Supply Side Ecology

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and details from the lecture on supply side ecology and larval dynamics in marine biology.

What is the significance of the larval dispersal stage in marine organisms?

Allows for dispersal carried by tides, currents, waves, and wind, ranging from hours to months.

What are the three main types of larvae produced by marine organisms?

Planktotrophic, Lecithotrophic, and Direct developing.

What characterizes Planktotrophic larvae?

They are the smallest, have a short development time, are long-lived, and must feed to metamorphose.

What are the characteristics of Lecithotrophic larvae?

They are larger than planktotrophic, have a medium to short life span, and may or may not need to feed prior to metamorphosis.

What defines Direct developing larvae?

They are the largest, have the longest development time, undergo metamorphosis in the egg capsule, and have no dispersal.

How does supply side ecology relate to population dynamics?

It refers to the variation in offspring production, settlement, and timing of settlement, which is as important as predation and competition.

What role do biofouling and sessile benthic organisms play in marine ecology research?

They are significant areas of research linked to settlement processes and fundamental to understanding ecosystem structures.

What two phases are involved in the settlement and recruitment process?

Settlement, where larvae search for suitable substrate, and recruitment, where juveniles reach a predetermined size.

What factors influence larval settlement?

Biological behavior, physical aspects like water flow, chemical inducers, and presence of conspecifics or biofilms.

What equation describes how to calculate the number surviving in planktonic larvae?

Nt = No × e^(-Rt), where Nt is the number surviving, N0 is the starting number, R is the instantaneous rate of mortality, and t is larval duration.

How do environmental changes affect larval survival in the plankton?

Increased temperature can shorten larval duration, influencing the number of survivors.

What is the impact of upwelling on larval recruitment?

Upwelling can reduce recruitment along coastlines, but intermittent upwelling may allow periods of high recruitment.

What did the study by Gaines & Roughgarden (1985) reveal about larval settlement?

It showed that recruitment largely determines adult distribution and abundance, with different patterns in high and low settlement areas.

In what way do predators affect marine species populations differently in northern and southern sites?

Predators play a significant role in structuring populations in southern sites but not in northern sites, affected by differences in recruitment dynamics.

What is the relationship between reproductive effort, larval numbers, and recruitment in marine management?

Understanding these links is crucial for effective management and conservation of marine species.

What is the significance of the larval dispersal stage in marine organisms?

Allows for dispersal carried by tides, currents, waves, and wind, ranging from hours to months.

What are the 3 main types of larvae produced by marine organisms?

Planktotrophic, Lecithotrophic, and Direct developing.

What characterizes Planktotrophic larvae?

They are the smallest, have a short development time, are long-lived, and must feed to metamorphose.

What are the characteristics of Lecithotrophic larvae?

They are larger than planktotrophic, have a medium to short life span, and may or may not need to feed prior to metamorphosis.

What defines Direct developing larvae?

They are the largest, have the longest development time, undergo metamorphosis in the egg capsule, and have no dispersal.

How does supply side ecology relate to population dynamics?

It refers to the variation in offspring production, settlement, and timing of settlement, which is as important as predation and competition.

What role do biofouling and sessile benthic organisms play in marine ecology research?

They are significant areas of research linked to settlement processes and fundamental to understanding ecosystem structures.

What 2 phases are involved in the settlement and recruitment process?

Settlement, where larvae search for suitable substrate, and recruitment, where juveniles reach a predetermined size.

What factors influence larval settlement?

Biological behavior, physical aspects like water flow, chemical inducers, and presence of conspecifics or biofilms.

What equation describes how to calculate the number surviving in planktonic larvae?

Nt = N0 \times e^{-Rt}, where Nt is the number surviving, N0 is the starting number, R is the instantaneous rate of mortality, and t is larval duration.

How do environmental changes affect larval survival in the plankton?

Increased temperature can shorten larval duration (t), influencing the number of survivors (N_t).

What is the impact of upwelling on larval recruitment?

Upwelling can reduce recruitment along coastlines by transporting larvae offshore, but intermittent upwelling may allow periods of high recruitment.

What did the study by Gaines & Roughgarden (1985) reveal about larval settlement?

It showed that recruitment largely determines adult distribution and abundance, with different patterns in high and low settlement areas.

In what way do predators affect marine species populations differently in northern and southern sites?

Predators play a significant role in structuring populations in southern sites but not in northern sites, affected by differences in recruitment dynamics.

What is the relationship between reproductive effort, larval numbers, and recruitment in marine management?

Understanding these links is crucial for effective management and conservation of marine species.

What is the "competency period" in larval development?

The window of time during which a larva has reached developmental maturity and is physiologically capable of settling and metamorphosing.

How does the mortality rate R typically change in the plankton?

R is often very high due to intense predation, starvation, and advection away from suitable habitats.

What is the "Recruitment Limitation" hypothesis?

The theory that adult population sizes are restricted by the low supply of larvae reaching the benthos rather than by density-dependent factors like space.

What are the primary chemical cues for settlement in some marine invertebrates?

Specific molecules such as GABA, or chemical signals released by biofilms and adult conspecifics.

Why is "post-settlement mortality" a critical factor in marine ecology?

It accounts for the high loss of individuals immediately after they attach to the substrate but before they are counted as recruits (recruitment).