noun a free-swimming, ciliated larva of a cnidarian, typically following the polyp stage in the life cycle
In ecology, the dispersal of planula larvae plays a role in the distribution and colonization of cnidarian species.
In marine biology, the planula stage is an important part of the life cycle of many cnidarians.
In biology, a planula is a free-swimming, ciliated larva of cnidarians such as jellyfish and corals.
In zoology, the study of planula larvae helps researchers understand the development and reproduction of cnidarians.
In the field of marine biology, a writer may use the term 'planula' when discussing the larval form of certain cnidarians, such as jellyfish and corals.
A marine biologist would use 'planula' to refer to the free-swimming larval stage of some cnidarians before they settle and grow into their adult form.
Oceanographers may use the term 'planula' when studying the dispersal and settlement patterns of cnidarians in different ocean environments.