Reproductive Characters of Six Scalpellids
The family Scalpellidae is a large family of barnacles, with most species living in the deep sea. We studied the reproductive ecology of six dioecious (with large females and dwarf males) scalpellid species, which differ in size and habitat depth. Intraspecific analyses revealed that female size and egg number are positively related in all the species, but no significant relationship existed between female size and egg size. Moreover, female size and the number of dwarf males are positively related in three species that possess male receptacles that carry more than one male. On the other hand, interspecific analyses suggested that female size was positively related to egg size, egg number, and the number of dwarf males.
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