Name: cultivation of the marine pelagic tunicate dolioletta gegenbauri (uljanin 1884) for experimental studies
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We are grateful to the many persons who have contributed accumulated knowledge to this project over the years including G.-A. Paffenh&#246;fer and D. Deibel who originally developed these protocols. M. K&#246;ster, and L. Lamboley have also contributed significantly to the development of these procedures.&#160; N.B. L&#243;pez-Figueroa and &#193;.E. Rodr&#237;guez-Santiago generated the estimates of doliolid abundance provided in Table 1. This study was supported in part by the US National Science Foundation awards OCE 082599, 1031263 to MEF, collaborative projects OCE 1459293 and OCE 14595010 to MEF and DMG and, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration award NA16SEC4810007 to DMG. We are grateful to the hardworking and professional crew of the R/V Savannah. Lee Ann DeLeo prepared the figures, Charles Y. Robertson proofread the manuscript and, James (Jimmy) Williams manufactured the plankton wheel

1. Preparing culturing facilities for rearing D. gegenbauri
NOTE: All materials and equipment required are listed in the Table of Materials.
<ol>
	<li>Prepare 1 M Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), 0.06 M Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4) solution. To prepare this solution, dissolve 400 g of NaOH into 10 L deionized water. Add 100 g of KMnO4 to the NaOH solution and mix well.</li>
	<li>Prepare a 0.1 M Sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3) solution by dissolv...

<ol>
	<li>Banse, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zooplankton+&#8211;+Pivotal+role+in+the+control+of+ocean+production.">Zooplankton &#8211; Pivotal role in the control of ocean production.</a> Ices Journal of Marine Science. 52 (3-4), 265-277 (1995).</li><li>Wilson, S. E., Ruhl, H. A., Smith, K. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zooplankton+fecal+pellet+flux+in+the+abyssal+northeast+Pacific:+A+15+year+time-series+study.">Zooplankton fecal pellet flux in the abyssal northeast Pacific: A 15 year time-series study.</a> Limnology and Oceanography. 58 (3), 881-892 (2013).</li><li>Bode, A., &#193;lvarez-Ossorio, M. T., Miranda, A., Ruiz-Villarreal, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Shifts+between+gelatinous+and+crustacean+plankton+in+a+coastal+upwelling+region.">Shifts between gelatinous and crustacean plankton in a coastal upwelling region.</a> Ices Journal of Marine Science. 70 (5), 934-942 (2013).</li><li>Kiorboe, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zooplankton+body+composition.">Zooplankton body composition.</a> Limnology and Oceanography. 58 (5), 1843-1850 (2013).</li><li>Holland, L. Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tunicates.">Tunicates.</a> Current Biology. 26 (4), R146-R152 (2016).</li><li>Walters, T. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diet+and+trophic+interactions+of+a+circumglobally+significant+gelatinous+marine+zooplankter,+Dolioletta+gegenbauri+(Uljanin,+1884).">Diet and trophic interactions of a circumglobally significant gelatinous marine zooplankter, Dolioletta gegenbauri (Uljanin, 1884).</a> Molecular Ecology. , (2018).</li><li>Piette, J., Lemaire, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thaliaceans,+the+neglected+pelagic+relatives+of+ascidians:+a+developmental+and+evolutionay+enigma.">Thaliaceans, the neglected pelagic relatives of ascidians: a developmental and evolutionay enigma.</a> Quarterly Review of Biology. 90 (2), 117-145 (2015).</li><li>Acu&#241;a, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pelagic+tunicates:+Why+gelatinous?.">Pelagic tunicates: Why gelatinous?.</a> American Naturalist. 158 (1), 100-107 (2001).</li><li>Alldredge, A. L., Madin, L. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pelagic+tunicates+&#8211;+unique+herivores+in+the+marine+plankton.">Pelagic tunicates &#8211; unique herivores in the marine plankton.</a> Bioscience. 32 (8), 655-663 (1982).</li><li>Wada, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evolutionary+history+of+free-swimming+and+sessile+lifestyles+in+urochordates+as+deduced+from+18S+rDNA+molecular+phylogeny.">Evolutionary history of free-swimming and sessile lifestyles in urochordates as deduced from 18S rDNA molecular phylogeny.</a> Molecular Biology and Evolution. 15 (9), 1189-1194 (1998).</li><li>Zeng, L. Y., Jacobs, M. W., Swalla, B. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coloniality+has+evolved+once+in+stolidobranch+ascidians.">Coloniality has evolved once in stolidobranch ascidians.</a> Integrative and Comparative Biology. 46 (3), 255-268 (2006).</li><li>Delsuc, F., Brinkmann, H., Chourrout, D., Philippe, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tunicates+and+not+cephalochordates+are+the+closest+living+relatives+of+vertebrates.">Tunicates and not cephalochordates are the closest living relatives of vertebrates.</a> Nature. 439 (7079), 965-968 (2006).</li><li>Garstang, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+morphology+of+the+Tunicata,+and+its+bearing+on+the+phylogeny+of+the+chordata.">The morphology of the Tunicata, and its bearing on the phylogeny of the chordata.</a> Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science. 72 (285), 51-187 (1929).</li><li>Govindarajan, A. F., Bucklin, A., Madin, L. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+molecular+phylogeny+of+the+Thaliacea.">A molecular phylogeny of the Thaliacea.</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 33 (6), 843-853 (2011).</li><li>Godeaux, D., Bone, Q., Braconnot, J. C., Bone, Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The Biology of Pelagic Tunicates. , 1-24 (1998).</li><li>Deibel, D., Lowen, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+review+of+the+life+cycles+and+life-history+adaptations+of+pelagic+tunicates+to+environmental+conditions).">A review of the life cycles and life-history adaptations of pelagic tunicates to environmental conditions).</a> Ices Journal of Marine Science. 69 (3), 358369 (2012).</li><li>Paffenh&#246;fer, G., K&#246;ster, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=From+one+to+many:+on+the+life+cycle+of+Dolioletta+gegenbauri+Uljanin+(Tunicata,+Thaliacea).">From one to many: on the life cycle of Dolioletta gegenbauri Uljanin (Tunicata, Thaliacea).</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 33 (7), 1139-1145 (2011).</li><li>Paffenh&#246;fer, G. A., Gibson, D. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+generation+time+and+asexual+fecundity+of+doliolids+(Tunicata,+Thaliacea).">Determination of generation time and asexual fecundity of doliolids (Tunicata, Thaliacea).</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 21 (6), 1183-1189 (1999).</li><li>Conley, K. R., Lombard, F., Sutherland, K. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mammoth+grazers+on+the+ocean's+minuteness:+a+review+of+selective+feeding+using+mucous+meshes.">Mammoth grazers on the ocean's minuteness: a review of selective feeding using mucous meshes.</a> Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences. 285 (1878), (2018).</li><li>Bouquet, J. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Culture+optimization+for+the+emergent+zooplanktonic+model+organism+Oikopleura+dioica.">Culture optimization for the emergent zooplanktonic model organism Oikopleura dioica.</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 31 (4), 359370 (2009).</li><li>Denoeud, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plasticity+of+Animal+Genome+Architecture+Unmasked+by+Rapid+Evolution+of+a+Pelagic+Tunicate.">Plasticity of Animal Genome Architecture Unmasked by Rapid Evolution of a Pelagic Tunicate.</a> Science. 330 (6009), 1381-1385 (2010).</li><li>Harrison, P. J., Waters, R. E., Taylor, F. J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+broad-spectrum+artificial+seawater+medium+for+coastal+and+open+ocean+phytoplankton.">A broad-spectrum artificial seawater medium for coastal and open ocean phytoplankton.</a> Journal of Phycology. 16 (1), 2835 (1980).</li><li>Ohman, M. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zooglider:+An+autonomous+vehicle+for+optical+and+acoustic+sensing+of+zooplankton.">Zooglider: An autonomous vehicle for optical and acoustic sensing of zooplankton.</a> Limnology and Oceanography-Methods. 17 (1), 69-86 (2019).</li><li>Takahashi, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+situ+observations+of+a+doliolid+bloom+in+a+warm+water+filament+using+a+video+plankton+recorder:+Bloom+development,+fate,+and+effect+on+biogeochemical+cycles+and+planktonic+food+webs.">In situ observations of a doliolid bloom in a warm water filament using a video plankton recorder: Bloom development, fate, and effect on biogeochemical cycles and planktonic food webs.</a> Limnology and Oceanography. 60 (5), 1763-1780 (2015).</li><li>Deibel, D., Bone, Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The biology of pelagic tunicates. , 171-186 (1998).</li><li>Gibson, D. M., Paffenh&#246;fer, G. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Feeding+and+growth+rates+of+the+doliolid,+Dolioletta+gegenbauri+Uljanin+(Tunicata,+Thaliacea).">Feeding and growth rates of the doliolid, Dolioletta gegenbauri Uljanin (Tunicata, Thaliacea).</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 22 (8), 1485-1500 (2000).</li><li>Haskell, A., Hofmann, E., Paffenh&#246;fer, G., Verity, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modeling+the+effects+of+doliolids+on+the+plankton+community+structure+of+the+southeastern+US+continental+shelf.">Modeling the effects of doliolids on the plankton community structure of the southeastern US continental shelf.</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 21 (9), 1725-1752 (1999).</li><li>Gibson, D. M., Paffenh&#246;ffer, G. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Asexual+reproduction+of+the+doliolid,+Dolioletta+gegenbauri+Uljanin+(Tunicata,+Thaliacea).">Asexual reproduction of the doliolid, Dolioletta gegenbauri Uljanin (Tunicata, Thaliacea).</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 24 (7), 703-712 (2002).</li><li>Frischer, M. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reliability+of+qPCR+for+quantitative+gut+content+estimation+in+the+circumglobally+abundant+pelagic+tunicate+Dolioletta+gegenbauri+(Tunicata,+Thaliacea).">Reliability of qPCR for quantitative gut content estimation in the circumglobally abundant pelagic tunicate Dolioletta gegenbauri (Tunicata, Thaliacea).</a> Food Webs. 1, 7 (2014).</li><li>K&#246;ster, M., Paffenh&#246;fer, G., Baker, C., Williams, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Oxygen+consumption+of+doliolids+(Tunicata,+Thaliacea).">Oxygen consumption of doliolids (Tunicata, Thaliacea).</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 32 (2), 171-180 (2010).</li><li>Paffenh&#246;fer, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+hypothesis+on+the+fate+of+blooms+of+doliolids+(Tunicata,+Thaliacea).">A hypothesis on the fate of blooms of doliolids (Tunicata, Thaliacea).</a> Journal of Plankton Research. 35 (4), 919-924 (2013).</li><li>Takahashi, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sapphirinid+copepods+as+predators+of+doliolids:+Their+role+in+doliolid+mortality+and+sinking+flux.">Sapphirinid copepods as predators of doliolids: Their role in doliolid mortality and sinking flux.</a> Limnology and Oceanography. 58 (6), 1972-1984 (2013).</li><li>Mart&#237;-Solans, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Oikopleura+dioica+Culturing+Made+Easy:+A+Low-Cost+Facility+for+an+Emerging+Animal+Model+in+EvoDevo.">Oikopleura dioica Culturing Made Easy: A Low-Cost Facility for an Emerging Animal Model in EvoDevo.</a> Genesis. 53 (1), 183-193 (2015).</li><li>Nishida, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+the+appendicularian+Oikopleura+dioica:+Culture,+genome,+and+cell+lineages.">Development of the appendicularian Oikopleura dioica: Culture, genome, and cell lineages.</a> Development Growth &amp; Differentiation. 50, S239-S256 (2008).</li></ol>

The capacity to culture doliolids has been established over the past several decades and has been used to support research in several areas. Experimental studies in our laboratories have supported the publication of at least 15 scientific studies focused on the feeding and growth18,26, reproduction18,28, diet6,29, physiology30</s...

Zooplankton account for the largest animal biomass in the ocean, are key components in marine food webs, and play important roles in ocean biogeochemical cycles1,2. Zooplankton, although comprised of a huge diversity of organisms, can be grossly distinguished into two categories: gelatinous and non-gelatinous with few intermediate taxa3,4. Compared to the non-gelatinous zooplankton, gelatinous zooplankton are especially difficult to study because of their complex life histories5, and their delicate tissues are easily damaged during capture and handling. Gelatinous zooplankton species are, therefore, notoriously difficult to culture in the laboratory and generally less studied compared to non-gelatinous species6.
Among gelatinous zooplankton groups, one abundant and of ecological importance in the world&#8217;s ocean are the Thaliaceans. Thaliaceans are a class of pelagic tunicates that include the orders Salpida, Pyrosomida, and Doliolida7. Doliolida, collectively referred to as doliolids, are small barrel-shaped free-swimming pelagic organisms that can reach high abundances in productive neritic regions of subtropical oceans. Doliolids are among the most abundant of all the zooplankton groups4,8. As suspension feeders, doliolids collect food particles from the water column by creating filter currents and capturing them on mucus nets9. Taxonomically, doliolids are classified in the phylum Urochordata10. Ancestral to the chordates, and in addition to their ecological significance as key components of marine pelagic systems, Thaliaceans are of significance to understanding the origins of colonial life history10,11 and the evolution of the chordates5,7,10,12,13,14.
The life history of doliolids is complex and contributes to the difficulty in culturing and sustaining them through their life cycle. A review of the doliolid life cycle and anatomy can be found in Godeaux et al.15. The doliolid life cycle, which involves an obligatory alternation between sexual and asexual life-history stages, is presented in Figure 1. Eggs and sperm are produced by the hermaphroditic gonozooids, the only solitary stage of the life cycle. Gonozooids release sperm to the water column and eggs are internally fertilized and released to develop into larvae. Larvae hatch and metamorphose into oozooids that can reach 1-2 mm. Presuming conducive environmental conditions and nutrition, oozooids become early nurses within 1-2 days at 20 &#176;C and initiate the colonial stages of the life cycle. Oozooids asexually produce buds on their ventral stolon. These buds leave the stolon and migrate to the dorsal cadophore where they line up in three paired rows. The central double rows become phorozooids and the outer two double rows become trophozooids. The latter provide food to both the nurse and the phorozooids16,17. The trophozooids supply the nurse with nutrition as she loses all internal organs. As the abundance of trophozooids increases, the size of the nurse can reach 15 mm in the laboratory. As the phorozooids grow, they increasingly ingest planktonic prey and reach ~ 1.5 mm in size prior to being released as individuals17. A single nurse may release &#62; 100 phorozooids during its lifespan18. After the phorozooids are released from the cadophore, they continue to grow and are the second colonial stage of the life cycle. Once they reach ~ 5 mm in size, each phorozooid develops a cluster of gonozooids on their ventral peduncle. These gonozooids can ingest particles when they reach ~1 mm in length. After the gonozooids have reached ~ 2 to 3 mm in size they are released from the phorozooid and become the only solitary stage of the life cycle. Once they reach ~ 6 mm in size, gonozooids become sexually mature17. Gonozooids can reach 9 mm or greater in length. Gonozooids are hermaphroditic, sperm is released intermittently while the fertilization of the eggs occurs internally16,17. When the gonozooid is &#8805; 6 mm in size, it releases up to 6 fertilized eggs. Successful culturing requires supporting the specific needs of each of these unique life history stages.
Due to the ecological and evolutionary significance of Thaliaceans, including doliolids, there is a need for the cultivation methodologies to advance the understanding of this organism&#8217;s unique biology, physiology, ecology, and evolutionary history19. Doliolids have considerable promise as experimental model organisms in developmental biology and functional genomics because they are transparent and likely have streamlined genomes20,21. The lack of reliable cultivation methods, however, impedes their usefulness as laboratory models. Although a handful of laboratories have published results based on cultured doliolids, to our knowledge cultivation approaches and detailed protocols have not been previously published. Based on years of experience, and trial and error cultivation attempts, the purpose of this study was to review experiences and to share protocols for the collection and cultivation of doliolids, specifically the species Dolioletta gegenbauri.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:1860px;" width="1860">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Algal culture tubes (55 mL sterile disposable glass culture tubes)</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td style="width:595px;">For algal cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Autoclave</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For sterilizing equipment and seawater for algal cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Beakers (2 L glass)</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For sorting diluted plankton net tow contents</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Buckets (5 gallon, ~20L)</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For diluting contents of planton net tow - should be seawater conditioned before first use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Carboys (20 L)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For storing seawater</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Doliolid glass culturing jar (1.9 L narrow mouth glass jar with cap)</td>
			<td>Qorpak</td>
			<td>GLC-01882</td>
			<td>Container for culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Doliolid glass culturing jar (3.8 L narrow mouth glass jar with cap)</td>
			<td>Qorpak</td>
			<td>GLC-01858</td>
			<td>Container for culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Environmental Chamber (Temperature controlled enviromental chamber)</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>To accommodate plankton wheel and culture maintenance</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Filtration apparatus for 47 mm filters</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For filtering seawater for cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glass microfiber filters, 47 mm</td>
			<td>Whatman</td>
			<td>1825-047</td>
			<td>For filtering seawater for cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glass pipette (borosillicate glass pipette (glass tubing), OD 10mm, ID 8 mm, wall thickness 1mm)</td>
			<td>Science Company</td>
			<td>NC-10894</td>
			<td>Custom cut and edges polished</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Hose clamps, stainless steel, #104 (178 mm)</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For holding culturing jars to the plankton wheel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Isochrysis galbana strain CCMP1323</td>
			<td>National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA)</td>
			<td>strain CCMP1323</td>
			<td>For feeding doliolid cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L1 Media Kit, 50 L</td>
			<td>National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA)</td>
			<td>MKL150L</td>
			<td>For culturing algae</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Lamp (Fluorescent table lamp with an adjustable arm)</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For illuminating doliolids in the jars and beakers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Lighted temperature controlled incubator</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For algal cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Micropipettes and sterile tips (0-20 &#181;l, 20-200 &#181;l, 200-1000&#160;&#181;l)</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For algal cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Plankton Net (202 &#181;m 0.5 m, 5:1 length) with cod end ring and &#160;4 L aquarium cod-end</td>
			<td>Sea-Gear Corporation</td>
			<td>90-50x5-200-4A/BB</td>
			<td>For collecting living doliolids (see Figure 4)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Plankton Wheel</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">NA</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>Custom built (see Figure 2)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Plastic wrap</td>
			<td>Any</td>
			<td>NA</td>
			<td>To cover inside of lid of doliolid culture jars</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Potassium Permanganate</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>P279-500</td>
			<td>Reagent for cleaning jars and glassware</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Rhodomonas&#160;sp. strain CCMP740</td>
			<td>National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA)</td>
			<td>strain CCMP740</td>
			<td>For feeding doliolid cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Rubber Tubing</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">NA</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For holding culturing jars to the plankton wheel (can be made from tygon tubing)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium Bisulfite</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>S654-500</td>
			<td>Reagent for cleaning jars and glassware</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sodium Hydroxide</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP359-212</td>
			<td>Reagent for cleaning jars and glassware</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Sterile serological pipettes (1 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 25 mL)</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For algal cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Thalassiosira weissflogii strain CCMP1051</td>
			<td>National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA)</td>
			<td>strain CCMP1051</td>
			<td>For feeding doliolid cultures</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:681px;">Tissue culture flasks (250 mL)</td>
			<td style="width:417px;">Any</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">NA</td>
			<td>For algal cultures</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

cultivation of the marine pelagic tunicate dolioletta gegenbauri (uljanin 1884) for experimental studies

Gelatinous zooplanktons play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems. However, it is generally difficult to investigate their physiology, growth, fecundity, and trophic interactions primarily due to methodological challenges, including the ability to culture them. This is particularly true for the doliolid, Dolioletta gegenbauri. D. gegenbauri commonly occurs in productive subtropical continental shelf systems worldwide, often at bloom concentrations capable of consuming a large fraction of daily primary production. In this study, we describe cultivation approaches for collecting, rearing, and maintaining D. gegenbauri for the purpose of conducting laboratory-based studies. D. gegenbauri and other doliolid species can be captured live using obliquely towed conical 202 &micro;m mesh plankton nets from a drifting ship. Cultures are most reliably established when water temperatures are below 21 &deg;C and are started from immature gonozooids, maturing phorozooids, and large nurses. Cultures can be maintained in rounded culture vessels on a slowly rotating plankton wheel and sustained on a diet of cultured algae in natural seawater for many generations. In addition to the ability to establish laboratory cultures of D. gegenbauri, we demonstrate that the collection condition, algae concentration, temperature, and exposure to naturally conditioned seawater are all critical to the culture establishment, growth, survival, and reproduction of D. gegenbauri.

Following the described procedures for collecting and culturing the doliolid, D. gegenbauri outlined in Figure 3, it is possible to maintain a culture of D. gegenbauri throughout its complex life history (Figure 1) and sustain it for many generations. Although cultivation of D. gegenbauri is described here, these procedures should also be relevant for the cultivation of other doliolid species.
Capturing heal...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Cultivation of the Marine Pelagic Tunicate Dolioletta gegenbauri Uljanin 1884 for Experimental Studies at JoVE.com

Cultivation of the Marine Pelagic Tunicate Dolioletta gegenbauri Uljanin 1884 for Experimental Studies

Doliolids, including the species Dolioletta gegenbauri, are small gelatinous marine zooplankton of ecological significance found on productive subcontinental shelf systems worldwide. The difficulty of culturing these delicate organisms limits their investigation. In this study, we describe cultivation approaches for collecting, rearing, and maintaining the doliolid Dolioletta gegenbauri.

Cultivation of the Marine Pelagic Tunicate Dolioletta gegenbauri (Uljanin 1884) for Experimental Studies

Gelatinous zooplanktons play a crucial role in ocean ecosystems. However, it is generally difficult to investigate their physiology, growth, fecundity, ...

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