Observation on the breeding activity of the shore barnacle chthamalus malayensis pilsbry in Bombay harbor

Abstract

A prerequisite for rearing larval stages of barnacles which form an important group amongst the fouling organisms is adequate knowledge of the breeding habits and the time and duration of their reproductive phase. Such knowledge is also useful for assessing the results of the field toxicity tests. The present paper gives an account of the breeding behaviour of the shore barnacle, Chthamalus malayensis, which is found in great abundance along the Bombay coast. If the breeding behaviour of Ch. malayensis reported in the paper represents that of other barnacles in Bombay harbor, the seasonal variations in barnacle settlement reported by other workers can be understood.