Larval Connectivity and the International Management of Fisheries

Predicting the oceanic dispersal of planktonic larvae that connect scattered marine animal populations is difficult, yet crucial for management of species whose movements transcend international boundaries. Using multi-scale biophysical modeling techniques coupled with empirical estimates of larval behavior and gamete production, we predict and empirically verify spatio-temporal patterns of larval supply and describe the Caribbean-wide pattern of larval connectivity for the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), an iconic coral reef species whose commercial value approaches $1 billion USD annually. Our results provide long sought information needed for international cooperation in the management of marine resources by identifying lobster larval connectivity and dispersal pathways throughout the Caribbean. Moreover, we outline how large-scale fishery management could explicitly recognize metapopulation structure by considering larval transport dynamics and pelagic larval sanctuaries.

预测连接分散海洋动物种群的浮游幼体的海洋扩散过程极具挑战性，但对于管理活动范围跨越国界的物种而言至关重要。本研究采用多尺度生物物理建模（multi-scale biophysical modeling）技术，结合幼体行为与配子生成的经验估算值，对幼体补给的时空格局进行预测并实证验证，同时描述了加勒比刺龙虾（Panulirus argus）——一种标志性珊瑚礁物种，其年商业价值接近10亿美元——的整个加勒比海区域幼体连通模式。本研究通过识别整个加勒比海海域内龙虾幼体的连通路径与扩散通路，为海洋资源管理的国际合作提供了长期以来亟需的关键信息。此外，本研究还阐明了大型渔业管理可通过考量幼体运输动态与浮游幼体庇护所，明确认可集合种群（metapopulation）结构的可行路径。