Data from: Reconstruction of larval origins based on genetic relatedness and biophysical modeling

The assessment of the mechanisms and patterns of larval connectivity between geographically separated populations leads to a better understanding of benthic marine population dynamics, especially in commercially valuable species. This study investigated for the first time the fine-scale temporal genetic variability of new settlers and their origins in a benthic marine organism with one of the longest pelagic larval phases, the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus). We genotyped newly settled postlarvae in the Florida Keys and adults of spiny lobster from the Florida Keys and throughout the Caribbean Sea. We identified strong larval connectivity between Dominican Republic, Belize, Nicaragua, the Florida Keys, and West-Florida. The larval dispersal modeling suggests that Florida's lobster population could receive recruits from within and from other areas outside its state and national maritime boundaries. The genetic analyses refine the oceanographic model indicating that the connectivity patterns described could also result from unknown parental populations sourcing adults and postlarvae in different spawning seasons to the Florida Keys. We discuss the importance of small temporal scales to identify patterns in larval export. Our findings are significant on two levels. From the larval dispersal perspective, genetic results and biophysical modeling identify patterns of gene flow enhancing persistence of local populations. From an economic and fishery perspective, P. argus is the most important commercial species in the Caribbean and our results inform how considering larval source and sink dynamics across international boundaries could improve management plans at local, national, and regional levels.

对地理隔离种群间幼体连通性的机制与模式开展评估，有助于深化对底栖海洋种群动态的认知，针对具有商业开发价值的物种而言尤为如此。本研究首次针对一种拥有超长浮游幼体阶段的底栖海洋生物——加勒比刺龙虾（Panulirus argus），对其新近定居幼体的精细时间尺度遗传变异特征及其来源展开了调查。我们对佛罗里达群岛的新近定居后幼体，以及采自佛罗里达群岛与整个加勒比海的刺龙虾成体进行了基因分型。研究明确了多米尼加共和国、伯利兹、尼加拉瓜、佛罗里达群岛与西佛罗里达之间存在显著的幼体连通性。幼体扩散模型结果显示，佛罗里达的龙虾种群不仅可接收本土幼体补充，还能从其州界与国家海洋边界之外的区域获得补充群体。遗传分析对该海洋学模型进行了优化，结果表明本次揭示的连通模式，还可能源自不同产卵季向佛罗里达群岛输送成体与后幼体的未知亲本种群。我们探讨了采用精细时间尺度识别幼体输出模式的重要意义。本研究的发现具有两方面重要价值：从幼体扩散视角来看，遗传分析结果与生物物理模型共同揭示了可增强本地种群存续能力的基因流模式；从经济与渔业视角来看，该物种是加勒比海地区最重要的商业捕捞物种，本研究结果阐明了如何通过考虑跨国界的幼体源汇动态，来优化地方、国家与区域层面的渔业管理方案。