The role of sediment organic matter composition in larval habitat selection by the polychaete Capitella sp. I

The role of sediment organic matter composition in larval habitat selection by the polychaete Capitella sp. I was investigated using a still water multiple-choice experiment. Specifically, the following question was addressed: what are the roles of sediment labile organic compounds in larval habitat selection? A replicated Latin-square design was used to test larval preferences among sediments collected from five sites (TLC—Tung Lung Chau; VHE—Victoria Harbor east; VH—Victoria Harbor; VHW—Victoria Harbor west; PC—Peng Chau) in the vicinity of Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong. Although mean grain size was not different among sites, water content and the total organic matter were higher in VH Mud but were similar among other sites. Carbohydrate, lipid, and biopolymeric fractions followed the same trend. According to protein content, sites were ranked as: VH > VHW > TLC = VHE > PC. PC Mud had the highest carbohydrate/protein ratio, due to low concentration of protein. According to larval preference, sites were ranked as: TLC = VH = VHW = VHE > PC. Our study shows a precise relationship between sediment biochemical properties and larval habitat selection. Larvae tend to choose sediments with low carbohydrate/protein ratio. Results suggest that types of sediment organic matter may play more important role in the larval habitat selection process of Capitella sp. I than concentration of organic matter alone.