Biology
Larval Dispersal and Population Connectivity in Marine Invertebrates
Quick fact
A single oyster can release millions of larvae in one spawning, and most of these larvae will die before settling. Yet this tiny, vulnerable drifting stage is the main way that marine invertebrates like corals, sea urchins, and barnacles spread across the ocean and connect their populations.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever wondered how a sea star that crawls slowly along the ocean floor ends up living on a rocky reef miles away? The secret lies in a tiny drifting stage of its life.