Estimating spatial scale of post‐settlement transport potential of Macomona liliana on an intertidal sandflat

Abstract

We estimated juvenile transport distance of a common New Zealand bivalve, Macomona liliana, as a function of size, dispersal mode (bedload or water column), and hydrodynamic forcing by combining laboratory (flume and settling chamber) and field (tidal current) data. Live juvenile transport at 7.0 cm s ‐1 flow speed was significantly less than at 17.2 and 28.0cm s ‐1 and most juveniles (80–95%) were transported as bedload. The relationship between juvenile size and fall velocity was positive, and byssus threads significantly reduced fall velocity (≤30%). Our model showed that drifting juveniles can potentially travel much further during a tidal cycle (spring tide 3.3km, neap tide 2.0km) than those in the bedload (

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