Molecular and morphological evidence of a single species, Boccardia proboscidea (Polychaeta: Spionidae), with multiple development modes

Most species of benthic marine invertebrates have a single mode of larval development. Poecilogonous species are those that produce more than one type of larval offspring. Reports of variable development within one species, especially in combination with widely differing ecological habitat, are frequently attributed to cryptic species. The spionid polychaete Boccardia proboscidea Hartman, 1940 exhibits development that varies both within a single brood and among broods produced by different females. Some females have planktotrophic development and produce many small larvae with a 2 week planktonic period before metamorphosis. Other females produce broods containing both planktotrophic larvae as well as nurse-egg-ingesting (adelphophagic) offspring that hatch as juveniles. Molecular analysis (RAPD-PCR) showed that a significant proportion of genetic variance is attributable to geographic origin, and not to developmental type. Adults of both developmental types showed no consistent differences in taxonomically important features (e.g. type and arrangement of chaetae, modified fifth setiger, caruncle, branchiae, pygidium) when examined with SEM. These data support the hypothesis that developmental variability in this species is a case of poecilogony, and is not attributable to cryptic species. Received: 21 April 1998 / Accepted: 20 April 1999