Environmental Biology of Fishes

, Volume 34, Issue 2, pp 109–118 | Cite as

A key phase in the recruitment dynamics of coral reef fishes: post-settlement transition

  • Les Kaufman
  • John Ebersole
  • Jim Beets
  • Carole C. McIvor
Article
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Synopsis

Recent studies of recruitment dynamics in demersal fishes have placed major emphasis on presettlement mortality, and little on events bridging late larval and early juvenile periods. Observations on 68 taxa of Caribbean coral reef fishes before and during settlement revealed the existence of a distinct post-settlement life phase called the transition juvenile, associated with the act of recruitment. Transition juveniles were found as solitary individuals, in conspecific groups, or in heterospecific groups. The groups were either uniform or heterogenous in appearance. The complexity of the transition phase and its apparently widespread occurrence in coral reef fishes suggests that important aspects of population structure may be determined between settlement and first appearance as a full-fledged juvenile.

Key words

Transition juvenile Settlement Caribbean Larvae Juvenile period 
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1992

Authors and Affiliations

  • Les Kaufman
    • 1
  • John Ebersole
    • 2
  • Jim Beets
    • 3
  • Carole C. McIvor
    • 4
  1. 1.New England Aquarium, Central WharfBostonU.S.A.
  2. 2.University of MassachusettsBostonU.S.A.
  3. 3.Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, United States Virgin IslandsSt. ThomasU.S.A.
  4. 4.Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitInstitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of FloridaGainesvilleU.S.A.

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