Early post-settlement events and recruitment ofmarine invertebrates

在海洋环境中，人们日益认识到，在某一年增加到种群中的少年数量，即所谓的补充，变化很大。必须了解这种招募的变化，以预测种群动态，并为重要的商业物种作出管理决策。海洋物种的繁殖方式通常是产生大量的幼虫，这些幼虫被长途运输，死亡率很高，使新个体的供应与当地繁殖脱钩。大多数研究认为，招聘模式反映了幼虫供应或幼虫定居模式。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以前的研究与发展的目标更好地了解扩散和死亡率的影响，在早期定居后期间招募底栖海洋无脊椎动物。这项研究将在两个栖息地进行：泥滩和潮下带的污垢社区发现的码头和其他结构。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，以及蛤的穴居行为在扩散中的作用。这项研究计划还将评估pH值和碳酸盐饱和状态作为双壳贝类幼贝死亡率来源的影响。由于二氧化碳排放量的增加，预计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，如双壳贝类。拟议的研究计划的最终目标是调查延迟的幼虫变态的结果，早期定居后的竞争和捕食入侵和本地海鞘物种的影响。这项研究计划将大大提高我们对早期定居后事件在招募海洋无脊椎动物中的作用的理解。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.