Study of larval biology has been under way for ~150 years and a large literature is available, causing Young (1990) to suggest that ideas are often rediscovered by each new generation of scientists interested in this field. This literature has been repeatedly reviewed; the most useful and recent include Crisp (1974), Chia, Buckland-Nicks, and Young (1984), Scheltema (1986), Butman (1987), Pawlik (1992), Sammarco and Heron (1994), and McEdwards (1995). The overview presented here relies heavily on these publications and on selected references which have appeared in the decade subsequent to 1985. The basis for selection of references in this chapter is that only those with flow-related content are included.

Consistent with the aims outlined in Chapter 1, we emphasize hydrodynamic mechanisms in larval biology where these are known. Consequently, our concern here is limited to larval and post-larval dispersal at spatial scales >0.1km and on the environmental factors, notably hydrodynamic ones, which influence larval settlement/recruitment at spatial scales <0.1km on both soft and hard substrates. We begin with background coverage of the typical benthic suspension feeder life cycle and dispersal in general.

Benthic suspension feeder life cycle

The life cycle of many sessile benthic suspension-feeding animals includes a pelagic larval stage important in dispersal (Fig. 3.1).