Larval settlement of the silver- or goldlip pearl oyster Pinctada maxima (Jameson) in response to natural biofilms and chemical cues

This paper presents the first laboratory study investigating larval settlement and metamorphosis of Pinctada maxima in response to both natural and artificial inducers. Natural biofilms induced larval settlement and the inductive effect appears to be closely associated with the bacteria in the biofilm. This result indicates that, in nature, bacteria may play an important role in the settlement of P. maxima larvae. Various pharmacological agents...