What causes are responsible for the dispersal of fish across coral reefs? Explan

Question

What causes are responsible for the dispersal of fish across coral reefs?
Explanation of the importance of the issue and future implications it holds

Explanation / Answer

Importance::::: Coral-reef fishes have been selected to produce propagules for dispersal because they live in a patchy environment, and the adults cannot migrate between patches. For large species (>100 mm SL) and widely separated patches, numerous propagules are needed, often with specialized pelagic intervals. Individuals of small species are confined to portions of the reef. They are unable to produce enough eggs for effective longrange dispersal, and so they keep their vulnerable eggs and young out of the plankton until they are well developed enough to seek out and settle onto the appropriate habitat before dispersing. Guarded demersal eggs, requiring a greater individual investment by the small short-lived species, further reduces their individual fecundity. These costs to fecundity, and the reduction in vagile young appear to account for the lack of postzygotic investment in larger longlived species. All coral-reef fishes are selected to disperse, usually with a young planktonic propagule interval. Both large and small species produce a mixed outcome, with some propagules returned to, or retained at the home reef, while others disperse more widely. The smaller the species the greater the proportion of propagules retained. DISPPERSAL::: The distance and the patterns of larval dispersal are influenced by several factors which act synergistically over the pelagic larval duration including: Larval behavior: swimming speed and directional capabilities of larvae are considered to be highly species-specific Larval duration: amount of time larvae spend in the open ocean is also species-specific; ranging from hours to months, and typical pelagic duration is 28-35 days1 Food resources: amount of available food during the pelagic duration Predators encountered: predators affect survival, condition and growth rates Influences of currents or other oceanographic factors

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