Behavior and distribution of larvae

Some barnacles can feed in two modes. In energetic currents, they use their cirri as passive nets. In calm conditions, they feed actively, as shown to the upper left.

Larval transport is dependent on larval behavior and physical transport. Larval transport is dependent on larval behavior in that specific behaviors are required to exploit specific transporting or concentrating mechanisms. Larval behavior and locomotion are also key for survivorship and acquiring resources in a dilute environment. Behavior can be studied in the laboratory and also inferred from larval distribution in the field.  Finally, larval behavior is also important in determining settlement rate.

Our studies on larval behavior include:

• Dependency of settlement rate on the amount of suitable substrate.
• Dependency of larval transport by internal bores and other gravity currents on larval behavior.
• An experimental project on the swimming capabilities of invertebrate larvae in convergent currents. (With other colleagues.)
• Effects of freezing on settlement behavior. This was an unexpected finding! see project description here.
• Vertical and cross-shore larval distribution