Habitat selection by marine larvae in changing chemical environments
Abstract
The replenishment and persistence of marine species is contingent on dispersing larvae locating suitable habitat
and surviving to a reproductive stage. Pelagic larvae rely on environmental cues to make behavioural decisions
with chemical information being important for habitat selection at settlement. We explored the sensory world
of crustaceans and fishes focusing on the impact anthropogenic alterations (ocean acidification, red soil, pesti-
cide) have on conspecific chemical signals used by larvae for habitat selection. Crustacean (Stenopus hispidus)
and fish (Chromis viridis) larvae recognized their conspecifics via chemical signals under control conditions. In
the presence of acidified water, red soil or pesticide, the ability of larvae to chemically recognize conspecific
cues was altered. Our study highlights that recruitment potential on coral reefs may decrease due to anthropo-
genic stressors. If so, populations of fishes and crustaceans will continue their rapid decline; larval recruitment
will not replace and sustain the adult populations on degraded reefs