Large‐scale, multidirectional larval connectivity among coral reef fish populations in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Coral reef fish larvae can disperse over vast distances, up to approximately 250 kilometers, contributing to the replenishment of exploited populations. This study used genetic parentage analysis to track larval dispersal patterns for two species of groupers (Plectropomus maculatus and Plectropomus leopardus) across three clusters of reefs in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia. The findings revealed both short- and long-distance, multidirectional larval movement, with median dispersal distances estimated at around 110 km for P. maculatus and 190 km for P. leopardus. This highlights the potential for long-distance connectivity among coral reef fish populations, underscoring the importance of well-protected marine reserves in sustaining exploited species by providing larvae that can recolonize fished areas at multiple spatial scales.

Williamson, D. H., Harrison, H. B., Almany, G. R., Berumen, M. L., Bode, M., Bonin, M. C., Choukroun, S., Doherty, P. J., Frisch, A. J., Saenz‐Agudelo, P., & Jones, G. P. (2016). Large‐scale, multidirectional larval connectivity among coral reef fish populations in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Molecular Ecology, 25(24), 6039–6054. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13908