Bode, Michael, Leis, Jeffrey M., Mason, Luciano, Williamson, David H., Harrison, Hugo B., Choukroun, Severine, and Jones, Geoffrey P. (2019) Successful validation of a larval dispersal model using genetic parentage data. PLoS Biology, 17 (7). e3000380.

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Abstract

Larval dispersal is a critically important yet enigmatic process in marine ecology, evolution, and conservation. Determining the distance and direction that tiny larvae travel in the open ocean continues to be a challenge. Our current understanding of larval dispersal patterns at management-relevant scales is principally and separately informed by genetic parentage data and biological-oceanographic (biophysical) models. Parentage datasets provide clear evidence of individual larval dispersal events, but their findings are spatially and temporally limited. Biophysical models offer a more complete picture of dispersal patterns at regional scales but are of uncertain accuracy. Here, we develop statistical techniques that integrate these two important sources of information on larval dispersal. We then apply these meth- ods to an extensive genetic parentage dataset to successfully validate a high-resolution bio- physical model for the economically important reef fish species Plectropomus maculatus in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Our results demonstrate that biophysical models can pro- vide accurate descriptions of larval dispersal at spatial and temporal scales that are relevant to management. They also show that genetic parentage datasets provide enough statistical power to exclude poor biophysical models. Biophysical models that included species-spe- cific larval behaviour provided markedly better fits to the parentage data than assuming passive behaviour, but incorrect behavioural assumptions led to worse predictions than ignoring behaviour altogether. Our approach capitalises on the complementary strengths of genetic parentage datasets and high-resolution biophysical models to produce an accurate picture of larval dispersal patterns at regional scales. The results provide essential empirical support for the use of accurately parameterised biophysical larval dispersal models in marine spatial planning and management.

Item ID:	59867
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1545-7885
Funders:	Australian Research Council (ARC), ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, National Environmental Research Program, National Environmental Science Program, Australian Research Council (ARC)
Projects and Grants:	ARC Linkage Grant LP100200561, ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award (DE160101141)
Research Data:	https://zenodo.org/record/2558693#.XV-L6y2B01g
Date Deposited:	29 Aug 2019 01:16
FoR Codes:	37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3708 Oceanography > 370801 Biological oceanography @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9699 Other Environment > 969902 Marine Oceanic Processes (excl. Climate Related) @ 100%
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