scholarly journals Spatially variable larval histories may shape recruitment rates of a temperate reef fish

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shima ◽  
S Swearer
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Residual Body ◽  
Open Coast ◽  
Temperate Reef ◽  
Rocky Reefs ◽  
Larval Condition ◽  
Temperate Reef Fish

Several long-standing hypotheses purport variation in recruitment to be positively correlated with pelagic environmental conditions that enhance larval growth, survival, and/or delivery to recruitment sites. However, the relationship between recruitment intensity and larval environmental conditions (or more directly, larval condition) is difficult to evaluate and poorly known for most species. We evaluate this relationship for the reef fish Forsterygion lapillum that commonly inhabits rocky reefs throughout New Zealand. We quantified variation in recruitment of F. lapillum using a nested sampling design, and found that the largest source of variation was between 2 nearby regions (a semi-enclosed harbour and an adjacent open coast system). We estimated 'settler condition' as the composite of residual body mass and 2 measurements of larval growth (reconstructed from otolith microstructure) and found that recruitment intensity was positively correlated with settler condition for sites within the harbour, but negatively correlated with settler condition for sites on the open coast. Mean pelagic larval duration of recruits to the harbour was ̃3 d shorter than recruits to the open coast. These results suggest that larval experience and relationships between recruitment and settler condition are spatially variable. We speculate that (1) larval retention within a productive embayment facilitates a positive relationship between recruitment and settler condition while (2) dispersal through a less productive environment drives a negative relationship for replenishment on the open coast. These putative differences may have important implications for patterns of recruitment, the strength of post-settlement density-dependent interactions, and dynamics of local populations.

scholarly journals Spatially variable larval histories may shape recruitment rates of a temperate reef fish

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shima ◽  
S Swearer
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Residual Body ◽  
Open Coast ◽  
Temperate Reef ◽  
Rocky Reefs ◽  
Larval Condition ◽  
Temperate Reef Fish

Several long-standing hypotheses purport variation in recruitment to be positively correlated with pelagic environmental conditions that enhance larval growth, survival, and/or delivery to recruitment sites. However, the relationship between recruitment intensity and larval environmental conditions (or more directly, larval condition) is difficult to evaluate and poorly known for most species. We evaluate this relationship for the reef fish Forsterygion lapillum that commonly inhabits rocky reefs throughout New Zealand. We quantified variation in recruitment of F. lapillum using a nested sampling design, and found that the largest source of variation was between 2 nearby regions (a semi-enclosed harbour and an adjacent open coast system). We estimated 'settler condition' as the composite of residual body mass and 2 measurements of larval growth (reconstructed from otolith microstructure) and found that recruitment intensity was positively correlated with settler condition for sites within the harbour, but negatively correlated with settler condition for sites on the open coast. Mean pelagic larval duration of recruits to the harbour was ̃3 d shorter than recruits to the open coast. These results suggest that larval experience and relationships between recruitment and settler condition are spatially variable. We speculate that (1) larval retention within a productive embayment facilitates a positive relationship between recruitment and settler condition while (2) dispersal through a less productive environment drives a negative relationship for replenishment on the open coast. These putative differences may have important implications for patterns of recruitment, the strength of post-settlement density-dependent interactions, and dynamics of local populations.

Chemical cues from habitats and conspecifics guide sand-smelt Atherina presbyter larvae to reefs

2020 ◽  
Vol 650 ◽  
pp. 191-202
Author(s):  
P Vicente ◽  
S Martins-Cardoso ◽  
F Almada ◽  
EJ Gonçalves ◽  
AM Faria
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Temperate Reef ◽  
Rocky Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Tropical Reef ◽  
Temperate Reef Fish ◽  
Temperate Fish

Chemical cues have been widely addressed as potential cues for fish larvae to orient, detect or remain close to suitable habitat. However, most studies to date have been on tropical reef species and have suggested a chemosensory-driven homing behaviour, with only few studies on temperate fish indicating a less conclusive response to chemical cues. We hypothesized that detection and response to chemical cues might provide an important mechanism maintaining the larvae of a temperate reef fish species (sand-smelt Atherina presbyter Cuvier, 1829), close to their natal reef. The ability to discriminate chemical cues from different rocky reefs, and natal and non-natal conspecifics was tested. Water and shoals of sand-smelt larvae were collected from 3 reefs, and larval preference was tested in a 2-choice flume chamber. Larvae preferred nearby reefs over natal reefs and discriminated and preferred conspecifics from their natal reef. Moreover, our results suggested that both cues are equally relevant, as the combination of reef cues with conspecifics was more attractive to sand-smelt than either cue in isolation. When conspecific and reef preferences were tested against each other, there was no longer a clear preference for either cue. Additional tests suggested that preference for conspecifics could be driven by either diet or habitat-related chemical cues. Chemical cues and the corresponding detection mechanisms likely play an important role in finding suitable habitat and increasing the fitness of temperate reef fish.

scholarly journals Regional variation in larval retention and dispersal drives recruitment patterns in a temperate reef fish

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Swearer ◽  
Jeffrey Shima
Keyword(s):  
Larval Growth ◽  
Larval Transport ◽  
Otolith Chemistry ◽  
Open Coast ◽  
Temperate Reef ◽  
Enclosed Bay ◽  
The Common ◽  
Temperate Reef Fish ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
High Recruitment

Although there is wide appreciation for the influence of variable larval transport on recruitment, few studies have investigated the relationship between recruitment intensity and the origin(s) of recruits. We evaluate this relationship for the common triplefin Forsterygion lapillum in Wellington Harbour (a semi-enclosed bay) and the adjacent open coast of North Island, New Zealand. As the harbour is productive, with many F. lapillum adults, we predicted the harbour would be an important source of recruitment for both regions. We estimated larval origins and dispersal histories using embryonic and larval otolith chemistry, respectively, with differences in otolith elemental composition consistent with birth and/or development in either harbour or open ocean waters. In the harbour, recruitment was greatest when locally spawned larvae were retained. Although large recruitment pulses to the open coast were comprised mostly of larvae originating from the open coast, 72 % of all recruits to the south coast were actually spawned in the harbour. Dispersal of larvae from the harbour was frequent, but in low numbers, and was unrelated to opportunities for transport from the harbour. Given recent evidence for differences in larval growth between regions, we suggest that (1) faster larval growth combined with nearshore larval distributions result in high recruitment to the harbour and moderate, but demograph-ically important, dispersal from the harbour to the open coast. In contrast, we suggest that (2) the combination of strong tidal currents in Cook Strait and slower larval growth result in lower recruitment and greater transport of larvae among open coast populations. The mechanisms that underlie such context-dependent dispersal have important implications for patterns of connectivity. © Inter-Research 2010.

scholarly journals Regional variation in larval retention and dispersal drives recruitment patterns in a temperate reef fish

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Swearer ◽  
Jeffrey Shima
Keyword(s):  
Larval Growth ◽  
Larval Transport ◽  
Otolith Chemistry ◽  
Open Coast ◽  
Temperate Reef ◽  
Enclosed Bay ◽  
The Common ◽  
Temperate Reef Fish ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
High Recruitment

Although there is wide appreciation for the influence of variable larval transport on recruitment, few studies have investigated the relationship between recruitment intensity and the origin(s) of recruits. We evaluate this relationship for the common triplefin Forsterygion lapillum in Wellington Harbour (a semi-enclosed bay) and the adjacent open coast of North Island, New Zealand. As the harbour is productive, with many F. lapillum adults, we predicted the harbour would be an important source of recruitment for both regions. We estimated larval origins and dispersal histories using embryonic and larval otolith chemistry, respectively, with differences in otolith elemental composition consistent with birth and/or development in either harbour or open ocean waters. In the harbour, recruitment was greatest when locally spawned larvae were retained. Although large recruitment pulses to the open coast were comprised mostly of larvae originating from the open coast, 72 % of all recruits to the south coast were actually spawned in the harbour. Dispersal of larvae from the harbour was frequent, but in low numbers, and was unrelated to opportunities for transport from the harbour. Given recent evidence for differences in larval growth between regions, we suggest that (1) faster larval growth combined with nearshore larval distributions result in high recruitment to the harbour and moderate, but demograph-ically important, dispersal from the harbour to the open coast. In contrast, we suggest that (2) the combination of strong tidal currents in Cook Strait and slower larval growth result in lower recruitment and greater transport of larvae among open coast populations. The mechanisms that underlie such context-dependent dispersal have important implications for patterns of connectivity. © Inter-Research 2010.

Larval growth, size, stage duration and recruitment success of a temperate reef fish

2011 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Fontes ◽  
Ricardo S. Santos ◽  
Pedro Afonso ◽  
Jennifer E. Caselle
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Stage Duration ◽  
Recruitment Success ◽  
Temperate Reef ◽  
Temperate Reef Fish

A comparison of temperate reef fish assemblages recorded by three underwater stereo-video techniques

2005 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianne L. Watson ◽  
Euan S. Harvey ◽  
Marti J. Anderson ◽  
Gary A. Kendrick
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Temperate Reef ◽  
Stereo Video ◽  
Temperate Reef Fish
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