Early Life History Dynamics of Coral Reef Fishes
Summary
Early life history dynamics of coral reef fishes encompass the processes from gamete release, embryonic development and larval dispersal to settlement on the reef and subsequent recruitment into adult populations. This life cycle is governed by a complex interplay of environmental drivers—such as temperature fluctuations, hydrodynamic regimes and lunar cycles—and biological factors including larval physiology, behaviour and predation risk. Variation in growth rates, pelagic larval duration and selective mortality during transit critically shapes the timing, size and genetic composition of recruiting cohorts. Understanding these dynamics is central to predicting the resilience of reef fish populations under fishing pressure and climate change, and informs management strategies to conserve biodiversity and sustain fisheries worldwide.
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Early Life History Dynamics of Coral Reef Fishes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in early life history dynamics of coral reef fishes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Settlement: Process by which free-swimming larvae transition to and inhabit benthic reef habitats.
Recruitment: Addition of newly settled juveniles to the adult breeding population on the reef.
Back-calculation: Method of estimating past growth or age by analysing growth increments in hard tissues such as otoliths.
Mesopelagic zone: Ocean layer between approximately 200 m and 1000 m where low light levels prevail and midwater organisms dwell.
Circalunar cycle: Biological rhythms synchronized with the approximately monthly phases of the moon, often influencing spawning timing.
References
- Ageing of juvenile coral grouper (Plectropomus maculatus) reveals year-round spawning and recruitment: implications for seasonal closures. Proceedings of the Royal Society B (2023).
- Model of mesopelagic fish predation on eggs and larvae shows benefits of tuna spawning under full moon. Limnology and Oceanography (2023).
- Recruitment of coral reef fishes along a cross-shelf gradient in the Red Sea peaks outside the hottest season. Coral Reefs (2020).
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