Predation by the suspension-feeding infaunal bivalve Cerastoderrna edule on settling C edule larvae was studied In a flume boundary-layer flow The density of settled larvae was reduced by 33 "b in an area of 5 cm2 enclosing individual adults Mean survival time for competent C edule larvae drifting over sediment populated wlth feeding adults (380 ind m-2) was 64 S, and 75 % of the observed larvae were inhaled by adults Observations of the siphonal curients produced by C edule and the swimmlng behavlour of larvae were combined in a computer model to assess the importance of adult density and boundary-layer flow on the predation nsk expenenced by setthng larvae Survival of setthng larvae decreased drastically wlth Increasing adult density whereas increased flow velocity caused only a sllghtly higher predation nsk Although reduction in larval settlement on the scale of individual adults may be small or moderate, inhalation of settling larvae by populations of resident suspension feeders may cause a significant decrease In settlement on a larger scale (10' to l o 3 m)
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André et al. (1993) studied this question.