Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
EU Network of Excellence

 
Main Menu

· Home
· Contacts
· Data Systems
· Documents
· FAQ
· Links
· MarBEF Open Archive
· Network Description
· Outreach
· Photo Gallery
· Quality Assurance
· Register of Resources
· Research Projects
· Rules and Guidelines
· Training
· Wiki
· Worldconference

 

Register of Resources (RoR)

 People  |  Datasets  |  Literature  |  Institutes  |  Projects 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Settlement of Macoma balthica larvae in response to benthic diatom films
Van Colen, C.; Lenoir, J.; De Backer, A.; Vanelslander, B.; Vincx, M.; Degraer, S.; Ysebaert, T.J. (2009). Settlement of Macoma balthica larvae in response to benthic diatom films, in: Van Colen, C. Tidal flat macrobenthos ecology, recolonisation and succession = Ecologie, herkolonisatie en successie van het macrobenthos in slikken. pp. 177-197
In: Van Colen, C. (2009). Tidal flat macrobenthos ecology, recolonisation and succession = Ecologie, herkolonisatie en successie van het macrobenthos in slikken. PhD Thesis. Universiteit Gent; Faculteit Wetenschappen; Afdeling Mariene Biologie: Gent. ISBN 978-90-902416-6-1. 300 pp.
Related to:
Van Colen, C.; Lenoir, J.; De Backer, A.; Vanelslander, B.; Vincx, M.; Degraer, S.; Ysebaert, T.J. (2009). Settlement of Macoma balthica larvae in response to benthic diatom films. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 156(10): 2161-2171. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1246-6, more

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Biological settlement > Larval settlement
    Habitat selection
    Hydrodynamics
    Physics > Mechanics > Fluid mechanics > Hydrodynamics
    Macoma balthica (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
    ANE, Netherlands, Westerschelde, PaulinaPolder
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Van Colen, C., more
  • Lenoir, J.
  • De Backer, A., more
  • Vanelslander, B., more

Abstract
    The role of multi-species benthic diatom films (BDF) in the settlement of late pediveliger larvae of the bivalve Macoma balthica was investigated in still-water bioassays and multiple choice flume experiments. Axenic diatom cultures that were isolated from a tidal mudflat inhabited by M. balthica were selected to develop BDF sediment treatments characterized by a different community structure, biomass, and amount of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Control sediments had no added diatoms. Although all larvae settled and initiated burrowing within the first minute after their addition in still water, regardless of treatment, only 48-52% had completely penetrated the high diatom biomass treatments after 5 min, while on average 80 and 69% of the larvae had settled and burrowed into the control sediments and BDF with a low diatom biomass (3.5 µg Chl a g1 dry sediment), respectively. The percentage of larvae settling and burrowing into the sediment was negatively correlated with the concentration of Chl a and EPS of the BDF. This suggests higher physical resistance to bivalve penetration by the BDF with higher diatom biomass and more associated sugar and protein compounds. The larval settlement rate in annular flume experiments at flow velocities of 5 and 15cm s1 was distinctly lower compared to the still-water assays. Only 4.6-5.8% of the larvae were recovered from BDF and control sediments after 3h. Nonetheless, a clear settlement preference was observed for BDF in the flume experiments; i.e., larvae settled significantly more in BDF compared to control sediments irrespective of flow speed. Comparison with the settlement of polystyrene mimics and freeze-killed larvae led to the conclusion that active selection, active secondary dispersal and, at low flow velocities (5cm s1), passive adhesion to the sediment are important mechanisms determining the settlement of M. balthica larvae in estuarine biofilms.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors 


If any information here appears to be incorrect, please contact us
Back to Register of Resources
 
Quick links

MarBEF WIKI

Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (EMBC)
Outreach

Science
Responsive Mode Programme (RMP) - Marie Nordstrom, copyright Aspden Rebecca

WoRMS
part of WoRMS logo

ERMS 2.0
Epinephelus marginatus Picture: JG Harmelin

EurOBIS

Geographic System

Datasets

 


Web site hosted and maintained by Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) - Contact data-at-marbef.org