Early post-settlement events and recruitment ofmarine invertebrates

在海洋环境中，越来越多的人认识到，某一年增加到人口中的青少年数量，即所谓的招募，是非常不稳定的。必须了解补充量的这种变化，以预测种群动态，并对具有商业价值的物种做出管理决策。海洋物种通常通过产生大量幼虫进行繁殖，这些幼虫被长距离运输并具有高死亡率，使新个体的供应与当地繁殖脱钩。大多数研究认为，幼虫的招募模式反映了幼虫的供应或幼虫的定居模式。然而，我的研究项目一直在证明，定居后的死亡和分散可能对招募成功有至关重要的影响。拟议的研究方案建立在我以前研究的基础上，目的是更好地了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：泥滩和码头和其他结构物上的潮下污垢群落。在泥滩上，我们将研究幼体双壳类(例如软壳蚌)的扩散与水动力(水流、波浪、泥沙运动)之间的联系，以及文蛤的洞穴行为在扩散中的作用。这项研究计划还将评估酸碱度和碳酸盐饱和状态作为双壳贝类幼体死亡率来源的影响。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像双壳类这样具有碳酸钙骨架的生物。该研究计划的最终目标是调查幼虫变态延迟对早期定居后竞争和利用入侵种和本地种海鞘进行捕食的结果的影响。这项研究计划将极大地促进我们对早期定居后事件在招募海洋无脊椎动物方面的作用的理解。最终，拟议的研究计划将促进我们对沿海海洋生物栖息地的了解，并有助于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.