Early post-settlement events and recruitment ofmarine invertebrates

在海洋环境中，越来越多的人认识到，一年中增加到种群中的幼鲸的数量，即所谓的新成员，是极不稳定的。为了预测种群动态和对具有重要商业价值的物种做出管理决策，必须了解这种补充变化。海洋物种通常通过产生大量的幼虫来繁殖，这些幼虫被长距离运输，死亡率很高，从而使新个体的供应与当地繁殖分离。大多数研究认为，招募模式反映了幼虫的供应或幼虫的定居模式。然而，我的研究项目已经证明，定居后的死亡率和分散对招募成功有至关重要的影响。拟议的研究计划建立在我之前的研究基础上，其目标是更好地理解定居后早期扩散和死亡对海底海洋无脊椎动物招募的影响。这项研究将在两个栖息地进行：泥滩和在码头和其他建筑物上发现的潮下污染群落。在泥滩上，我们将研究幼年双壳类（如软壳蛤）的扩散与流体动力学（水流、波浪、沉积物运动）之间的联系，以及蛤的挖洞行为在扩散中的作用。该研究项目还将评估pH值和碳酸盐饱和状态作为双壳类幼鱼死亡来源的影响。据预测，由于二氧化碳排放量的增加，未来海洋将变得更加酸性。这种海洋酸化预计会影响具有碳酸钙骨架的生物，如双壳类动物。本研究计划的最终目的是利用入侵和本地海鞘物种研究幼虫的延迟变形对早期定居后竞争和捕食结果的影响。这项研究计划将大大提高我们对早期定居事件在海洋无脊椎动物招募中的作用的理解。最终，拟议的研究计划将促进我们对沿海海洋栖息地的了解，并协助管理和保护海洋资源。

In marine environments, there has been growing recognition that the numbers of juveniles added to the population in a given year, known as recruitment, is extremely variable. This variation in recruitment must be understood to predict population dynamics and make management decisions for commercially important species. Marine species commonly reproduce by producing large numbers of larvae that are transported long distances and have high mortality, uncoupling the supply of new individuals from local reproduction. Most studies assume that patterns of recruitment reflect larval supply or patterns of settlement of larvae. However, my research program has been demonstrating that mortality and dispersal after settlement can have crucial effects on recruitment success. The proposed research program builds on my previous research with the goal of developing a better understanding of the influence of dispersal and mortality during the early post-settlement period on recruitment of bottom-dwelling marine invertebrates. This research will be carried out in two habitats: mudflats and the subtidal fouling community found on docks and other structures. On mudflats, we will examine the linkages between dispersal of juvenile bivalves (e.g. the soft shell clam) and hydrodynamics (currents, waves, movement of sediment) as well as the role of clam burrowing behaviour in dispersal. This research program will also assess the effect of pH and carbonate saturation state as a source of mortality of juvenile bivalves. The ocean is predicted to become more acidic in future due to increasing CO2 emissions. This ocean acidification is expected to impact organisms with calcium carbonate skeletons like bivalves. The final objective of the proposed research program is to investigate the effects of delay of metamorphosis of larvae on the outcome of early post-settlement competition and predation using invasive and native species of ascidians. This research program will substantially advance our understanding of the role of early post-settlement events in recruitment of marine invertebrates. Ultimately, the proposed research program will advance our understanding of coastal marine habitats and assist in managing and conserving marine resources.