Larval fish dispersal in a coral-reef seascape

Almany, Glenn R., Planes, Serge, Thorrold, Simon R., Berumen, Michael L., Bode, Michael, Saenz-Agudelo, Pablo, Bonin, Mary C., Frisch, Ashley J., Harrison, Hugo B., Messmer, Vanessa, Nanninga, Gerrit B., Priest, Mark A., Srinivasan, Maya, Sinclair-Taylor, Tane, Williamson, David H., and Jones, Geoffrey P. (2017) Larval fish dispersal in a coral-reef seascape. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 1 (6). pp. 1-4.

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Abstract

Larval dispersal is a critical yet enigmatic process in the persistence and productivity of marine metapopulations. Empirical data on larval dispersal remain scarce, hindering the use of spatial management tools in efforts to sustain ocean biodiversity and fisheries. Here we document dispersal among subpopulations of clownfish (Amphiprion percula) and butterflyfish (Chaetodon vagabundus) from eight sites across a large seascape (10,000 km(2)) in Papua New Guinea across 2 years. Dispersal of clownfish was consistent between years, with mean observed dispersal distances of 15 km and 10 km in 2009 and 2011, respectively. A Laplacian statistical distribution (the dispersal kernel) predicted a mean dispersal distance of 13-19 km, with 90% of settlement occurring within 31-43 km. Mean dispersal distances were considerably greater (43-64 km) for butterfly-fish, with kernels declining only gradually from spawning locations. We demonstrate that dispersal can be measured on spatial scales sufficient to inform the design of and test the performance of marine reserve networks.

Item ID: 51881
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 2397-334X
Keywords: coral reef; dispersal; connectivity; parentage analysis; Amphiprion percula
Funders: Australian Research Council (ARC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), National Science Foundation (NSF)
Projects and Grants: NSF OCE0928442, NSF OCE1031256
Date Deposited: 27 Dec 2017 07:31
FoR Codes: 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4102 Ecological applications > 410206 Landscape ecology @ 20%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 40%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3105 Genetics > 310599 Genetics not elsewhere classified @ 40%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960507 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments @ 100%
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