Increased larval planktonic duration and post-recruitment competition influence survival and growth of the bryozoan Watersipora subtorquata

Abstract

For organisms with complex life cycles, longer time spent in the plankton by dispersing propagules can cause reduced survival, growth and fecundity, which could alter interactions between neighbours in the post-dispersal environment. We compared post-settlement performance of bryozoan Watersipora subtorquata colonies that developed from larvae of different natural and experimental planktonic durations over ca. 15 wk of colony growth. Settlers were situated either near established adults of the ascidian Botrylloides leachii or without competition. In creased larval planktonic durations reduced colony growth in the absence of competition; colonies that developed from longer or delayed larval d..