Patterns of replenishment of coral-reef fishes in the nearshore waters of the San Blas Archipelago, Caribbean Panama

Abstract.

The magnitude and synchrony of spatial and temporal patterns of larval supply to the San Blas Archipelago were measured using three replicate light traps in each of three habitats (exposed, lagoon and back-reef) over 18 consecutive lunar months from December 1996 to June 1998. Traps were sampled for 19 consecutive nights centred on the new moon in each month. A total of 125 species from 44 families of reef fishes were collected, of which the Pomacentridae, Gerridae, Synodontidae, Lutjanidae, Blenniidae, Apogonidae and Labridae were the most abundant in catches. The spatial pattern of replenishment for these families was systematic, with highest abundance recorded in the lagoon and lowest abundance in the back-reef habitat (total abundance lagoon = 18,440; back-reef = 5,243 individuals). The timing and magnitude of catches for the 12 most abundant species were often significantly correlated both among species and habitats during the sampling period. I concluded that replenishment to San Blas occurs by the continuous influx of multi-specific, meso-scale (hundreds of metres) larval patches, and that larvae within these patches appear to actively select suitable settlement habitats immediately prior to nightly settlement.