DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Testing Alternative Hypotheses for the Goal of Orientation by Reef Fish Larvae throughout Development

动物行为和种群生态学研究的一个中心问题是，鱼类后代与父母的距离有多远？这是因为鱼苗的扩散连接了不同的海洋种群，从而影响了这些种群的规模和遗传多样性。在以前的研究中，海洋生态学家使用了两种方法来理解种群的连通性：测量连通性的遗传学方法；以及预测连通性的海洋模型。然而，在测量和预测的连接模式之间存在着很大的差距，这可能是由鱼苗的行为造成的。事实上，许多珊瑚鱼幼体都是出色的游泳者，有可能影响它们的扩散，但它们知道自己要去哪里吗？本研究的目的是研究鱼类幼体在野外、整个发育过程和各种环境条件下的定向能力，以确定理解行为是否能够弥合种群连通性的观察和预测之间的差距。这项研究的完成将改善对其他物种种群连通性的预测，这将有助于发展有效的海洋保护区网络。该项目将包括为水产养殖和研究方面的本科生提供指导计划，通过女孩科学俱乐部实习计划向K-12女孩伸出援手，以及与当地高中教师合作。我们对海洋生态学的理解中的一个重大差距是幼虫的取向行为可以影响扩散模式的程度。这个项目将通过使用一个易于处理的系统来研究幼虫定向行为的个体发育来弥合这一差距：霓虹虎鱼，Elacatinus Lori。该项目有两个主要目标：1)调查幼虫在整个发育过程中定向能力的变化；2)测试幼虫定向行为目标的替代假设，即确定幼虫定向的方向。通过将实验室饲养的幼虫部署在一个漂移的原地小室中，研究人员将测试年龄对非随机定向行为发展的影响，幼虫定向的比例及其定向的精度。研究人员还将操纵幼虫部署的位置，以测试和区分幼虫定向目标的替代假设。最终，了解幼虫扩散的行为机制将增加我们对种群连通性原因的理解，并有助于设计有效的海洋保护区网络。数据将在国家海洋学数据中心(NODC)或美国国家科学基金会资助的生物复杂性知识网络(KNB)存档。

A central question of animal behavior and population ecology research is, how far do fish offspring disperse from their parents? This is because the dispersal of fish larvae connects distinct marine populations, thereby influencing the size and genetic diversity of those populations. In previous studies, marine ecologists have used two approaches to understand population connectivity: genetic methods that measure connectivity; and, oceanographic models that predict connectivity. There is, however, a large gap between the measured and predicted patterns of connectivity, which may be caused by the behavior of the fish larvae. Indeed, many reef fish larvae are outstanding swimmers that have the potential to influence their dispersal, but do they know where they are going? The objective of this research is to study the orientation abilities of fish larvae in the wild, throughout development and under a variety of environmental conditions, to determine whether understanding behavior can bridge the gap between observations and predictions of population connectivity. The completion of this research will enable improved predictions of population connectivity for other species, which will aid in the development of effective networks of marine reserves. The project will include a mentorship program for undergraduates in aquaculture and research, outreach to K-12 girls through the Science Club for Girls internship program and collaboration with local high school teachers.A significant gap in our understanding of marine ecology is the extent to which larval orientation behavior can influence the pattern of dispersal. This project will bridge this gap by investigating the ontogeny of larval orientation behavior using one tractable system: the neon goby, Elacatinus lori. The project has two main objectives: 1) to investigate changes in larval orientation abilities throughout development; and, 2) to test alternative hypotheses for the goal of larval orientation behavior, i.e., to determine what larvae are orienting toward. By deploying lab-reared larvae in a drifting in situ chamber, the researchers will test for an effect of age on the development of non-random orientation behavior, the proportion of larvae orienting and the precision of their orientation. The researchers will also manipulate the location of larval deployments to test and discriminate between alternative hypotheses for the goal of larval orientation. Ultimately, understanding the behavioral mechanisms of larval dispersal will increase our understanding of the causes of population connectivity and aid in the design of effective networks of marine reserves. Data will be archived at the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) or the NSF funded Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB).