Journal Article

Geographic coupling of juvenile and adult habitat shapes spatial population dynamics of a coral reef fish

Jongejans, Eelke, Nagelkerken, Ivan, Debrot, Adolphe O, Huijbers, Chantal M

2013

Overview

Marine spatial population dynamics are often addressed with a focus on larval dispersal, without taking into account movement behavior of individuals in later life stages. Processes occurring during demersal life stages may also drive spatial population dynamics if habitat quality is perceived differently by animals belonging to different life stages. In this study, we used a dual approach to understand how stage‐structured habitat use and dispersal ability of adults shape the population of a marine fish species. Our study area and focal species provided us with the unique opportunity to study a closed island population. A spatial simulation model was used to estimate dispersal distances along a coral reef that surrounds the island, while contributions of different nursery bays were determined based on otolith stable isotope signatures of adult reef fish. The model showed that adult dispersal away from reef areas near nursery bays is limited. The results further show that different bays contributed unequally to the adult population on the coral reef, with productivity of juveniles in bay nursery habitat determining the degree of mixing among local populations on the reef and with one highly productive area contributing most to the island's reef fish population. The contribution of the coral reef as a nursery habitat was minimal, even though it had a much larger surface area. These findings indicate that the geographic distribution of nursery areas and their productivity are important drivers for the spatial distribution patterns of adults on coral reefs. We suggest that limited dispersal of adults on reefs can lead to a source–sink structure in the adult stage, where reefs close to nurseries replenish more isolated reef areas. Understanding these spatial population dynamics of the demersal phase of marine animals is of major importance for the design and placement of marine reserves, as nursery areas contribute differently to maintain adult populations.

• Publisher: Ecological Society of America,ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
• Subject: Adults / Aging - physiology / Agnatha. Pisces / Animal and plant ecology / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / Animals / Aquatic habitats / Bays / Biological and medical sciences / Brackish / chemistry / connectivity / Coral Reefs / Curaçao / Demography / Dispersal / Dispersion / Distribution patterns / Dynamics / Environmental quality / estuarine / Fish / Fish populations / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / General aspects / Geographical distribution / habitat preferences / Habitat utilization / Habitats / Juveniles / larvae / larval dispersal / life-history / Local population / mangroves / Marine / Marine animals / Marine ecology / Marine fish / Marine fishes / Marine organisms / marine reserves / menidia-menidia / mixing / Models, Biological / Nurseries / Ocyurus chrysurus / otolith chemistry / Otolith organs / Otolithic Membrane / otoliths / Perciformes - growth & development / Perciformes - physiology / Population / population connectivity / Population dynamics / Population studies / Populations / Productivity / Reef fish / Reefs / sea grass / Sea water ecosystems / seagrass beds / Simulation / simulation models / Simulations / source contribution / Spatial distribution / spatial simulation model / Stable isotopes / surface area / Synecology / Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution / Wildlife habitats / yellowtail snapper / Young animals