MULTIPLE SPECIES, MASS SPAWNING EVENTS IN AN IRISH SEA LOUGH - THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURES ON SPAWNING AND RECRUITMENT OF INVERTEBRATES

Spawnings, larval occurrence and settlement of some marine invertebrates were examined over a six-year period at Lough Hyne, an inlet on the south coast of Ireland. Sea temperature rises were associated with multi-phyla spawnings, temperatures varied between years and greater numbers of larvae and greater settlements were noted in the warmer years. It is suggested that, should sea temperatures rise, conditions for successful recruitment for some species will become more favourable in Irish waters. However, unpredictable effects such as the expansion of exotic populations because conditions become more favourable for them may result in significant modification of diversity and abundance of species.