Culturing of the Ascidian, <i>Aplidium multiplicatum</i> & Its Dimorphic Larvae

Abstract

The temperate species <i>A. multiplicatum</i> is found to produce dimorphic tadpole larvae. Observations are made on the growth and colony formation of oozoids developed from big and small tadpoles with a view to presenting preliminary data on the possible occurrence of dualism of larvae in the species. A technique for laboratory culturing of the ascidians, the tadpoles of which readily settle on glass slides, has been described. The technique can be used in the bioassay of chemical biocides and in marine pollution survey using ascidians.