The Influence of Presettlement Habitat Preference and Behavior on Settlement Patterns of Benthic Reef Fish

招聘的空间和时间模式可以强烈地 也影响了动物的数量和分布 作为生活史演化的特征。 大多数的大部分 底栖和底层鱼类到达珊瑚礁， 游泳和感官能力，因此， 有可能通过以下方式对征聘模式产生重大影响： 控制他们何时何地定居 这项研究将 实验研究幼虫行为在 确定底栖鱼类的定居模式， 牡蛎礁。 选择裸虾虎鱼是因为它的幼虫 在定居之前，要经历底层教育阶段。 幼虫 这种物种的数量非常丰富， 观察 帕尔默博士和合作者将重点关注两个方面， 幼虫行为（1）幼虫行为如何影响沉降前 分布和扩散模式反过来又影响空间分布， 定居的模式。 这两个过程是非常 对最终的招募模式很重要，因为他们 可以确定哪些其他物种影响幼虫的存活， 运动，新兵的空间分布， 定居后的扩散和密度依赖的重要性 交互.

Spatial and temporal patterns of recruitment can strongly influence both the abundance and distribution of animals, as well as the evolution of life history characteristics. Larvae of most benthic and demersal fishes arrive on reefs with well-developed swimming and sensory capabilities and therefore, have the potential to strongly influence the pattern of recruitment by controlling where and when they settle. This research will experimentally examine the role of larval behavior in determining the pattern of settlement of a benthic fish common to oyster reefs. The naked goby was chosen because its larvae undergo a demersal schooling phase prior to settlement. Larvae of this species are extremely abundant and can be easily observed. Dr. Palmer and collaborators will focus on two aspects of larval behavior (1) how larval behavior influences pre-settlement distribution and dispersion patterns, in turn, influence spatial patterns of settlement. These two processes are extremely important to the ultimate patterns of recruitment because they can determine which other species influence larval survival and movement, the spatial distribution of recruits, the need for post-settlement dispersal and the importance of density-dependent interactions.