The longevity of larvae, their competence period, and the developmental costs of
delayed metamorphosis are important factors in understanding recruitment in marine
invertebrates. These factors may be critical where larvae must await contact with
suitable settlement surfaces, and when considering the dispersal capability of a species
ŽPechenik, 1990; Hadfield and Strathmann, 1996; Wilson and Harrison, 1998.. Larval
longevity places an absolute time limit on the larval phase. In reality, the ability to delay
metamorphosis, and the costs of doing so, may be more important in setting spatial and
temporal limits on successful recruitment.