The bay barnacle (Amphibalanus improvisus) is an unusual and fascinating sea creature that belongs to the subclass of crustaceans. Although, at first glance, specimens of this species look more like clams, they are crustaceans and belong to the group of lower crustaceans. This tiny but hardy crustacean, with its conical calcareous shell and delicate tentacles, has become a common sight along the Baltic Sea coast. Bay barnacle is found in almost all seas and oceans of the world. It originated in North America, but thanks to shipping, it has spread all over the world. On the Baltic Sea coast, bay barnacles can be found up to 4-6 meters deep on a variety of substrates, including rocks, clam shells, macroalgae and man-made structures. Bay barnacles are notable for their wide adaptability. They are able to live both in salty and almost fresh water, as well as in temperate, subtropical and tropical climate zones. This durability allows the bay barnacle to successfully colonize a variety of water bodies. Bay barnacles are hermaphrodites, meaning they are both male and female at the same time. They can reproduce both by self-fertilization and by exchanging genetic material with other bay barnacles. The eggs hatch into larvae that swim freely in the water until they find a place to attach and begin their adult lives. Bay barnacles are attached organisms that spend their entire lives in one place. After the larva finds a suitable substrate, it attaches itself to it and forms a calcareous shell around itself. Adult bay barnacles feed on plankton, which they filter from the water with fine tentacles that protrude from the shell opening. Bay barnacles can adversely affect shipping by forming colonies on ship bottoms and increasing fuel consumption. They can also settle on mussels and oysters, causing problems for aquaculture farms. On the other hand, bay barnacles can be useful for assessing metal pollution in coastal waters. The bay barnacle is an interesting animal with a wide range of adaptability and lifestyle. Although they can cause economic problems for humans, the bay barnacle plays an important role in the marine ecosystem.
Lai šī tīmekļvietne darbotos, tā izmanto obligāti nepieciešamās sīkdatnes. Ar Jūsu piekrišanu papildus šajā vietnē var tikt izmantotas statistikas un sociālo mediju sīkdatnes.
