Limits to Substrate Choice by Larvae of Infaunal Polychaetesand Bivalves in Still Water and Flume Flows

这项工作将重点定义生活在泥泞河口沉积物中的无脊椎动物（特别是多毛类动物和蛤）对沉积物选择的生物和流体动力学限制。 我们对无脊椎动物幼虫在定居和变态过程中受到影响的方式的了解揭示了物理力量对于招募成年种群的能力的重要性。 Cheryl Ann Butman 博士将与 Judith Grassle 博士合作，确定幼虫选择定居地点能力的物理和生物学限制。 这将为无脊椎动物幼虫类型的适应性意义以及幼虫响应自然环境扰动的能力提供预测性见解。 具有商业重要性的无脊椎动物物种的丰富性（例如蛤、牡蛎和扇贝）以及对自然和养殖种群日益增加的影响将使这项关于招募的基础研究变得及时。

This work will focus on defining the biological and hydrodynamical constraints to sediment selection by invertebrate animals living in muddy, estuarine sediments -- specifically polychaetes and clams. Our understanding of the way in which invertebrate larvae are affected during the settlement and metamorphosis process now reveals the importance of physical forces on the ability to recruit to adult populations. Dr. Cheryl Ann Butman, in collaboration with Dr. Judith Grassle, will define the physical and biological limits on the ability of the larvae to select settlement sites. This will provide predictive insights into the adaptive significance of invertebrate larval types and the ability of larvae to respond to perturbations to there natural environments. The wealth of invertebrate species of commercial importance (e.g., clams, oysters and scallops) and the ever-increasing impacts upon both natural and cultured populations will make this fundamental research on recruitment timely.