phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at o:4449 DOI 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108875 Seasonal and synoptic spatio-temporal variability on larval delivery mechanisms inferred from mussel settlement patterns in the Portuguese coast Demographic connectivity is the process by which population persistence and growth are affected by the dispersal of individuals. In sessile marine species that disperse by planktonic larvae and form metapopulations, the interaction between oceanographic forcing and larval biology drives the spatial extent and magnitude of larval delivery to suitable habitat patches. The present study investigates the supply of Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae to rocky intertidal habitats located within and around two marine protected areas (MPA) in central Portugal, one located on the exposed coast and the other one in a sheltered bay, using time series of settlement intensity and oceanographic variables. The results indicate that larval delivery at short time scales (days) is strongly dependent on the interaction of upwelling circulation with coastline topography. In the exposed MPA, located on a coastal island, the magnitude of mussel larval delivery is limited by the dynamics of an upwelling front and filament that intercepts the island as upwelling increases and decreases. In the sheltered bay, under an upwelling shadow, the upwelling front promotes recirculation of the water mass, intensifying larval retention and settlement. The results are also consistent with larval transport distances of tens of kilometres and ongoing connectivity between the two MPA. This study highlights the relevance of coastal topography and its interaction with mesoscale hydrodynamics in the modulation of larval delivery, crucial for the persistence of populations and communities and in systematic conservation planning. eng Settlement Larval Dispersal Upwelling Front Upwelling Shadow Bivalves Mytilus Galloprovincialis Oceanography 2025-10-10T08:37:43.383Z LOMv1.0 Author BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Oliveira;G. F.; FN:G. F. Oliveira END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Pimentel-Santos;Joana; FN:Joana Pimentel-Santos X-ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9941-3400 END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Gomes;I.; FN:I. Gomes END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Albuquerque;R.; FN:R. Albuquerque END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Queiroga;H.; FN:H. Queiroga END:VCARD BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 N:Peteiro;L. G.; FN:L. G. Peteiro END:VCARD https://w3id.org/kim/hcrt/scheme https://w3id.org/kim/hcrt/text Textdokument Text LOMv1.0 yes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 application/pdf 6364941 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4449 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:4449/thumbnail LOMv1.0 discipline