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Patterns of connectivity among populations of a coral reef fish

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Abstract

Knowledge of the patterns and scale of connectivity among populations is essential for the effective management of species, but our understanding is still poor for marine species. We used otolith microchemistry of newly settled bicolor damselfish (Stegastes partitus) in the Mesoamerican Reef System (MRS), Western Caribbean, to investigate patterns of connectivity among populations over 2 years. First, we assessed spatial and temporal variability in trace elemental concentrations from the otolith edge to make a ‘chemical map’ of potential source reef(s) in the region. Significant otolith chemical differences were detected at three spatial scales (within-atoll, between-atolls, and region-wide), such that individuals were classified to locations with moderate (52 % jackknife classification) to high (99 %) accuracy. Most sites at Turneffe Atoll, Belize showed significant temporal variability in otolith concentrations on the scale of 1–2 months. Using a maximum likelihood approach, we estimated the natal source of larvae recruiting to reefs across the MRS by comparing ‘natal’ chemical signatures from the otolith of recruits to the ‘chemical map’ of potential source reef(s). Our results indicated that populations at both Turneffe Atoll and Banco Chinchorro supply a substantial amount of individuals to their own reefs (i.e., self-recruitment) and thus emphasize that marine conservation and management in the MRS region would benefit from localized management efforts as well as international cooperation.

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Notes

  1. Reference to trade names does not imply endorsement by the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA.

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Acknowledgments

We thank P. Sale, J. Samhouri, N. Tolimieri, R. Zabel, and three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. Special thanks to P. Usseglio, C. Mora, C. Nolan, J.P. Kritzer, B. Fryer, J. Gagnon, T. Rodriguez, E. Garcia, and the staff at University of Belize, Institute of Marine Studies, Calabash, for field collections and logistical support. This study was supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Collaborative Research Opportunity (Grant # 227965) awarded to P. Sale, an Ontario Graduate Scholarship awarded to P. Chittaro, and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship for Science and Technology awarded to J.D. Hogan.

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  1. Fish Ecology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E., Seattle, WA, 98112, USA

    P. M. Chittaro

  2. Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX, USA

    J. D. Hogan

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  1. P. M. Chittaro
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Chittaro, P.M., Hogan, J.D. Patterns of connectivity among populations of a coral reef fish. Coral Reefs 32, 341–354 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-012-0990-0

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