How do ocean currents help some echinoderm species spread to distant places?

Many echinoderm species rely on a planktonic larval stage to disperse across vast distances. During this phase, the larvae are free-swimming and become part of the water column, where they are carried by ocean currents to new locations far from their point of origin.123

This process is a key component of the bipartite life cycle observed in many marine organisms, including sea urchins. By spending time in the plankton, these larvae can be transported across wide geographic ranges before they eventually undergo metamorphosis and settle on the seafloor as juveniles. This mechanism is particularly significant for the wide distribution of many species in regions like Antarctica, where currents facilitate the spread of larvae around the continent.123