Supporting data file - MixedMigration 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.

浮游幼体扩散是决定底栖海洋生态系统中种群连通性、集合种群动态以及群落结构的关键过程，但目前学界对扩散过程的生物物理复杂性仍缺乏充分认知。本研究以温带礁栖鱼类尾斑双线䲢（Trachinops caudimaculatus）为研究对象，探究扩散者表型与水动力过程对幼体扩散路径的交互影响。本研究通过以下三种方式评估幼体性状对其深度分布及扩散结果的影响：(i) 开展24小时分层鱼卵仔鱼（ichthyoplankton）采样；(ii) 从单尾幼体的矢耳石（sagittal otoliths）中提取幼体生长历史信息，以此量化个体表型；(iii) 基于幼体表型的实测分布数据与先进的生物物理海洋模式（biological-physical ocean model）模拟潜在扩散结果。研究发现尾斑双线䲢幼体的表型存在垂直分层现象：优质表型幼体主要分布于下层两个水层，而劣质表型幼体则集中在表层水域。模式结果显示，相较于劣质表型幼体，优质与中等质量表型幼体的本地留存率（提升超一倍）与自我补充率显著更高，且迁移距离更短。由于只有当扩散者存活足够长时间并成功繁殖时，种群间才能实现连通，因此明确幼体表型如何影响扩散结果，对于加深我们对海洋种群连通性与存续性的认知具有重要意义。