Role of early post-settlement mortality in recruitment of benthic marine invertebrates
Date
1997-08
Authors
Hunt, Heather L.
Scheibling, Robert Eric
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Abstract
Newly settled invertebrates usually are subject to high rates of mortality (Type III
survivorship). Therefore, knowledge of early post-settlement events is critical in determining if
and when patterns of abundance and distribution of juveniles reflect settlement patterns. Causes of
mortality of early juvenile invertebrates include delay of metamorphosis, biological disturbance,
physical disturbance and hydrodynamics, physiological stress, predation, and competition. Predation
is the best documented cause of early mortality, particularly for mobile species. Other possible
causes which have not yet been investigated are developmental abnormalities, insufficient energy
reserves, disease and parasitism. In most studies of sessile invertebrates, early post-settlement
mortality did not obscure the relationship between recruit and settler abundance. This relationship
appears to be more variable among mobile species for which migration also can modify the
distribution of settlers. There is still insufficient data to support general conclusions about the
conditions under which recruitment rate can be predicted from settlement rate. Studies have found
evidence of the effects of both settlement and early post-settlement mortality on the distribution
of some sessile species at small spatial scales, but mortality appears to have less influence at
larger scales. Much of the present knowledge of the early post-settlement period has come from
studies of barnacles and ascidians and more information is needed for other groups of benthic marine
invertebrates, particularly mobile species. The relative importance of mortality during the early
post-settlement period compared to other life history stages can only be determined in studies which
examine several stages.
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Citation
Hunt, Heather L., and Robert E. Scheibling. 1997. "Role of early post-settlement mortality in recruitment of benthic marine invertebrates." Marine Ecology Progress Series 155(0): 269-301. doi:10.3354/meps155269