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

James, M. K.; Armsworth, Paul R.; Mason, Luciano B.; Bode, Lance

doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.2128

Cited by 229 publications

(269 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In marine metapopulations, recruitment back to the local population through local retention and other connectivity pathways is crucial. The central question regarding population persistence in marine metapopulations is whether the population growth rate is positive at low abundance for either the entire metapopulation or a portion of it (Armsworth 2002, James et al 2002, Hastings and Botsford 2006, Bode et al 2008, Botsford et al 2009b, Blowes and Connolly 2012. The key to answering this question requires following the flow of individuals through development (i.e., ages or stages) and across space.…”

Section: The Theory Of Persistence In Spatially Structured Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Empirical estimates of larval dispersal require substantial effort and still only provide a snapshot of population dynamics. Biophysical models are used to estimate connectivity over larger and longer scales than currently feasible in empirical studies (e.g., James et al 2002, Cowen et al 2006, Treml et al 2007). We deliberately did not include studies using biophysical models in our review, because such models are rarely validated with field data (except see Sponaugle et al 2012).…”

Section: A Way Forwardmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond connectivity: how empirical methods can quantify population persistence to improve marine protected‐area design

Burgess

Nickols

Griesemer

et al. 2014

Ecological Applications

206

297

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Abstract. Demographic connectivity is a fundamental process influencing the dynamics and persistence of spatially structured populations. Consequently, quantifying connectivity is essential for properly designing networks of protected areas so that they achieve their core ecological objective of maintaining population persistence. Recently, many empirical studies in marine systems have provided essential, and historically challenging to obtain, data on patterns of larval dispersal and export from marine protected areas (MPAs). Here, we review the empirical studies that have directly quantified the origins and destinations of individual larvae and assess those studies' relevance to the theory of population persistence and MPA design objectives. We found that empirical studies often do not measure or present quantities that are relevant to assessing population persistence, even though most studies were motivated or contextualized by MPA applications. Persistence of spatial populations, like nonspatial populations, depends on replacement, whether individuals reproduce enough in their lifetime to replace themselves. In spatial populations, one needs to account for the effect of larval dispersal on future recruitment back to the local population through local retention and other connectivity pathways. The most commonly reported descriptor of larval dispersal was the fraction of recruitment from local origin (self-recruitment). Self-recruitment does not inform persistence-based MPA design because it is a fraction of those arriving, not a fraction of those leaving (local retention), so contains no information on replacement. Some studies presented connectivity matrices, which can inform assessments of persistence with additional knowledge of survival and fecundity after recruitment. Some studies collected data in addition to larval dispersal that could inform assessments of population persistence but which were not presented in that way. We describe how three pieces of empirical information are needed to fully describe population persistence in a network of MPAs: (1) lifetime fecundity, (2) the proportion of larvae that are locally retained (or the full connectivity matrix), and (3) survival rate after recruitment. We conclude by linking theory and data to provide detailed guidance to empiricists and practitioners on field sampling design and data presentation that better informs the MPA objective of population persistence.

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Section: The Theory Of Persistence In Spatially Structured Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Way Forwardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond connectivity: how empirical methods can quantify population persistence to improve marine protected‐area design

Burgess

Nickols

Griesemer

et al. 2014

Ecological Applications

206

297

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“…The inflow mainly occurs in the less dense part of the reef and is influenced by the position of the bifurcation which varies between 15°S (January) to 20°S (August) [Church, 1987]. The inflow affects the connectivity of reef populations as a result of the transport of water-borne larvae among meta populations [Black, 1993;Wolanski et al, 1997;Armsworth and Bode, 1999;James et al, 2002;Wolanski et al, 2004;Luick et al, 2007]. It also affects the transport of nutrients and pollutants within the GBR [Alongi and McKinnon, 2005;Devlin and Brodie, 2005;Udy et al, 2005;Packett et al, 2009].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the surface circulation in the western Coral Sea and residence times in the Great Barrier Reef

Choukroun¹,

Ridd²,

Brinkman³

et al. 2010

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] Surface velocity observations from satellite tracked drifters made between 1987 and 2008 were used to resolve the surface circulation of the western Coral Sea, west of 158°E, and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The mean surface current map depicts well the major circulation patterns of the region, such as the position of the north Vanuatu and north Caledonia jets (NVJ and NCJ) and the western boundary currents. The North Queensland Current (NQC) and the East Australian Current (EAC) are well defined, flowing at speeds greater than 50 cm s −1 to the north, south of 15°S and 19°S, respectively. The NQC/EAC is mainly formed by the NVJ/NCJ flows, respectively. The presence of the Queensland Plateau greatly affects the westward flow, causing a zone of weak and highly variable currents that extends from 15°S to 18°S between the Queensland Plateau and the GBR shelf. Of the 235 drifters that crossed the western Coral Sea, 75 entered the GBR. Analysis of the drifter trajectories inside the GBR reveals the presence of a northwestward circulation at speeds of 22 cm s −1 north of 18°S and 0.5 cm s −1 south of 18°S. Drifter travel times used to evaluate the water residence times within the GBR indicate residence times of a few weeks for most of the lagoon.

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“…Pelagic larval dispersal of this type creates demographically crucial connectivity between different patch populations [29,30]. The resulting dispersal patterns are shaped by the interplay of oceanographic currents and the behaviour of spawning adults and dispersing larvae [31,32], introducing additional high-resolution complexity that may benefit from commensurately complex management policies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Returns from matching management resolution to ecological variation in a coral reef fishery

2016

Self Cite

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When managing heterogeneous socioecological systems, decision-makers must choose a spatial resolution at which to define management policies. Complex spatial policies allow managers to better reflect underlying ecological and economic heterogeneity, but incur higher compliance and enforcement costs. To choose the most appropriate management resolution, we need to characterize the relationship between management resolution and performance. We parameterize a model of the commercial coral trout fishery in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, which is currently managed by a single, spatially homogeneous management policy. We use this model to estimate how the spatial resolution of management policies affect the amount of revenue generated, and assess whether a more spatially complex policy can be justified. Our results suggest that economic variation is likely to be a more important source of heterogeneity than ecological differences, and that the majority of this variation can be captured by a relatively simple spatial management policy. Moreover, while an increase in policy resolution can improve performance, the location of policy changes also needs to align with ecological and socioeconomic variation. Interestingly, the highly complex process of larval dispersal, which plays a critical ecological role in coral reef ecosystem dynamics, may not demand equally complex management policies.

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

Cited by 229 publications

References 48 publications

Beyond connectivity: how empirical methods can quantify population persistence to improve marine protected‐area design

Beyond connectivity: how empirical methods can quantify population persistence to improve marine protected‐area design

On the surface circulation in the western Coral Sea and residence times in the Great Barrier Reef

Returns from matching management resolution to ecological variation in a coral reef fishery

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