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

动物行为学和种群生态学研究的一个中心问题是，鱼类的后代离它们的父母有多远？这是因为鱼苗的扩散将不同的海洋种群联系起来，从而影响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：测量连通性的遗传方法;以及预测连通性的海洋学模型。然而，测量和预测的连接模式之间存在很大的差距，这可能是由鱼苗的行为引起的。事实上，许多珊瑚鱼幼虫是优秀的游泳者，有可能影响他们的扩散，但他们知道他们要去哪里吗？本研究的目的是研究在野外，整个发展和各种环境条件下的鱼苗的定向能力，以确定是否理解行为可以弥合观察和预测之间的差距差距的人口连接。这项研究的完成将有助于改善对其他物种种群连通性的预测，这将有助于建立有效的海洋保护区网络。该项目将包括一个导师计划，为本科生在水产养殖和研究，推广到K-12女孩通过科学俱乐部的女孩实习计划和与当地高中教师的合作。本项目将弥合这一差距，调查个体发育的幼虫定向行为使用一个易于处理的系统：氖虾虎鱼，Elacatinus洛里。该项目有两个主要目标：1）调查整个发育过程中幼虫定向能力的变化; 2）测试幼虫定向行为目标的替代假设，即，来确定幼虫的方向通过将实验室饲养的幼虫部署在原位漂移室中，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，以测试和区分幼虫方向目标的替代假设。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NSF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).