Modelling the larval dispersal of Acanthaster planci

Dight, I. J.; Bode, Lance; James, M. K.

doi:10.1007/bf00258222

Cited by 59 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…They found that in some cases, loss of tracers seemed to flatten off as a consequence of coral reef topo- graphic features that concentrated them. Dight et al (1990) also found that simulated larval clouds could remain reasonably coherent for as long as 28 d in the southern portion of the Great Barrier Reef because of passive concentration near lagoons. In the case of oceanic islands, the potential for dispersal is usually higher than near barrier reefs because the reef platform is narrow, bottom friction is reduced, and currents are more energetic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Direct evidence of a biophysical retention mechanism for coral reef fish larvae

Paris

Cowen

2004

Limnology & Oceanography

309

274

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We examine the hypothesis that reef fish larvae have some direct influence on their own dispersal and ability to recruit to their natal reef by tracking cohorts of bicolor damselfish (Stegastes partitus) from hatching to settlement onto the reef, about 30 d later. We conducted high-resolution sampling during two consecutive years in a small area (15 km ϫ 20 km) off the west coast of Barbados, extending from depths of 0 to 100 m. Observations of discrete stage-specific larval patches of mean size of 29.4 and 13.2 km 2 for preflexion (1-5-d old) and flexion/postflexion (Ͼ5-d old) stages extending ca. 30 m in the vertical indicated that larvae initially dispersing as patches tend to stay in coherent patches throughout their pelagic duration. Highest concentrations of preflexion larvae within a patch were in the upper 20 m, while those of older larvae were always deeper. 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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Direct evidence of a biophysical retention mechanism for coral reef fish larvae

Paris

Cowen

2004

Limnology & Oceanography

309

274

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“…Much greater computing power has allowed enormous improvement over the pioneering work of Dight et al (1990). The results provide a starting point based on strongly simplifying assumptions from which the potential importance of additional complexities can be investigated.…”

Section: Proc R Soc Lond B (2002) (C) Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The structure of reef fish metapopulations: modelling larval dispersal and retention patterns

James

Armsworth

Mason

et al. 2002

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

229

258

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An improved understanding of the dispersal patterns of marine organisms is a prerequisite for successful marine resource management. For species with dispersing larvae, regional-scale hydrodynamic models provide a means of obtaining results over relevant spatial and temporal scales. In an effort to better understand the role of the physical environment in dispersal, we simulated the transport of reef fish larvae among 321 reefs in and around the Cairns Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park over a period of 20 years. Based on regional-scale hydrodynamics, our models predict the spatial and temporal frequency of significant self-recruitment of the larvae of certain species. Furthermore, the results suggest the importance of a select few local populations in ensuring the persistence of reef fish metapopulations over regional scales.

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“…The physical mechanisms driving circulation of coral reef-lagoons systems and lagoon-ocean exchange can influence the transport, dispersal, and retention of larval fish, corals, and other invertebrates (Dight et al 1990;Black 1993;Cowen et al 2000), the supply of nutrients (Hatcher 1997;Falter et al 2004), phytoplankton (Yahel et al 1998), and zooplankton (Yahel et al 2005) to the reef, as well as the flow of sediment from the watersheds connected to reef lagoons (Douillet et al 2001). These physical mechanisms can span a wide range of scales, ranging from an individual coral colony to the reef, island, and basin scale (Monismith 2007).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Episodic circulation and exchange in a wave‐driven coral reef and lagoon system

Hench

Leichter

Monismith

2008

Limnology & Oceanography

201

224

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We examined the role of wave-driven circulation relative to wind and buoyancy forcing in a coral reef-lagoon system. Circulation measurements in Paopao Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia, during austral summer show the importance of waves in driving flows over the reef crest, through the lagoon, and out the reef pass. Tides were comparatively weak, due to proximity to amphidromic points, and exhibited an unusual spring-neap cycle where the major lunar tide modulated the major solar tide, and the overall tidal phase stayed approximately constant. Wind had only a secondary effect compared to surface waves. A simple fluid mass balance indicated rapid flushing of the shallow back reef and export through the reef pass, and a reef capture zone width of ,2.3 km. The reef pass circulation dynamics exhibited two-layer baroclinic exchange flow when waves were small, which was suppressed during large wave events. The unusually weak tidal forcing provided an opportunity to more closely investigate wave-driven circulation dynamics. As expected theoretically, there was a wave-driven setup of the free surface across the shallow lagoon, which drove a highly frictional flow, evident by a large drag coefficient C D < 0.1. Diverging from extant theory, the observed setup varied strongly with significant wave height and period. Overall, the circulation and exchange between this coral reef system and the adjacent open ocean were largely determined by episodic remote-forcing events and differed significantly from periodic tidal-exchange mechanisms.

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Modelling the larval dispersal of Acanthaster planci

Cited by 59 publications

References 27 publications

Direct evidence of a biophysical retention mechanism for coral reef fish larvae

Direct evidence of a biophysical retention mechanism for coral reef fish larvae

The structure of reef fish metapopulations: modelling larval dispersal and retention patterns

Episodic circulation and exchange in a wave‐driven coral reef and lagoon system

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