Low inflows cause predominantly hypersaline conditions in Baffin Bay, TX (USA), which are inhospitable for oysters, the dominant reef-builder in other northern Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Instead, extensive biogenic reefs contain dense aggregations of the ubiquitous tube-building serpulid worm, Hydroides dianthus. The distribution and size of these reefs have declined over the last several decades. Although serpulid reef habitats have increased in conservation importance, there is a need for ecological knowledge to inform resource management and habitat restoration planning. This study examined spatial and temporal recruitment patterns of serpulid worms and other encrusting species over an 18-month-long period, using recruitment tiles, and live serpulid reef as a reference. Recruitment of H. dianthus occurs year-round; however, the greatest recruitment occurs between September and December. No consistent differences in serpulid recruitment were detected among locations within Baffin Bay, which could be because salinity and temperature were similar among locations, and/or because sampling replication was low. H. dianthus cover was greater on the lower surface of horizontally oriented recruitment tiles (28% cover), whereas Amphibalanus eburneus (barnacle) cover dominated the upper surface of tiles (34% cover). Furthermore, there is no evidence that predation by megafauna (> 1 cm) is hindering serpulid recruitment. There is sufficient larval supply of H. dianthus to suggest that the restoration of serpulid reefs can be successful by providing additional substrate with appropriate microhabitat complexity. Study findings can be used to support planning and successful implementation of serpulid reef restoration.

流入量低导致美国德克萨斯州巴芬湾的盐度过高，不适合牡蛎生存，而牡蛎是墨西哥湾北部河口的主要造礁生物。相反，广泛的生物礁中含有密集聚集的普遍存在的管状蛇虫（Hydrides dianthus）。在过去的几十年里，这些珊瑚礁的分布和大小有所下降。尽管蛇珊瑚礁栖息地的保护重要性有所增加，但仍然需要生态知识来为资源管理和栖息地恢复规划提供信息。这项研究以招募瓦片和活蛇形珊瑚礁为参考，研究了 18 个月内蛇形蠕虫和其他结壳物种的空间和时间招募模式。招聘H. 石竹全年都有；然而，最大的招聘发生在九月至十二月之间。巴芬湾内各地点之间没有检测到蛇类招募的一致差异，这可能是因为地点之间的盐度和温度相似，和/或因为采样重复率较低。H. 石竹覆盖在水平定向的补充瓦片的下表面上更大（28％覆盖），而Amphibalanus eburneus（藤壶）覆盖在瓦片的上表面上占主导地位（34％覆盖）。此外，没有证据表明巨型动物（> 1 厘米）的捕食会阻碍蛇科动物的招募。石竹幼虫供应充足表明通过提供具有适当微生境复杂性的额外基质可以成功恢复蛇形珊瑚礁。研究结果可用于支持蛇形珊瑚礁恢复的规划和成功实施。