Tracing the larvae of marine organisms from where they were born to their ultimate destination has been regarded as one of the greatest challenges in ocean science. Managers of marine reserves areas have eagerly sought this information to help determine the optimal size and spacing of marine reserves; well-planned reserves should help ensure that protected populations can sustain themselves as well as provide a source of larvae to maintain exploited populations in areas open to fishing. In a new study, researchers have managed to uncover the patterns of local dispersion for a small coral reef fish species by employing a combination of inventive tracking techniques. In addition to providing ecological information about one particular fish species, the work suggests ways that the ecology of other fish can be studied and applied to strategies for the maintenance of stable populations.

Most marine fishes start their lives as tiny larvae, smaller than a millimeter, and any thought of tagging them to track their movements was once considered impossible. However, researchers Geoff Jones from James Cook University (Australia), Serge Planes from the University of Perpignan (France), and Simon Thorrold from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute have overcome this problem with a novel application of DNA paternity analysis, in combination with a means of marking larvae with the antibiotic tetracycline. They show that for the panda clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus), a significant proportion of larvae ultimately move less than a few hundred meters away from their parents. In fact, the researchers found that one third of juveniles settled within a so-called "natal area" covering just two hectares (less than five acres). Although the other two-thirds of the fish have yet to be traced, they appear to have travelled in excess of 10 km (6.2 mi) away from their birth site. The study also shows that although no individuals returned to their parents, a few made their home less than 50
'"/>

Contact: Heidi Hardman
hhardman@cell.com
1-617-397-2879
Cell Press
25-Jul-2005

Page: 1 2
Related biology news :

1. Corals -- More complex than you?
2. Corals that can fight global warming may one day help fragile reefs
3. Geological Approaches to Coral Reef Ecology
4. Coral stress like never in history
5. Coral reef conservation by means of the global network of Marine Protected Areas
6. Corals switch skeleton material as seawater changes
7. Coral death results from bacteria fed by algae
8. Coral reef resilience: Better feeders survive bleaching
9. On the track of tiny larvae, a new model elucidates connections in marine ecology
10. Marshes tell story of medieval drought, little ice age, and European settlers near NYC
11. New textbook illuminates the close links between evolutionary and molecular biology