A. Abelson et al., HYDRODYNAMIC IMPEDIMENTS TO SETTLEMENT OF MARINE PROPAGULES, AND ADHESIVE-FILAMENT SOLUTIONS, Limnology and oceanography, 39(1), 1994, pp. 164-169
Protruding bodies,'' such as kelp stems, seagrasses, filiform algae, a
rtificial reefs, and engineered structures, constitute substrata for p
roliferation of benthic communities of great ecological and economical
importance. Unfortunately, very little is known of hydrodynamic aspec
ts of settlement in such habitats. Based on flow-tank experiments and
theoretical considerations, we discuss hydrodynamic interference with
settlement of larvae on protruding-body habitats. We suggest that larv
ae may overcome these interferences by producing mucous threads up to
100 body lengths in size. These adhesive threads enable propagules of
suspension feeders to settle in environments of high food-particle flu
x and low sedimentation rate. The results suggest that hydrodynamic im
pediments to encounter play a major role in determining the spatial di
stribution of benthic species on protruding bodies by favoring propagu
les of species with such adhesive devices.