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Scale-dependent natural variation in larval nutritional reserves in a marine invertebrate: implications for recruitment and cross-ecosystem coupling

2017; Inter-Research; Volume: 570; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps12081

1616-1599

Luis Giménez, Gabriela Torres, Amanda K. Pettersen, Michael T. Burrows, Alicia Estévez, Stuart R. Jenkins,

Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 570:141-155 (2017) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12081 Scale-dependent natural variation in larval nutritional reserves in a marine invertebrate: implications for recruitment and cross-ecosystem coupling L. Giménez1,*, G. Torres1,4, A. Pettersen1,5, M. T. Burrows2, A. Estevez3, S. R. Jenkins1 1School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK 2Scottish Marine Institute (SAMS) Oban, Argyll PA37 1QA, UK 3IRTA-Sant Carles de la Rápita, Ctra. Poble Nou Km 6, 43540-Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain 4Present address: Alfred Wegener Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, 27498 Helgoland, Germany 5Present address: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia *Corresponding author: l.gimenez@bangor.ac.uk ABSTRACT: In species with complex life cycles, laboratory studies have shown that variations in the traits of settling larvae can affect post-settlement survival and influence recruitment and benthic-pelagic coupling. However, we still know little about the magnitude and spatial scale of natural trait variation. We studied spatial variation in body size and nutritional reserves (carbon, nitrogen and lipids) of settled cyprids of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides along the coast of West Scotland. We quantified variation among regions (north vs. south: range ~700 km), locations (~50 km), shores (~10 km) and within shores (~10 m). We also evaluated trait responses to gradients in chlorophyll and shore openness and compared swimming vs. settled cyprids in order to infer the likely influence of costs of substratum search on trait variation. Variability between regions was large, with higher trait values (e.g. carbon cyprid-1: 35 to 50% higher) in the north. Most traits correlated negatively with pelagic chlorophyll a (a proxy for larval/juvenile food availability); this counter-gradient pattern suggests an adaptive role of increased reserves, buffering benthic juveniles from low food availability during the critical early post-settlement period. Body size and nitrogen content correlated positively with shore openness; lower than expected carbon content suggest increased costs of substratum search on open shorelines. Higher nitrogen content but lower percent carbon was found in settled vs. swimming larvae, suggesting costs of substratum search at the time of settlement. Overall, we uncovered the spatial scales at which trait variation, shaped by pelagic processes, can affect post-metamorphic survival, recruitment and benthic-pelagic coupling. KEY WORDS: Benthic-pelagic coupling · Larval ecology · Life history · Recruitment · Settlement Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Gimenez L, Torres G, Pettersen A, Burrows MT, Estevez A, Jenkins SR (2017) Scale-dependent natural variation in larval nutritional reserves in a marine invertebrate: implications for recruitment and cross-ecosystem coupling. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 570:141-155. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12081 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 570. Online publication date: April 27, 2017 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2017 Inter-Research.