Supporting data file - larval traits from Dispersal and population connectivity are phenotype dependent in a marine metapopulation.

Larval dispersal is a key process determining population connectivity, metapopulation dynamics, and community structure in benthic marine ecosystems, yet the biophysical complexity of dispersal is not well understood. In this study, we investigate the interaction between disperser phenotype and hydrodynamics on larval dispersal pathways, using a temperate reef fish species, Trachinops caudimaculatus. We assessed the influence of larval traits on depth distribution and dispersal outcomes by: (i) using 24-h depth-stratified ichthyoplankton sampling, (ii) quantifying individual phenotypes using larval growth histories extracted from the sagittal otoliths of individual larvae, and (iii) simulating potential dispersal outcomes based on the empirical distribution of larval phenotypes and an advanced biological-physical ocean model. We found T. caudimaculatus larvae were vertically stratified with respect to phenotype, with high-quality phenotypes found in the bottom two depth strata, and poor-quality phenotypes found primarily at the surface. Our model showed high- and average-quality larvae experienced significantly higher local retention (more than double) and self-recruitment, and travelled shorter distances relative to poor-quality larvae. As populations are only connected when dispersers survive long enough to reproduce, determining how larval phenotype influences dispersal outcomes will be important for improving our understanding of marine population connectivity and persistence.幼体扩散（Larval dispersal）是决定底栖海洋生态系统（benthic marine ecosystems）中种群连通性（population connectivity）、集合种群动态（metapopulation dynamics）与群落结构的关键过程，但目前学界对该扩散过程的生物物理复杂性（biophysical complexity）仍缺乏充分认知。本研究以温带礁鲈物种Trachinops caudimaculatus为研究对象，探究扩散者表型（phenotype）与水动力（hydrodynamics）对幼体扩散路径的交互影响。本研究通过以下方式评估幼体性状对其深度分布与扩散结局的影响：(i) 开展24小时分层鱼卵仔鱼采样（depth-stratified ichthyoplankton sampling）；(ii) 基于单尾幼体的矢耳石（sagittal otoliths）提取的幼体生长史（growth histories）量化个体表型；(iii) 结合幼体表型的实测分布与先进的生物物理海洋模式（biological-physical ocean model）模拟潜在扩散结局。本研究发现，T. caudimaculatus幼体的表型呈现垂直分层特征：优质表型幼体主要分布于下方两个水层，劣质表型幼体则集中于表层。模式模拟结果显示，优质与中等质量的幼体具有显著更高的本地滞留（local retention）率（为劣质幼体的两倍以上）与自我补充（self-recruitment）率，且相较于劣质幼体，其迁移距离更短。由于仅当扩散个体存活至足够时长以完成繁殖时，种群间才能实现连通，因此明确幼体表型如何影响扩散结局，对于增进我们对海洋种群连通性与种群存续的理解具有重要意义。