Budding and regeneration potential of a calyx of a freshwater Kamptozoan, Urnatella gracilis

There are only two freshwater Kamptozoans worldwide: Urnatella gracilis Leidy, 1851 and Loxosomatoides sirindhornae Wood, 2005. U. gracilis is present in Japan and is expanding its distribution, especially in Lake Hachiro. We investigated the budding and regeneration potential of a calyx of U. gracilis to clarify the mechanisms underlying its ability of regeneration. Our experiments revealed that the formation of a new calyx at the most apical position and strong adaptation to freshwater in pH 7.0. Budding successfully occurred in water with 0% salinity, however, in water with 0.15%–0.3% salinity budding was occurred in low level. These features may be very useful for propagation at Lake Hachiro in which it has to be expected that no sexual reproduction is observed because of low temperatures below 28°C. Now as Lake Hachiro has water with no salinity and almost pH 7.0, Lake Hachiro is a good place to live for U. gracilis.