Non-Gaussian larval dispersal kernels in Gaussian ocean flows

Abstract

AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 16:203-208 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00466 FEATURE ARTICLE Non-Gaussian larval dispersal kernels in Gaussian ocean flows Stephen M. Chiswell* National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), PO Box 14-901, Kilbirnie, Wellington, New Zealand *Email: s.chiswell@niwa.cri.nz ABSTRACT: Models of larval dispersal in which ocean currents are Gaussian-distributed provide analytical solutions for the dispersal kernel that are usually assumed to be Gaussian-distributed as well. However, such Gaussian solutions are only valid for a single value of the duration of the larval period. In reality, larvae have a settlement competency period that can range from minutes to >1 yr. Dispersal kernels computed for larvae having a competency period of finite length become non-Gaussian, because later settlers contribute proportionately more to both tails of the kernels than early settlers. In species where the variability in larval duration is large, or mean flows are large compared to the variability, the dispersal kernels approach uniform rather than Gaussian distributions. KEY WORDS: Larval dispersal · Spatial kernels · Connectivity Full text in pdf format Information about this Feature Article NextCite this article as: Chiswell SM (2012) Non-Gaussian larval dispersal kernels in Gaussian ocean flows. Aquat Biol 16:203-208. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00466 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 16, No. 3. Online publication date: September 05, 2012 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.