Lack of match between nutrient-enriched marine seafoam and intertidal abundance of long-lived invertebrate larvae

Since most marine benthic species experience a pelagic larval phase, scales of dispersal are key determinants population dynamics. Biologically derived foam has been suggested to increase chances fertilisation and reduce larvae short-live duration (hours), thus maintaining localised intertidal populations. The present study examined the role sea-foam plays as mechanism physical retention/accumulation for long lived (weeks) invertebrate that relatively long-lived (weeks). Larvae were collected using submersible pump at two sites along south-east coast South Africa, where assemblages dominated by beds mussels barnacles. Sampling took place on six occasions in 2015–2016, during events high production periods no accumulation. Foam/water was from surface bottom tidal channels. There difference abundance any taxa examined, whether or absent. Regardless state, barnacle polychaete mostly associated with short water column This highlights how very nearshore environment may play limiting dispersal, but especially effects processes can be taxon-specific, depending characteristics.