supplied By	MBA
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Diplosoma listerianum	Common name	A sea-squirt
MCS Code		Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Chordata	Subphylum	Tunicata
Superclass		Class	Ascidiacea
Subclass		Order	Enterogona
Suborder	Aplousobranchia	Family	Didemnidae
Genus	Diplosoma	Species	Listerianum
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Gibson et al., 2001, Hayward et al., 1996, Millar, 1970, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Crothers, 1966, Bruce et al., 1963, MBA, 1957
General Biology
Growth form		Feeding method	Active suspension feeder
Mobility/Movement		Environmental position	Epilithic, Epiphytic
Typical food types	Zooplankton, detritus	Habit	Attached
Bioturbator		Flexibility
Fragility		Size	Very small(<1cm)
Height		Growth Rate
Adult dispersal potential		Dependency
Sociability	Colonial
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	All Great Britain
Global distribution	Mediterranean, North-western Europe, northern Norway.
Biogeographic range	Temperate	Depth range	Sublittoral - 80 m depth
Migratory
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences		Physiographic preferences
Biological zone		Wave exposure
Tidal stream strength/Water flow		Salinity
Habitat Additional Information	Seagrass, algal fronds, hard substrata
Distribution References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Gibson et al., 2001, Hayward et al., 1996, Millar, 1970, NBN, 2002, JNCC, 1999, Crothers, 1966, Bruce et al., 1963, MBA, 1957
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Budding	Developmental mechanism
Reproductive Season		Reproductive Location
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	<1 year	Age at reproductive maturity	<1 year
Generation time	<1 year	Fecundity
Egg/propagule size		Fertilization type
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Larval settlement period April-May, June-August, October Duration of larval stage 1 month
Additional Information	Life span dependant on temperature, with an optimum temperature of 15-17 °C. Temperatures greater than 25 °C cause a delay in maturation. Colony death occurs 1 month after sexual reproduction starts.
Reproduction References	Brunetti et al., 1988