title: Close encounters with eddies: oceanographic features increase growth of larval reef fishes during their journey to the reef.
abstract: Like most benthic marine organisms, coral reef fishes produce larvae that traverse open ocean waters before settling and metamorphosing into juveniles. Where larvae are transported and how they survive is a central question in marine and fisheries ecology. While there is increasing success in modelling potential larval trajectories, our knowledge of the physical and biological processes contributing to larval survivorship during dispersal remains relatively poor. Mesoscale eddies (MEs) are ubiquitous throughout the world's oceans and their propagation is often accompanied by upwelling and increased productivity. Enhanced production suggests that eddies may serve as important habitat for the larval stages of marine organisms, yet there is a lack of empirical data on the growth rates of larvae associated with these eddies. During three cruises in the Straits of Florida, we sampled larval fishes inside and outside five cyclonic MEs. Otolith microstructure analysis revealed that four of five species of reef fish examined had consistently faster growth inside these eddies. Because increased larval growth often leads to higher survivorship, larvae that encounter MEs during transit are more likely to contribute to reef populations. Successful dispersal in oligotrophic waters may rely on larval encounter with such oceanographic features.
authors: Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
authors: Kathryn
authors: K
authors: Shulzitski
authors: Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA su.sponaugle@oregonstate.edu.
authors: Su
authors: S
authors: Sponaugle
authors: Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA Department of Biology, Stonehill College, North Easton, MA 02357, USA.
authors: Martha
authors: M
authors: Hauff
authors: Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
authors: Kristen
authors: K
authors: Walter
authors: Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
authors: Evan K
authors: EK
authors: D'Alessandro
authors: Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA.
authors: Robert K
authors: RK
authors: Cowen
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010473:Perciformes / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: larval dispersal; larval fish growth; mesoscale eddies; otolith microstructure; population replenishment; reef fish
references: Oecologia. 2002 Mar;131(1):89-93
references: 28547516
references: Oecologia. 2002 May;131(4):521-525
references: 28547546