The barnacle Balanus (Amphibalanus) improvisus is a model for studying osmoregulation and antifouling. However, natural seasonal spawning yields an unpredictable supply of cyprid larvae. Here, a protocol for the all-year-round culturing of B. improvisus is described, including the production of larvae. The use of cultured barnacles in gene expression studies is illustrated.
Jonsson, P. R., Wrange, A., Lind, U., Abramova, A., Ogemark, M., Blomberg, A. The Barnacle Balanus improvisus as a Marine Model - Culturing and Gene Expression. J. Vis. Exp. (138), e57825, doi:10.3791/57825 (2018).