Transport mechanisms and the potential movement of planktonic larvae in the central region of the Great Barrier Reef

Williams, David; Wolanski, Eric; Andrews, John C.

doi:10.1007/bf00288259

Cited by 153 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Within the central GBR, large-scale water movements occur predominantly along the shore in a southeasterly direction (Williams et al 1984). This unidirectional and potentially restricted movement of larvae has been a favored explanation for cross-shelfzonation seen in studies of coral reef community structure (Done 1982).…”

Section: Genetic Variation Within and Among Reefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

EVIDENCE FOR RESTRICTED GENE FLOW IN THE VIVIPAROUS CORALSERIATOPORA HYSTRIX ONAUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF

Ayre

Dufty

1994

Evolution

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Abstract. -Viviparous, branching corals such as Seriatopora hystrix are expected to generate most recruits through asexual reproduction (fission or fragmentation) but are expected to use sexual reproduction to produce widely dispersed colonists. In this study, allozyme electrophoresis was used to test for variation in the relative contributions of sexual and asexual reproduction to recruitment and to assess the apparent scale of larval dispersal (gene flow) in the central Great Barrier Reef. Fifty-seven collections (within ::s 25 m-) of fragments from sets of approximately 40 colonies were made (where possible) within each of five habitats on each of 12 reefs. These reefs, within the central region of the Great Barrier Reef, were separated by up to 90 km and included one inner-shelf continental island and groups of seven midshelf reefs and four outer-shelf reefs. Most collections contained a high level of multilocus genotypic diversity and hence showed little evidence of recruitment through fragmentation, although the majority of collectionsdisplayed large and consistent deficits ofheterozygotes. Allele frequencies varied greatly among collections (Fon: = 0.43),and this variation wassufficientto explain two-thirds of observed deficiencies ofheterozygotes via a Wahlund effect. A hierarchical assessment of F ST values revealed that 45% of allelic variation occurred among reefs(Fon: = 0.20),and only 16%of variation within reefswasexplained by variation among five major habitat types (FST = 0.05). A relatively small component of the total variation among samples was attributable to across-shelf variation among the groups of middle-and outershelf reefs (Fon: = 0.03); however, the outer-shelf reefs form a single UPGMA cluster separate from all but 4 of the other 43 collections. These data imply that widespread dispersal does occur but that the direction or magnitude of gene flow may be influenced by the along-shelf movement of major ocean currents and weather-dependent currents on or near reefs. Each reef, therefore, forms a partially isolated and highly subdivided population.

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Section: Genetic Variation Within and Among Reefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

EVIDENCE FOR RESTRICTED GENE FLOW IN THE VIVIPAROUS CORALSERIATOPORA HYSTRIX ONAUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF

Ayre

Dufty

1994

Evolution

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“…The central GBR is subject to longshore currents which may restrict larval dispersion across the shelf (Williams et al 1984). Relatively small differences in sea temperature across the continental shelf (Pickard et al 1977) may significantly reduce the probability of survival to metamorphosis (Thorson 1966).…”

Section: Causes Of Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns in the distribution of macrofaunal communities in coral reef sediments on the central Great Barrier Reef

Riddle¹

1988

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The sediment environment and fauna from 6 reefs in a broad transect across the central Great Barrier Reef were quantitatively surveyed. Four distinct sediment types were present. Two were only found on the inner-shelf reefs; both contained high levels of siltlclay. The sediment from the more exposed inner-shelf site contained significant amounts of broken shell. The others were almost exclusively reef derived carbonates from middle and outer shelf reefs. One was predominantly coarse sand and gravel from the shallow reef flat, the other mainly medium to fine sand from the lagoon. There were major differences in the fauna from the inner, middle and outer shelf reefs, whereas the fauna from different depth zones and sediment types within reefs showed less extreme differences. Contrary to expectation, sedirnents of similar type from the middle and outer shelf reefs did not support similar infaunal communities. Crustaceans (particularly amphipods), which were a significant component on the middle shelf reefs, were a very minor part of the sediment fauna on the outer shelf. Small changes in the sediment fauna occured over periods of a few months to a year, but major patterns persisted throughout the year. It is suggested that differences are maintained by a combination of mechanisms; larval availability (determined by water currents) interacts with habitat selection and differential survival. The short generation times and variety of life history tactics of sediment animals predispose this component of the reef fauna as a tool for the study of recruitment on coral reefs.

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“…The patterns of outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef (Moran 1987) and in Japan (Yamaguchi 1986), in which series of outbreaks occurring over hundreds of kilometers have followed the direction of predicted larval transport (Williams et al 1984), suggest that the outbreaks result from larval recruitment. The recent discovery of a population outbreak of juveniles in Fiji (Zann et al in press) confirms that at least some outbreaks arise from heavy recruitment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situ culturing as a test of the larval starvation hypothesis for the crown‐of‐thoms starfish, Acanthaster planci1

Olson

1987

Limnology & Oceanography

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In situ culturing as a test of the larval starvation hypothesis for the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster pland AbstractAs a test of the hypothesis that larvae of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acunthaster planci, are sevcrcly food limited, larvae were reared in situ in natural seawater and in natural seawater enriched with cultured phytoplankton. Although phytoplankton levels remained below the minimum threshold needed to support A. planci larval development in the laboratory (0.4 pg Chl a liter-l), there was no evidence of starvation. Larvae began settling at 14 d after fertilization, which is 2 d sooner than the shortest time to settlement reported for A. planci from laboratory rearing. Enrichment of diet rest&cd in no significant difference in survivorship (compared to larvae feeding only on natural seawater) and only a slight difference in development rate. These data, along with other indirect evidence suggest that A. planci larvae develop at near-maximal rates under normal conditions (i.e. in the absence of phytoplankton blooms) and that fluctuations in larval food resources may be of little importance in explaining interannual variation in their larval recruitment.

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Transport mechanisms and the potential movement of planktonic larvae in the central region of the Great Barrier Reef

Cited by 153 publications

References 30 publications

EVIDENCE FOR RESTRICTED GENE FLOW IN THE VIVIPAROUS CORALSERIATOPORA HYSTRIX ONAUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF

EVIDENCE FOR RESTRICTED GENE FLOW IN THE VIVIPAROUS CORALSERIATOPORA HYSTRIX ONAUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF

Patterns in the distribution of macrofaunal communities in coral reef sediments on the central Great Barrier Reef

In situ culturing as a test of the larval starvation hypothesis for the crown‐of‐thoms starfish, Acanthaster planci1

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