From my biologist friend and barnacle expert Fabian Tapia here at Woods Hole
Oceanographic:
Fabian J Tapia wrote:
> It's 'thigmotaxis' and it denotes an ability to detect changes in roughness
> and/or find specific surfaces to settle.
> Here is a reference.
>
> Back to dismembering barnacles
>
> FT
>
> TI: Title
> Adhesion in barnacles.
> AU: Author
> Yule, AB; Walker, G
> AF: Author Affiliation
> Mar. Sci. Lab., Menai Bridge, UK
> ED: Editor
> Southward, AJ (ed)
> SO: Source
> CRUSTACEAN ISSUES. 5. BARNACLE BIOLOGY., 1987, pp. 389-402
> IB: ISBN
> 90-6191-628-3
> AB: Abstract
> Studies on adhesion have been mostly limited to balanomorphs and to
> Semibalanus balanoides in particular. Measurements of temporary adhesion of
> the balanomorph cyprids usually show tenacities of 2-3 x 10 super(5) Nm
> super(-2), so dismissing suction as the mechanism. Adhesion involves a
> proteinaceous adhesive released from unicellular glands onto the attachment
> disc of the antennule. In the exploring phase, cyprids leave behind this
> proteinaceous adhesive on surfaces and such protein promotes the settlement
> of cyprids. The implication of this recently discovered phenomenon is
> discussed in relation to gregarious settlement.
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