Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pelagic larval duration and population connectivity in New Zealand triplefin fishes (Tripterygiidae)

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The relationship between pelagic larval duration (PLD) and population connectivity in marine fishes has been controversial, but most studies to date have focused on tropical taxa. Here, we examine PLD in 11 species of triplefin fishes from a temperate environment in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, to describe daily increment patterns and settlement marks in the otoliths. The formation of daily increments was validated using larvae of known age and tetracycline marking of settled juveniles. Settlement mark identity was verified by comparing total increment counts from otoliths of recently settled fishes with PLD counts from post-settlement fishes. A similar pattern of three groups of increments across the otolith was found in all specimens examined. The settlement mark was similar in all species and occurred as a sharp drop in increment width within the area of transition in optical density. PLD was lengthy, compared to species of triplefins from elsewhere, and ranged between 54.4 ± 1.7 SE days in Bellapiscis lesleyae to 86.4 ± 2.6 SE days in Forsterygion malcolmi. Variation in PLD within species was high but did not mask interspecific differences. PLD was not phylogenetically constrained, as sister species differed significantly in PLD. PLD was compared with genetic population connectivity for eight of the study species using mitochondrial gene flow data from Hickey, Lavery, Hannan, Baker, Clements. Mol Ecol 18:680–696 (2009). The observed lack of correlation between PLD and gene flow suggests that dispersal is limited by other factors, such as larval behaviour and the availability of settlement habitat.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldanondo N, Cotano U, Etxebeste E, Irigoien X, Álvarez P, Martínez de Murguía A, Herrero DL (2008) Validation of daily increments deposition in the otoliths of European anchovy larvae (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) reared under different temperature conditions. Fish Res 93:257–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Almany GR, Berumen ML, Thorrold SR, Planes S, Jones GP (2007) Local replenishment of coral reef fish population in a marine reserve. Science 316:742–744

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ammann AJ (2004) SMURFs: standard monitoring units for the recruitment of temperate reef fishes. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 299:135–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atema J, Kingsford MJ, Gerlach G (2002) Larval reef fish could use odour for detection, retention and orientation to reefs. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 241:151–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bay LK, Crozier RH, Caley MJ (2006) The relationship between population genetic structure and pelagic larval duration in coral reef fishes on the Great Barrier Reef. Mar Biol 149:1247–1256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen BW, Bass AL, Muss A, Carlin J, Robertson DR (2006) Phylogeography of two Atlantic squirrelfishes (Family Holocentridae): exploring links between pelagic larval duration and population connectivity. Mar Biol 149:899–913

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradbury IR, Laurel B, Snelgrove PVR, Bentzen P, Campana SE (2008) Global patterns in marine dispersal estimates: the influence of geography, taxonomic category and life history. Proc R Soc B 275:1803–1809

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brogan MW (1994) Distribution and retention of larval fishes near reefs in the Gulf of California. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 115:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brothers EB, Williams DA, Sale PF (1983) Length of larval life in 12 families of fishes at “one tree lagoon”, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Mar Biol 76:319–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campana SE (1992) Measurement and interpretation of the microstructure of fish otoliths. In: Stevenson DK, Campana SE (eds) Otoliths microstructure examination and analysis. Can Spec Publ Fish Aquat Sci 117: 59–71

  • Carreras-Carbonell J, Macpherson E, Pascual M (2006) Population structure within and between subspecies of the Mediterranean triplefin fish Tripterygion delaisi revealed by highly polymorphic microsattelite loci. Mol Ecol 15:3527–3539

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choat JH (2006) Phylogeography and reef fishes: bringing ecology back into the argument. J Biogeogr 33:967–968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark DL, Leis JM, Hay AC, Trnski T (2005) Swimming ontogeny of larvae of four temperate marine fishes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 292:287–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connell SD, Jones GP (1991) The influence of habitat complexity on postrecruitment processes in a temperate reef fish population. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 151:271–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cowen RK, Sponaugle S (2009) Larval dispersal and marine population connectivity. Annu Rev Mater Sci 1:443–466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doherty PJ, Planes S, Mather P (1995) Gene flow and larval duration in seven species of fish from the Great Barrier Reef. Ecology 76:2373–2391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Døving KB, Stabell OB, Östlund-nillson S, Fisher R (2006) Site fidelity and homing in tropical coral reef cardinalfish: are they using olfactory cues? Chem Senses 31:265–272

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Excoffier L, Smouse PE, Quattro JM (1992) Analysis of molecular variance inferred from metric distances among DNA haplotypes: application to human mitochondrial DNA restriction data. Genetics 131:479–491

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feary DA, Clements KD (2006) Habitat use by triplefin species (Tripterygiidae) on rocky reefs in New Zealand. J Fish Biol 69:1031–1046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feary DA, Wellenreuther M, Clements KD (2009) Trophic ecology of New Zealand triplefin fishes (Family Tripterygiidae). Mar Biol 156:1703–1714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher R (2005) Swimming speeds of larval coral reef fishes: impacts on self-recruitment and dispersal. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 285:223–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler AJ (1989) Description, interpretation and use of the microstructure of otoliths from juvenile butterflyfishes (Family Chaetodontidae). Mar Biol 102:167–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis MP (2001) Coastal fishes of New Zealand: an identification guide, 3rd edn. Reed Books, Auckland

    Google Scholar 

  • Fricke R (1994) Tripterygiid fishes of Australia, New Zealand and the southwest Pacific Ocean (Teleostei). Koeltz Scientific, Konigstein

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuiman LA (2002) Special considerations of fish eggs and larvae. In: Fuiman LA, Werner RG (eds) Fishery science: the contributions of early life stages. Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp 1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Galarza JA, Carreras-Carbonell J, Macpherson E, Pascual M, Roques S, Turner GF, Rico C (2009) The influence of oceanographic fronts and early-life-history traits on connectivity among littoral fish species. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:1473–1478

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Geffen AJ (1992) Validation of otolith increment deposition rate. In: Stevenson DK, Campana SE (eds) Otolith microstructure examination and analysis. Can Spec Publ Fish Aquat Sci 117: 101–113

  • Gerlach G, Atema J, Kingsford MJ, Black KP, Miller-Sims V (2007) Smelling home can prevent dispersal of reef fish larvae. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:858–863

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giovannotti M, La Mesa M, Caputo V (2009) Life style and genetic variation in teleosts: the case of pelagic (Aphia minuta) and benthic (Gobius niger) gobies (Perciformes: Gobiidae). Mar Biol 156:239–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths SP (2000) The use of clove oil as an anaesthetic and method for sampling intertidal rockpool fishes. J Fish Biol 57:1453–1464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hardy GS (1987) Descriptions of a new genus and two new species of tripterygiid fishes from New Zealand. Natl Mus NZ Rec 3:47–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Helfman GS, Collete BB, Facey DE, Bowen BW (2009) The diversity of fishes. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernaman V, Munday PL, Schläppy ML (2000) Validation of otolith growth-increment periodicity in tropical gobies. Mar Biol 137:715–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hickey AJR, Clements KD (2003) Key metabolic enzymes and muscle structure in triplefin fishes (Tripterygiidae): a phylogenetic comparison. J Comp Physiol B 173:113–123

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hickey AJR, Lavery SD, Eyton SR, Clements KD (2004) Verifying invasive marine fish species using molecular techniques: a model example using triplefin fishes (family Tripterygiidae). NZ J Mar Freshw Res 38:439–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hickey AJR, Lavery SD, Hannan DA, Baker S, Clements KD (2009) New Zealand triplefin fishes (Family Tripterygiidae): contrasting population structure and mtDNA diversity within a marine species flock. Mol Ecol 18:680–696

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hickford MJH, Schiel DR (2003) Comparative dispersal of larvae from demersal versus pelagic spawning fishes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 252:255–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilton Z, Wellenreuther M, Clements KD (2008) Physiology underpins habitat partitioning in a sympatric sister-species pair of intertidal fishes. Funct Ecol 22:1108–1117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins GP, May HM (1994) Variations in settlement and larval duration of King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctata (Sillanginidae), in Swan Bay, Victoria, Australia. Bull Mar Sci 54:281–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Job SD, Bellwood DR (2000) Light sensitivity in larval fishes: implications for vertical zonation in the pelagic zone. Limnol Oceanogr 45:362–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kingsford MJ (1992) Drift algae and small fish in coastal waters of northeastern New Zealand. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 80:41–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kingsford MJ, Choat JH (1989) Horizontal distribution patterns of presettlement reef fish: are they influenced by the proximity of reefs? Mar Biol 101:285–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leis JM, Carson-Ewart BM (1997) Swimming speeds of the late larvae of some coral reef fishes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 159:165–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leis JM, Hay AC, Howarth GJ (2009) Ontogeny of in situ behaviours relevant to dispersal and population connectivity in larvae of coral-reef fishes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 379:163–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leis JM, Hay AC, Trnski T (2006) In situ ontogeny of behaviour in pelagic larvae of three temperate marine, demersal fishes. Mar Biol 148:655–669

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Longenecker K, Langston R (2005) Life history of the Hawaiian blackhead triplefin, Enneapterygius atriceps (Blennioidei, Tripterygiidae). Environ Biol Fish 73:243–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López-Sanz À, Vert N, Zabala M, Sabatés A (2009) Small-scale distribution of fish larvae around the Medes Islands marine protected area (NW Mediterranean). J Plankton Res 31:763–775

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macpherson E, Raventos N (2006) Relationship between pelagic larval duration and geographic distribution of Mediterranean littoral fishes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 327:257–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCormick MI (1999) Delayed metamorphosis of a tropical reef fish (Acanthurus triostegus): a field experiment. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 176:25–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDermott CJ, Shima JS (2006) Ontogenetic shifts in microhabitat preference of the temperate reef fish Forsterygion lapillum: implications for population limitation. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 320:259–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLay CL (1976) An inventory of the status and origin of New Zealand estuarine systems. Proc NZ Ecol Soc 23:8–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Morales-Nin B (2000) Review of the growth regulation processes of otolith daily increment formation. Fish Res 46:53–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson JS (2006) Fishes of the world, 4th edn. John Wiley and Sons, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor MI, Bruno JF, Gaines SD, Halpern BS, Lester SE, Kinlan BP, Weiss JM (2007) Temperature control of larval dispersal and the implications for marine ecology, evolution, and conservation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:1266–1271

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patzner RA, Hastings PA, Springer VG, Wirtz P, Gonçalves EJ (2009) List of valid species of blennies. In: Patzner RA, Gonçalves EJ, Hastings PA, Kapoor BG (eds) The biology of blennies. Science Publishers, Enfield, pp 443–473

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Paulin CD, Roberts C (1992) The rockpool fishes of New Zealand. Museum of New Zealand, Wellington

    Google Scholar 

  • Pineda J, Hare JA, Sponaugle S (2007) Larval transport and dispersal in the coastal ocean and consequences for population connectivity. Oceanography 20:22–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Purcell JFH, Cowen RK, Huges CR, Williams DA (2006) Weak genetic structure indicates strong dispersal limits: a tale of two coral reef fish. Proc R Soc Lond B 272:1483–1490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raventós N, Macpherson E (2001) Planktonic larval duration and settlement marks on the otoliths of Mediterranean littoral fishes. Mar Biol 138:1115–1120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riginos C, Victor BC (2001) Larval spatial distributions and other early life-history characteristics predict genetic differentiation in eastern Pacific blennioid fishes. Proc R Soc Lond B 268:1931–1936

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rocha LA, Robertson DR, Roman J, Bowen BW (2005) Ecological speciation in tropical reef fishes. Proc R Soc Lond B 272:573–579

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell BC (1983) The food and feeding habits of rocky reef fish of north-eastern New Zealand. NZ J Mar Freshw Res 17:121–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sabatés A, Zabala M, García-Rubies A (2003) Larval fish communities in the Medes Islands Marine reserve (North-west Mediterranean). J Plankton Res 25:1035–1046

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shima JS, Swearer SE (2009) Larval quality is shaped by matrix effects: implications for connectivity in a marine metapopulation. Ecology 90:1255–1267

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slatkin M (1993) Isolation by distance in equilibrium and nonequilibrium populations. Evolution 47:264–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subedar K (2009) Homing in two New Zealand triplefins. Unpublished MSc thesis, University of Auckland

  • Syms C (1995) Multi-scale analysis of habitat association in a guild of blennioid fishes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 125:31–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson SM (1979) Ecological and behavioural factors influencing the distribution and abundance patterns of tripterygiid fishes with particular reference to Tripterygion varium. Unpublished MSc thesis, University of Auckland

  • Tolimieri N, Jeffs A, Montgomery JC (2000) Ambient sound as a cue for navigation by the pelagic larvae of reef fishes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 207:219–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tricklebank KA, Jacoby CA, Montgomery JC (1992) Composition, distribution and abundance of neustonic ichthyoplankton off Northeastern New Zealand. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 34:263–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallès H, Kramer DL, Hunte W (2008) Temporal and spatial patterns in the recruitment of coral-reef fishes in Barbados. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 363:257–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Victor BC (1986a) Duration of the planktonic larval stage of 100 species of Pacific and Atlantic wrasses (Family Labridae). Mar Biol 90:317–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Victor BC (1986b) Delayed metamorphosis with reduced larval growth in a coral reef fish Thalassoma bifasciatum. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 43:1208–1213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Victor BC, Wellington GM (2000) Endemism and the pelagic larval duration of reef fishes in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 205:241–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker SPW, McCormick MI (2004) Otolith-check formation and accelerated growth associated with sex change in an annual protogynous tropical fish. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 266:201–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellenreuther M, Barrett PT, Clements KD (2007) Ecological diversification in habitat use by subtidal triplefin fishes (Tripterygiidae). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 330:235–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellenreuther M, Barrett PT, Clements KD (2009) The evolution of habitat specialisation in a group of marine triplefin species. Evol Ecol 23:557–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellenreuther M, Clements KD (2007) Reproductive isolation in temperate reef fishes. Mar Biol 152:619–630

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellenreuther M, Syms C, Clements KD (2008) Consistent spatial pattern across biogeographic gradients in temperate reef fishes. Ecography 31:84–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wellington GM, Victor BC (1989) Planktonic larval duration of 100 species of Pacific and Atlantic damselfishes (Pomacentridae). Mar Biol 101:557–567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willis TJ, Roberts CD (1996) Recolonisation and recruitment of fishes to intertidal rockpools at Wellington, New Zealand. Environ Biol Fish 47:329–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson DT, McCormick MI (1997) Spatial and temporal validation of settlement-marks in the otoliths of tropical reef fishes. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 153:259–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson DT, McCormick MI (1999) Microstructure of settlement-marks in the otoliths of tropical reef fishes. Mar Biol 134:29–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank B. Doak for skippering the RV ‘Hawere’, Z. Hilton, S. van Dijken, L. Clements and E. Newcombe for assisting with sample collection, E. Laman-Trip, J. Choat, M. McCormick, and M. Meekan for their advice on otolith analysis and settlement marks, J. Murray and two anonymous referees for commenting on the manuscript, T. Hickey for his advice on population connectivity in New Zealand triplefins, M. Wellenreuther for her comments regarding New Zealand triplefins. This work was made possible with financial support from a Marsden Grant of the Royal Society of New Zealand to KDC.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Yair Y. Kohn

    Present address: Zoology Department, The University of Otago, 340 Great King St., 9016, Otago, New Zealand

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag, 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

    Yair Y. Kohn & Kendall D. Clements

Authors
  1. Yair Y. Kohn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kendall D. Clements
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yair Y. Kohn.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kohn, Y.Y., Clements, K.D. Pelagic larval duration and population connectivity in New Zealand triplefin fishes (Tripterygiidae). Environ Biol Fish 91, 275–286 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9777-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9777-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation