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

招募的时空格局对动物的丰度和分布以及生活史特征的演变具有重要影响。大多数底栖和底栖鱼类的幼虫到达珊瑚礁时，具有发达的游泳和感觉能力，因此，通过控制它们定居的地点和时间，有可能强烈影响招募模式。本研究将通过实验研究幼虫行为在决定牡蛎礁中常见的底栖鱼类定居模式中的作用。之所以选择裸虾虎鱼，是因为它的幼虫在定居之前要经历一个海底的游动阶段。这种鱼的幼虫数量非常多，很容易观察到。帕尔默博士和合作者将重点关注幼虫行为的两个方面：(1)幼虫行为如何影响定居前的分布和分散模式，进而影响定居的空间模式。这两个过程对最终的招募模式极其重要，因为它们可以确定哪些其他物种影响幼虫的生存和运动，招募的空间分布，定居后分散的需要以及密度依赖相互作用的重要性。

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.