Recruitment of polychaetes and bivalves: long-term assessment of predictability in a soft-bottom habitat

Abstract

A 5yr record of polychaete and bivalve abundance in North Inlet, South Carolina, was examined to estimate whether the timing of peaks in abundance of planktonic larvae was a reliable predictor of settlement timing and abundance of meiobenthic and macrobenthic recruits. An annual cycle in the pattern for these major taxa was apparent. The interval between appearance of planktonic larval peaks and subsequent peaks in abundance of meiobenthos and macrobenthos varied greatly during the five years. Despite variability in the timing of settlement and recruitment of soft-bottom benthos, the temporal windows during which recruitment activity is highest are very predicable for polychaetes and bivalves in North Inlet. -from Authors