Relationship between sediment organic content, metamorphosis, and postlarval performance in the deposit-feeding polychaete Capitella sp I

Chemical cues induce metamorphosis for the larvae of many benthic marine invertebrate species. These cues help to place organisms into habitats that will allow for rapid growth and increased reproductive success. This study was designed to examine the correspondence between induction of metamorphosis and post-metamorphic success in the deposit feeding polychaete Capitella sp. I. Larvae were offered substrates with organic content reduced by 50, 75, 90 or 95% to examine inductive ability. Post-metamorphic success was assessed as juvenile growth rate, time to first brood production, and fecundity. Larvae did not consistently choose the substrate with the highest organic content, and often metamorphosed sooner in response to substrates with insufficient organic material for optimal growth and reproductive success. These findings suggest that, while the cue for metamorphosis is probably organic and bound to fine particulates, the larvae of Capitella sp. I cannot assess the concentration of organic material necessary to support subsequent growth and development. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.