An Integrative Investigation of Population Connectivity Using a Coral Reef Fish

了解幼虫扩散的模式、原因和后果是21世纪海洋生态学的主要目标。传播方式决定了种群间幼虫交换或连通性的速度。物理因素(例如，水分运动)和生物因素(例如，幼虫行为)都会导致种群连通性的变化。反过来，种群连通性对有机体的各个方面都有重大影响--S生物学，从个体行为到集合种群动态，从集合种群内的进化到物种的起源和灭绝。此外，了解人口连通性对于设计有效的海洋保护区网络至关重要？在过去十年中，三种方法(每种方法所揭示的东西略有不同)已成为提供有关种群连接的最好见解的主要竞争者。首先，耦合的生物物理模型对水流、幼虫行为和生态做出假设，以预测种群的连接性。第二，间接遗传方法利用等位基因频率的空间分布来推断群体的连通性。第三，直接遗传学方法使用亲子关系分析，将新兵追踪到特定的成年人，以衡量种群的连通性。尽管取得了进展，但缺乏整合意味着我们不知道生物物理模型的预测技能，也不知道扩散模式在多大程度上预测空间遗传结构。这项提议的总体目标是在一个易于处理的系统中使用所有三种方法对种群连通性进行综合调查：霓虹虎鱼、Elacatinus Lori、伯利兹大堡礁。选择这一研究系统有三个动机：i)开发了14个高度多态的微卫星基因座，便于利用亲子关系分析和分散度测量将新兵分配给父母；ii)伯利兹大堡礁的物理海洋学得到了很好的研究，促进了耦合生物物理模型的开发和测试；iii)E.Lori的生物地理范围相对较小，有助于分析整个范围内等位基因频率的空间分布。这笔赠款将支持一名博士后和两名研究生，他们将接受科学潜水、海洋野外工作、种群遗传学、生物物理建模和数学建模方面的培训，并将获得合作研究经验。PIS将把研究成果纳入他们的课程，这些课程涵盖所有这些主题。这笔赠款还将通过支持6名来自STEM领域传统上代表人数不足的群体的本科生，扩大代表不足群体的参与。在项目的每一年，都将举行一次全体参与者会议，以加强参与者网络。将建立一个英文和西班牙文的项目网站，主题是幼虫扩散和种群连通性。这将包括与一名海洋科学教育工作者合作开发的面向K-12海洋科学教育工作者的资源。所有私营部门将确保通过适当形式的媒体向科学界和公众广泛传播成果。

Understanding the patterns, causes and consequences of larval dispersal is a major goal of 21st century marine ecology. Patterns of dispersal determine the rates of larval exchange, or connectivity, between populations. Both physical factors (e.g., water movement) and biological factors (e.g., larval behavior) cause variation in population connectivity. Population connectivity, in turn, has major consequences for all aspects of an organism?s biology, from individual behavior to metapopulation dynamics, and from evolution within metapopulations to the origin and extinction of species. Further, understanding population connectivity is critical for the designof effective networks of marine reserves ? vital tools in conservation and the development of sustainable fisheries.Over the last decade, three methods, each of which tells something slightly different, have emerged as leading contenders to provide the greatest insights into population connectivity. First, coupled biophysical models make assumptions regarding water flow, larval behavior and ecology, to predict population connectivity. Second, indirect genetic methods use spatial distributions of allele frequencies to infer population connectivity. Third, direct genetic methods use parentage analyses, tracing recruits to specific adults, to measure population connectivity. Despite advances, lack of integration means that we do not know the predictive skill of biophysical models, or the extent to which patterns of dispersal predict spatial genetic structure. The overall objective of this proposal is to conduct an integrated investigation of population connectivity, using all three methods in one tractable system: the neon goby, Elacatinus lori, onthe Belizean Barrier Reef. There are three motives for this choice of study system: i) fourteenhighly polymorphic microsatellite loci have been developed, facilitating the assignment of recruits to parents using parentage analyses and the measurement of dispersal; ii) the physical oceanography of the Belizean Barrier Reef is well-studied, facilitating the development and testing of coupled biophysical models; and, iii) E. lori has a relatively small biogeographic range, facilitating analysis of the spatial distribution of allele frequencies throughout its range.Broader Impacts. The grant will support one postdoc and two graduate students who will be trained in scientific diving, marine fieldwork, population genetics, biophysical modeling, and mathematical modeling, and will gain collaborative research experience. PIs will incorporate research findings in their courses, which cover all these topics. The grant will also broaden participation of under-represented groups by supporting six undergraduates from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields. In each year of the project there will be an All Participants meeting to reinforce the network of participants. A project website will be developed, in English and Spanish, on the theme of larval dispersal and population connectivity. This will include a resource for K-12 marine science educators developed in collaboration with a marine science educator. All PIs will ensure that results are broadly disseminated to the scientific community and general public via appropriate forms of media.