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Settlement of Macoma balthica larvae in response to benthic diatom films

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Abstract

The role of multi-species benthic diatom films (BDF) in the settlement of late pediveliger larvae of the bivalve Macoma balthica was investigated in still-water bioassays and multiple choice flume experiments. Axenic diatom cultures that were isolated from a tidal mudflat inhabited by M. balthica were selected to develop BDF sediment treatments characterized by a different community structure, biomass, and amount of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Control sediments had no added diatoms. Although all larvae settled and initiated burrowing within the first minute after their addition in still water, regardless of treatment, only 48–52% had completely penetrated the high diatom biomass treatments after 5 min, while on average 80 and 69% of the larvae had settled and burrowed into the control sediments and BDF with a low diatom biomass (<3.5 μg Chl a g−1 dry sediment), respectively. The percentage of larvae settling and burrowing into the sediment was negatively correlated with the concentration of Chl a and EPS of the BDF. This suggests higher physical resistance to bivalve penetration by the BDF with higher diatom biomass and more associated sugar and protein compounds. The larval settlement rate in annular flume experiments at flow velocities of 5 and 15 cm s−1 was distinctly lower compared to the still-water assays. Only 4.6–5.8% of the larvae were recovered from BDF and control sediments after 3 h. Nonetheless, a clear settlement preference was observed for BDF in the flume experiments; i.e., larvae settled significantly more in BDF compared to control sediments irrespective of flow speed. Comparison with the settlement of polystyrene mimics and freeze-killed larvae led to the conclusion that active selection, active secondary dispersal and, at low flow velocities (5 cm s−1), passive adhesion to the sediment are important mechanisms determining the settlement of M. balthica larvae in estuarine biofilms.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation through Science and Technology in Flanders, Belgium (IWT Vlaanderen). We would like to thank John Widdows and Peter Herman for their comments on the flume and experimental design, Tjeerd Bouma for his help with the ADV measurements, Jurgen Verstraeten and Yves Israël for construction of the annular flume, and Giovanni A.P. Dos Santos, Tatiana Maria, and Katia Guilini for their aid on bacterial quantification. Annick Verween, Annick Van Kenhove, Danielle Schram, Annelien Rigaux, and Dirk Van Gansbeke are acknowledged for their assistance during processing of the samples and maintenance of the larval cultures. The comments of three anonymous referees substantially improved the manuscript. This paper contributes to the Ghent University BBSea Project (GOA 01600705) and the EU Network of Excellence Marbef (GOCE-CT-2003-505446, contribution nr. 9035). This is NIOO-KNAW publication nr. 4553.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Marine Biology Section, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281/S8, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Carl Van Colen, A. De Backer, M. Vincx & S. Degraer

  2. Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    J. Lenoir

  3. Department of Biology, Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281/S8, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    B. Vanelslander

  4. Management Unit of the of the North Sea Mathematical Model, Marine Ecosystem Management Section, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Gulledelle 100, 1200, Brussels, Belgium

    S. Degraer

  5. Netherlands Institute for Ecological Research (NIOO-KNAW), Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, POB 140, 4400 AC, Yerseke, The Netherlands

    T. Ysebaert

  6. Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies, Wageningen University, POB 77, 4400 AB, Yerseke, The Netherlands

    T. Ysebaert

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  1. Carl Van Colen
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Correspondence to Carl Van Colen.

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Communicated by J. P. Grassle.

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Van Colen, C., Lenoir, J., De Backer, A. et al. Settlement of Macoma balthica larvae in response to benthic diatom films. Mar Biol 156, 2161–2171 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1246-6

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