Adaptive variation for reef resilience

Larval biophysical dispersal modelling was used to estimate levels of natural connectivity in warm-adapted northern corals and investigate if barriers for larval dispersal exist between the warmer northern GBR and the cooler central and southern regions. These models were run using:    single larval release site    multiple reefs with similar biophysical parametersBiophysical larval dispersal models were run in Connie2 using the Great Barrier Reef larval connectivity model at 1 m depth (version date range: 02/11/2008–30/03/2009).Larval connectivity was modelled during peak spawning times (both days and month), with simulated larvae released from November 15 19:00 to November 15 20:50, 2008 over 25 replicate runs originating from Tijou Reef. Larval dispersal time was set at 96 days.For multiple release sites, 10 reefs were selected that had similar biophysical characteristics using the eReefs Hydrodynamic models (for a total of 15 release sites). An additional site was selected at Wilkie Reef, along with three reefs identified as robust sources of larvae in the Far North (Hock 1, 2 & 3).See Quigley et al. (2019) for more details.

本研究采用幼虫生物物理扩散模型，估算适应暖水环境的北部珊瑚的自然连通性水平，并探究温暖化的北部大堡礁（Great Barrier Reef，GBR）与较凉爽的中部及南部区域之间是否存在幼虫扩散障碍。本研究通过两类设置运行该模型：一是单一幼虫释放位点；二是具备相似生物物理参数的多礁体组合。
生物物理幼虫扩散模型基于大堡礁幼虫连通性模型，在Connie2平台中以1米水深条件运行，版本日期范围为2008年11月2日至2009年3月30日。
幼虫连通性的模拟时段选取产卵高峰期（涵盖单日及整月尺度），模拟幼虫于2008年11月15日19:00至20:50间释放，从蒂茹礁（Tijou Reef）出发开展25次重复模拟运行，幼虫扩散时长设定为96天。
针对多释放位点设置，研究借助eReefs水动力模型筛选出10个具备相似生物物理特征的礁体，最终合计确定15个幼虫释放位点。额外选取威尔基礁（Wilkie Reef）作为1个释放位点，另选取远北区被鉴定为稳定可靠幼虫源的3处礁体（Hock 1、2及3）。
更多细节可参见Quigley等人（2019）的相关研究。