Marine populations are typically connected over greater spatial scales than their terrestrial counterparts
due to many species having a highly dispersive, planktonic larval phase. However, high levels of larval
mortality in the plankton may reduce connectivity between populations. The effect of turbulence on
larval mortality was investigated under natural conditions in a field experiment. Larvae were collected
before and after being subjected to turbulent tidal flow from a marine reserve, with differential mortality
being observed between taxa. Thin-shelled veligers of gastropods and bivalves showed significantly
increased mortality, while barnacle nauplii and cyprids, bryozoan cyphonaute larvae and polychaete
trochophores showed no effect of turbulent tidal transport. Where appropriate, marine reserve design
should account for the reduced connectivity between populations associated with turbulent tidal transport
between reserve and adjacent areas.
