AquaNISInformation system on aquatic non-indigenous and cryptogenic species |
Species | Clymenella torquata [WoRMS] | |
Authority | (Leidy, 1855) | |
Family | Maldanidae | |
Order | Scolecida | |
Class | Polychaeta | |
Phylum | Annelida | |
Synonym (?) | ||
Sub-species level (?) | Not entered |
Native origin (?) | Ocean: Atlantic --> Ocean region: NW Atlantic |
Life form / Life stage (?) |
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Sociability / Life stage (?) | Unknown |
Reproductive frequency (?) | Iteroparous |
Reproductive type (?) | Sexual Comments: Members of the class Polychaeta are mostly gonochoric (sexual). Mating: Females produce a pheromone attracting and signalling the males to shed sperm which in turn stimulates females to shed eggs, this behavior is known as swarming. |
Developmental trait (?) | Spawning Comments: C. torquata involves spawning. During this process, both male and female worms release their gametes into the water column, where fertilization occurs externally. The fertilized eggs then develop into planktonic larvae, which feed on plankton (planktotrophy) before settling onto the substrate and metamorphosing into juvenile worms. |
Characteristic feeding method / Life stage (?) |
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Mobility / Life stage (?) |
References (not structured): Du Clos, K. T. (2012). Polychaete Burrowing Behavior in Sand and Mud. Comments: C. torquata is common in sandy intertidal/subtidal estuaries of the Atlantic coast of the United States, where it builds tubes from the surrounding sand and ingests sediment and the associated interstitial organisms. |
Salinity tolerance range (?) | Exact range: 15 - 40 References: Kenny, R. 1969. Effects of temperature, salinity, and substrate on distribution of Clymenella torquata (Leidy) Polychaeta. Ecology 50(4), pp. 624-651. Comments: C. torquata tolerates a wide range of temperature and salinity as indicated by its native range and experimental data, from near-freezing to 40.5°C, and salinities of 15-40 PSU. |
Habitat modifying ability potential (?) | Allogenic ecosystem engineers References: Mach, M. E., Levings, C. D., McDonald, P. S., Chan, K. M. 2012. An Atlantic infaunal engineer is established in the northeast Pacific: Clymenella torquata (Polychaeta: Maldanidae) on the British Columbia and Washington Coasts. Biological Invasions, 14, pp. 503-507. Comments: C. torquata is a filter feeding polychaete which constructs a cylindrical tube about 20 cm long perpendicular to the surface. |
Toxicity / Life stage (?) | Not relevant |
Bioaccumulation association (?) | Unknown |
Known human health impact? | Not known |
Known economic impact? | Known References: Koerting-Walker, C., Buck, J. D. 1989. The effect of bacteria and bioturbation by Clymenella torquata on oil removal from sediment. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 43,pp. 413-424. Comments: Clymenella torquata reduced the oil concentration of the surrounding sediment by 20 to 50% (p<0.05) in 10 days. |
Known measurable environmental impact? | Known References: Hildebrandt, E. 2017. Macrobenthic species abundance and diversity associated with dense assemblages of the tube-building polychaete Clymenella torquata. State University of New York at Stony Brook. Comments: C. torquata modifies the sedimentary habitat with respect to sediment permeability, porosity, oxygenation and organic matter content, few studies have examined their impact on the benthic community. C. torquata does have a significant effect on the benthic infaunal community. |
Included in the Target Species list? | No References: HELCOM, 2009. Alien Species and Ballast Water [PDF]. Available at: (https://archive.iwlearn.net/helcom.fi/stc/files/shipping/Table_2_Alienspecies_%20lists_2009.pdf) |
Association with vessel vectors (?) | Unknown |
Created by | Romualda Chuševė, 2011-11-07 |
Last update by | Sandra Gečaitė, 2024-07-09 |