Direct Evidence of a Biophysical Retention Mechanism for Coral Reef Fish Larvae

Downward migration of about 60 m throughout ontogeny within stratified currents represented a retention mechanism for locally spawned larvae. Most of the variability in estimated retention rates between daily cohorts occurred during the earliest stages as a result of the dynamic nature of surface currents experienced by larvae prior to the onset of vertical migration. Differences in residence time between experiments were consistent with observed intermonthly variability in recruitment strength, implying that pelagic processes can explain recruitment rates.

These results provide empirical evidence for larval retention of coral reef fishes and stress the role of active behavior in larval transport. "Our main objective was to investigate the mechanism by which coral reef fish larvae may maximize their return to the settlement habitat of the natal population. For this purpose, we needed to determine the role of larval behavior in controlling dispersal and horizontal advection and it relationship to the island-scale flow patterns." Spatial Data Organization Information - Indirect Spatial Reference: Barbados, West Indies, the Lesser Antilles, vertical layers in the water column at 20-m intervals from 0-100 m.

Direct Spatial Reference: Raster Raster Object Type: Point Spatial Reference Information - Horizontal Coordinate System Definition - Geodetic Model: