The broadcast spawning reproductive strategy relies on turbulent-stirring processes in the
flow to bring together gametes previously released by adult males and females. The
subsequent fertilization rate depends on the product of co-occurring concentrations of egg
and sperm. Turbulent mixing produces a strong average dilution in these concentrations,
suggesting that an increase in turbulence would reduce the average local fertilization rate.
However, turbulent dilution occurs at time scales that may be long compared to those …