Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Decadal analysis of larval connectivity from Cuban snapper (Lutjanidae) spawning aggregations based on biophysical modeling

2016; Inter-Research; Volume: 550; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps11714

1616-1599

Andrew S. Kough, Rodolfo Claro, Kenyon C. Lindeman, CB Paris,

Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 550:175-190 (2016) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11714 Decadal analysis of larval connectivity from Cuban snapper (Lutjanidae) spawning aggregations based on biophysical modeling Andrew S. Kough1,2, Rodolfo Claro3, Kenyon C. Lindeman4, Claire B. Paris1,* 1Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Ocean Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA 2Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL 60605, USA 3Instituto de Oceanología, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, Habana 11200, Cuba 4Florida Institute of Technology, Department of Education and Interdisciplinary Studies, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA *Corresponding author: cparis@rsmas.miami.edu ABSTRACT: Variability in environmental conditions and ocean currents can influence population connectivity and the exchange of larvae among locations. This is especially true for species that spawn in aggregations during a limited temporal window, such as many of the commercially and ecologically valuable species of snapper (Lutjanidae) in Cuba. Biophysical modeling has been used for over a decade to describe the pelagic pathways, sources, and sinks of lutjanid larvae. Here, we build on earlier studies by incorporating more advanced modeling techniques, higher resolution oceanography, and an expanded temporal scope using circulation from 2004 to 2013. Our goal was to revisit the relative linkages of Cuban snapper larvae among regions of the Cuban shelf and neighboring countries by investigating their interannual variability and spatial patterns. Biophysical simulations suggest the majority of larvae produced from snapper spawning aggregations are retained on-island, often within the region where they were spawned, with the exception of an aggregation in northwest Cuba. We used multinomial logistic regression to identify consistency in patterns of simulated biophysical larval transport, and to determine the number of years of simulation required to approximate connectivity. The best fit model correctly identified major connections from each spawning location to greater Caribbean destinations for each species. However, connections at smaller spatial scales were less predictable, and variance increased if fewer years of larval transport were considered. While the magnitude of settlement varies annually, the spatial arrangement of connectivity is relatively consistent such that modeled pathways from spawning aggregations can effectively inform connectivity planning, such as the placement of spawning reserves. KEY WORDS: Lutjanidae · Snapper · Larval dispersal · Connectivity · Cuba · Biophysical modeling · Spawning aggregation Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Kough AS, Claro R, Lindeman KC, Paris CB (2016) Decadal analysis of larval connectivity from Cuban snapper (Lutjanidae) spawning aggregations based on biophysical modeling. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 550:175-190. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11714 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 550. Online publication date: May 25, 2016 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2016 Inter-Research.