Data from: Bay-scale patterns in the distribution, aggregation and spatial variability of larvae of benthic invertebrates ...

• Main Authors: Daigle, Remi M., Metaxas, Anna, DeYoung, Brad, Daigle, RM
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2015
• Subjects: spatial variability; Neopanopeus sayi; Electra pilosa; Carcinus maenas; Canadian Healthy Oceans Network; August 11-12 2008; Summer; Crepidula spp.; Membranipora membranacea; Other Gastropods; Bryozoans; August 2-4 2009; Astyris lunata; benthic invertebrates; Diaphana minuta; larval dispersal; Bittiolum alternatum; Modiolus modiolus; Anomia simplex; decapods; August 7-8 2008; Spatial patchiness; Margarites spp.; Larval aggregation; Crangon septemspinosa; Gastropods; Other Bivalve; Population connectivity; Larval behaviour; Mytilus spp.; Holocene; Cancer irroratus; Arrhoges occidentalis; Canada
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.fh505; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.fh505

This study aimed to investigate mechanisms of pattern formation in the larval distributions of benthic invertebrates by relating the spatial and temporal variability in the larval distributions to that in physical and biological variables, such as temperature, salinity, fluorescence and current velocity. Larvae were sampled at 11 sites on 7-8, and 11-12 Aug 2008 and at 16 sites on Aug 2-4, 2009, with a 200-μm plankton ring net (0.75-m diameter) towed for 5 min at 3 m and 12 m depth (in and below the mixed layer, respectively) in St. George’s Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. In 2009, density, temperature, salinity, and fluorescence were measured with a CTD cast at each station, and currents were quantified with an ADCP moored at 5 locations throughout the bay. In 2008, we only measured temperature. Gastropod, bivalve and, to a lesser extent, bryozoan larvae had very similar spatial distributions, but the distribution of decapod larvae followed a different pattern. These findings suggest that taxonomic groups that ... : Spatial distribution of Meroplanktonic larvae. A Canadian Healthy Oceans Network Population Connectivity project, PC-06Larval abundance (count m-3) was sampled at 11 sites on 7-8, and 11-12 Aug 2008 and at 16 sites on Aug 2-4, 2009 (Table 1), with a 200-μm plankton ring net (0.75-m diameter) towed for 5 min at each of 3 m and 12 m depth. These depths were designed to sample: 1) the surface mixed layer and 2) within the pycnocline, at or near the fluorescence maximum. The net was towed at ~1.7 m s-1 and the volume of filtered water was quantified using a General Oceanics flow meter. Using a net of this mesh size may under-estimate abundance of small larvae (< 200 μm). However, it is a necessary compromise in this multi-species study to allow capture of a wide range of larval types at sufficient numbers (e.g. very abundant but small gastropods to larger but rare decapods). All plankton samples were preserved in 95% ethanol and larvae were identified and enumerated under a Nikon SMZ 1500, as described in ...