Patterns of variability in early-life traits of fishes depend on spatial scale of analysis.
Estimates of early-life traits of fishes (e.g. pelagic larval duration (PLD) and spawning date) are essential for investigating and assessing patterns of population connectivity. Such estimates are available for a large number of both tropical and temperate fish species, but few studies have assessed their variability in space, especially across multiple scales. The present study, where a Mediterranean fish (i.e. the white seabream Diplodus sargus sargus) was used as a model, shows that spawning date and PLD are spatially more variable at a scale of kilometres than at a scale of tens to hundreds of kilometres. This study indicates the importance of considering spatial variability of early-life traits of fishes in order to properly delineate connectivity patterns at larval stages (e.g. by means of Lagrangian simulations), thus providing strategically useful information on connectivity and relevant management goals (e.g. the creation of networks of marine reserves).
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy. difry@libero.it
Antonio
A
Di Franco
Paolo
P
Guidetti
D000818:Animals; D005306:Fertilization; D005843:Geography; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000254:growth & development*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
Ecol Appl. 2006 Jun;16(3):963-76
16826995
Ecol Lett. 2007 Aug;10(8):745-58
17594430
Evolution. 1995 Oct;49(5):897-910
28564869