Limited dispersal explains the spatial distribution of siblings in a reef fish population

A groundbreaking study on the Belize Barrier Reef reveals that sibling coral reef fish (Elacatinus lori) are often found in close proximity, challenging long-held assumptions about marine larval dispersal. Researchers genotyped 4,074 recently settled individuals across a 41 km transect using 71 microsatellites, identifying 371 sibling pairs with 50% located within 3 km and 99% within 18 km. The findings suggest limited dispersal rather than cohesive sibling movement, providing new insights into marine larval dispersal dynamics. This study emphasizes the importance of accurate sibling identification and spatial analysis to unravel ecological kin structuring mechanisms.

D’Aloia, C., Xuereb, A., Fortin, M., Bogdanowicz, S., & Buston, P. (2018). Limited dispersal explains the spatial distribution of siblings in a reef fish population. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 607, 143–154. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12792