Dataset: Experimental results of turbulence-exposed sand dollar Dendraster excentricus larvae and their response to a variety of settlement cues

These data are presented in Hodin et al (2018).

Adult Dendraster excentricus were collected from two geographically distinct populations: 1) a subtidal population (~ 100 m offshore and 1.5m below the surface at mean lower low water) approximately 30m east of Municipal Pier 2 in downtown Monterey CA, USA; 2) an intertidal population on Crescent Beach in East Sound, Orcas Island, WA, USA. Adults in Monterey were collected by snorkeling and transported to Hopkins Marine Station (“HMS”; Pacific Grove CA, USA). Adults in East Sound were collected at low tide and transported to Friday Harbor Labs (“FHL”; Friday Harbor, WA, USA). In both locations, the sand dollars were partially buried within fine sediments (collected from the adult beds) in flowing seawater aquaria until spawning. (Hodin et al, 2018). These adults served as sources for the larvae used in the experiments.

We raised larval sand dollars (Dendraster excentricus) through their feeding larval stage using standard methods [Strathmann, 1987 and 2014], and on various days after larvae had become competent to settle, we subjected a subset of them to a brief turbulence exposure of a specified high intensity (6 W/kg) conforming to that measured on wave-exposed rocky coasts. Immediately after exposure, we transferred the larvae into different settlement inducing media: Millipore-filtered seawater (MFSW), extracts of sand from inside or outside sand dollar beds, or excess potassium chloride in MFSW. We then quantified settlement as it relates to turbulence exposure and settlement medium. For more detail refer to Hodin et al (2018) and prior papers [Gaylord et al, 2013; Hodin et al, 2015].