How connected are marine populations? Comparing life histories of endemic and non-endemic reef fishes to investigate the mechanisms behind self-recruitment. Recruitment of pelagic larvae plays a fundamental role in benthic marine populations, yet the sources and destinations of recruits are unknown for nearly all marine species. Because endemic species rely on retention of locally spawned larvae, they provide a novel opportunity for investigating the mechanisms allowing self-recruitment. I prop ....How connected are marine populations? Comparing life histories of endemic and non-endemic reef fishes to investigate the mechanisms behind self-recruitment. Recruitment of pelagic larvae plays a fundamental role in benthic marine populations, yet the sources and destinations of recruits are unknown for nearly all marine species. Because endemic species rely on retention of locally spawned larvae, they provide a novel opportunity for investigating the mechanisms allowing self-recruitment. I propose to compare the life histories and microchemical signatures in larval otoliths of endemic and closely related non-endemic reef fishes to determine the mechanisms and prevalence of self-recruitment. The results will broaden our understanding of how marine populations are replenished, information critically needed for marine conservation and resource management.Read moreRead less
Living on the edge: settlement dynamics of reef fishes across their ranges. Settlement and early establishment (recruitment) are major determinants of population viability of marine organisms, and can vary greatly among oceans and latitudes. We will compare the recruitment dynamics of populations of reef fishes across their range, including at range boundaries where populations may be more vulnerable to environmental impact. We will test the hypothesis that a combination of highly erratic sett ....Living on the edge: settlement dynamics of reef fishes across their ranges. Settlement and early establishment (recruitment) are major determinants of population viability of marine organisms, and can vary greatly among oceans and latitudes. We will compare the recruitment dynamics of populations of reef fishes across their range, including at range boundaries where populations may be more vulnerable to environmental impact. We will test the hypothesis that a combination of highly erratic settlement, poor physiological condition of incoming larvae, and poor recruit growth and survivorship will occur at range boundaries. Outcomes of the study will help in prediction of the viability of fish populations which will improve their management and protection.Read moreRead less
Tracking squids from embryos to adults - novel approaches and new directions. Cutting edge acoustic tracking technology, combined with traditional tagging techniques and novel applications of trace element analysis, will allow for the life cycle of squid to be tracked through space and time - from embryonic stages through to spawning adults. Southern calamary earbones will be examined for evidence of elemental 'fingerprints' that reveal where they came from as hatchlings. This combined with trac ....Tracking squids from embryos to adults - novel approaches and new directions. Cutting edge acoustic tracking technology, combined with traditional tagging techniques and novel applications of trace element analysis, will allow for the life cycle of squid to be tracked through space and time - from embryonic stages through to spawning adults. Southern calamary earbones will be examined for evidence of elemental 'fingerprints' that reveal where they came from as hatchlings. This combined with tracking squid in Australia's biggest marine acoustic listening grid, will allow unprecedented resolution of squid life cycles. Commercial, recreational and managerial sectors are collaborating with this research to ensure sustainable management of this commercially important and ecologically crucial species.
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LARVAL RETENTION AND CONNECTIVITY IN CORAL REEF FISH POPULATIONS: A MULTI-TECHNIQUE APPROACH. A key unanswered question in marine ecology and fisheries management is - are planktonic juveniles retained within or transported among populations? The only three techniques that can potentially quantify larval dispersal distances are genetic markers, natural chemical signatures and applied chemical marks. This project combines, for the first time, all three techniques to measure the scale of disper ....LARVAL RETENTION AND CONNECTIVITY IN CORAL REEF FISH POPULATIONS: A MULTI-TECHNIQUE APPROACH. A key unanswered question in marine ecology and fisheries management is - are planktonic juveniles retained within or transported among populations? The only three techniques that can potentially quantify larval dispersal distances are genetic markers, natural chemical signatures and applied chemical marks. This project combines, for the first time, all three techniques to measure the scale of dispersal in two coral reef fish species. The relative importance of retention and connectivity will be measured, from a large scale encompassing different regions (Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea) to a small scale focussing on individual reefs.Read moreRead less