The Mullineaux Lab
Larval Behavior in Flow
Racetrack flume used for experiments on larvae in flow
Oyster larvae (size approx. 0.26 mm) are one target species for behavioral experiments |
Larvae of benthic invertebrates behave actively in ways that can alter their transport in oceanic currents and contribute to their settlement into suitable habitat on the seafloor. We are studying these behaviors in the laboratory, using facilities such as a racetrack flume to examine larval responses to boundary-layer flow and a grid-stirred tank to look at behaviors in the water column. Larval swimming and benthic exploration are recorded on video and compared directly to dynamic features of the flow. Recently we have been exploring the use of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) during larval observations in order to link the behaviors to specific aspects of the turbulent flow structure. These studies are funded by the Coastal Ocean Institute in collaboration with Karl Helfrich and Heidi Fuchs. |
