Spatial Patterns Of Recruitment Research Articles

The declining availability of wild mussel seed for aquaculture in a coastal upwelling system

A general decline in foundation species at the rocky intertidal has been observed during the last decades all around the world and primarily related to climate change. In agreement with that trend, the mussel aquaculture sector in Galicia (NW Spain), the main production area in Europe, has warned over the last years about a decline in the availability of wild mussel seed from the rocky coast. Here we compile for the first time, mussel seed collection reports by mussel farmers in Galicia for the period 2006–2021. We employed that dataset as a proxy of mussel recruitment evolution in the rocky shore for the last 16 years. Temporal analysis of our data confirmed the reported decline (-148 t yr-1), particularly pronounced from 2012 onwards. The data base also allowed us to analyze inter-annual variability according to both, climatic variations and management scenarios. Since cultivated mussels conform a meta-population with wild mussels from the rocky shore, alterations on the market preferences towards smaller individuals at harvest, could also contribute to a reduction in reproductive output. Our results show a decrease in life-time egg production under certain scenarios. Nonetheless, coastal upwelling seems to be the largest factor conditioning recruitment abundance, explaining as much as 60% of the variability observed. Decline on recruitment abundance was highly modulated by the observed increment in frequency of intense upwelling events, exceeding 500 m3 km-1 s-1 between July and November. Meridional winds also determined the spatial recruitment patterns, pointing to the large role of wind forcing on mussel larval dispersal. Our results highlights how alterations on upwelling regimes related to climate change can interact with mussel population dynamics and also condition aquaculture sustainability and food security.

Eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica settle near inlets in a lagoonal estuary: spatial and temporal distribution of recruitment in Mid-Atlantic Coastal Bays (Maryland, USA).

Declines of the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and its numerous ecological benefits have spurred oyster restoration initiatives. Successful restoration of a self-sustaining oyster population requires evaluating the temporal and spatial patterns of recruitment (settlement and survival) of oyster larvae in the target waterbody. Restoration of the Eastern oyster population in the Maryland Coastal Bays (MCBs), USA, a shallow lagoonal estuary, is of interest to federal, state, and non-governmental, but the location and timing of natural recruitment is not known. We assessed the spatial and temporal variation in oyster larval recruitment throughout the MCBs using horizontal ceramic tiles and PVC plates. Newly settled oyster larvae (recruits) were monitored biweekly from June to September 2019 and 2020 at 12 sites in the MCBs and a comparison site in Wachapreague, Virginia. Water quality measurements collected included temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the most effective substrate and design for monitoring oyster recruitment, (2) the spatial and temporal distribution of oyster larval recruitment in the MCBs, and (3) patterns in oyster larval recruitment that would be applicable to other lagoonal estuaries. (1) Ceramic tiles were more effective than PVC plates for recruiting oyster larvae. (2) Peak settlement began during the period from late June through July, and oyster recruitment was greatest at sites closest to the Ocean City and Chincoteague inlets. (3) Areas near broodstock that have slow flushing rates to retain larvae may provide the best environments for recruitment of oysters to lagoonal estuaries. As the first study on oyster larval recruitment in the MCBs, our results provide insight into their spatial and temporal distribution, methods that can serve as a foundation for future recruitment studies in other lagoonal estuaries, and baseline data that can be used to inform stakeholders and evaluate the success of oyster restoration projects in MCBs.

Settlement cue selectivity by larvae of the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish.

Population irruptions of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) cause extensive degradation of coral reefs, threatening the structure and function of these important ecosystems. For population irruptions to initiate and spread, large numbers of planktonic larvae have to successfully transition into their benthic life-history stage (i.e. settlement), whereby larval behaviour and the presence of settlement cues may shape spatial patterns of recruitment and adult densities. Our results demonstrate that a wide range of coralline algae species induce COTS larvae to settle; however, the capacity to promote settlement success varied manyfold among algal species, ranging from greater than 90% in Melyvonnea cf. madagascariensis to less than 2% in Lithophyllum cf. kotschyanum and two Porolithon species at 24 h. Because many coralline algae species that promote high settlement success are prevalent in shallow reef habitats, our findings challenge the hypothesis that COTS larvae predominantly settle in deep water. Considering both larval behaviour and algal ecology, this study highlights the ecological significance of coralline algae communities in driving recruitment patterns of COTS. More specifically, the local abundance of highly inductive coralline algae (especially, Melyvonnea cf. madagascariensis) may explain some of the marked spatial heterogeneity of COTS populations and the incidence of population irruptions.

Rebuilding A Collapsed Bivalve Population, Restoring Seagrass Meadows, and Eradicating Harmful Algal Blooms In A Temperate Lagoon Using Spawner Sanctuaries

During the past century, bivalve populations across the globe have collapsed, resulting in negative ecosystem consequences due to their outsized impact on shallow estuaries. In response, there has been strong interest in the restoration of marine bivalve populations. Here, we present a decade-long restoration effort that sought to rebuild a collapsed (99.5% reduction in harvest) and recruitment-limited population of hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) in Shinnecock Bay, NY, USA, using spawner sanctuaries: no-harvest zones where adults were planted at high densities (~27 m-2). Between 2012 to 2019, more than 3.2 million clams were planted in 64 discrete sanctuary plots (~1,850 m2each) located in zones with maximal larval retention and sediment and seawater characteristics that would maximize the conditioning and spawning of adults. Hydrodynamic models, quantification of hard clam larvae, and spatial recruitment patterns demonstrated larvae spawned within sanctuaries were transported to regions where clam densities significantly increased 18-fold over seven years (2015-2021;p<0.001) and harvests significantly increased more than 16-fold over nine years (2012-2021;p<0.0001). Increases in populations and harvests were caused by smaller clams recruited within the time frame of the creation of spawner sanctuaries. Higher clam densities caused biological filtration times of the bay to decrease from up to three months at the start of the project to as low as 10 days in 2021. Concurrently, concentrations of the harmful brown tide alga,Aureococcus anophagefferens, and chlorophyllasignificantly decreased (p<0.005) while water clarity and the extent of seagrass beds significantly increased (p<0.05). Increases in clam landings and improvements in water quality were not observed in adjacent lagoonal estuaries where restoration did not occur. Given these outcomes and the global need for rebuilding marine life, the implementation of spawner sanctuaries using the criteria set forth herein may be a promising approach for restoring hard clam and other bivalve populations in estuaries elsewhere.

The temporal pattern of intracortical microstimulation pulses elicits distinct temporal and spatial recruitment of cortical neuropil and neurons

Objective. The temporal spacing or distribution of stimulation pulses in therapeutic neurostimulation waveforms—referred to here as the Temporal Pattern (TP)—has emerged as an important parameter for tuning the response to deep-brain stimulation and intracortical microstimulation (ICMS). While it has long been assumed that modulating the TP of ICMS may be effective by altering the rate coding of the neural response, it is unclear how it alters the neural response at the network level. The present study is designed to elucidate the neural response to TP at the network level. Approach. We use in vivo two-photon imaging of mice expressing the calcium sensor Thy1-GCaMP or the glutamate sensor hSyn-iGluSnFr to examine the layer II/III neural response to ICMS with different TPs. We study the neuronal calcium and glutamate response to TPs with the same average frequency (10 Hz) and same total charge injection, but varying degrees of bursting. We also investigate one control pattern with an average frequency of 100 Hz and 10X the charge injection. Main Results. Stimulation trains with the same average frequency and same total charge injection but distinct TPs recruit distinct sets of neurons. More than half (60% of 309 cells) of neurons prefer one TP over the other. Despite their distinct spatial recruitment patterns, cells exhibit similar ability to follow 30 s trains of both TPs without failing, and they exhibit similar levels of glutamate release during stimulation. Both neuronal calcium and glutamate release entrain to the bursting TP pattern, with a ∼21-fold increase in relative power at the frequency of bursting. Bursting also results in a statistically significant elevation in the correlation between somatic calcium activity and neuropil activity, which we explore as a metric for inhibitory-excitatory tone. Interestingly, soma-neuropil correlation during the bursting pattern is a statistically significant predictor of cell preference for TP, which exposes a key link between TP and inhibitory-excitatory tone. Finally, using mesoscale imaging, we show that both TPs result in distal inhibition during stimulation, which reveals complex spatial and temporal interactions between TP and inhibitory-excitatory tone in ICMS. Significance. Our results may ultimately suggest that TP is a valuable parameter space to modulate inhibitory-excitatory tone and to recruit distinct network activity in ICMS. This presents a broader mechanism of action than rate coding, as previously thought. By implicating these additional mechanisms, TP may have broader utility in the clinic and should be pursued to expand the efficacy of ICMS therapies.

Pathogen life-cycle leaves footprint on the spatial distribution of recruitment of their host plants

Abstract Interactions between established and recruiting plants play an important role in species coexistence in natural plant communities. However, our knowledge on the particular ecological drivers of these interactions is still limited. We use spatial point pattern analysis to study the spatial patterns of recruitment and infection in two plant-pathogen systems, each involving a fungus with a different life cycle: the pair Quercus faginea-Trabutia quercina and the triad Crataegus monogyna-Gymnosporangium sp.-Juniperus oxycedrus. Our results show that T. quercina, an autoecious fungus, may act as a stabilizing mechanism in the population dynamics of Q. faginea. In turn, the effect of the heteroecious Gymnosporangium sp. on C. monogyna recruitment was more related to distance from the alternate host J. oxycedrus than to distance from conspecifics. These results demonstrate that the complexity of pathogen life cycle may impact recruitment and the development of interspecific plant-plant interactions in real plant communities.

Duality of trophic supply and hydrodynamic connectivity drives spatial patterns of Pacific oyster recruitment

The recent discovery of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas (also known as Magallana gigas) spatfields in a Mediterranean lagoon intensely exploited for shellfish farming (Thau lagoon) revealed significant contrasts in spatial patterns of recruitment. We evaluated the processes that drive spatial patterns in oyster recruitment by comparing observed recruitment, simulated hydrodynamic connectivity and ecological variables. We hypothesized that spatial variability of recruitment depends on (1) hydrodynamic connectivity and (2) the ecology of the larval supply, settlement, metamorphosis, survival and biotic environmental parameters. We assessed recruitment at 6-8 experimental sites by larval sampling and spat collection inside and outside oyster farming areas and on an east-west gradient, from 2012-2014. Hydrodynamic connectivity was simulated using a numerical 3D transport model assessed with a Eulerian indicator. The supply of large umbo larvae did not differ significantly inside and outside oyster farming areas, whereas the supply of pediveligers to sites outside shellfish farms was structured by hydrodynamic connectivity. Inside shellfish farming zones, unfavorable conditions due to trophic competition with filter-feeders jeopardized their settlement. In this case, our results suggest loss of settlement competence by oyster larvae. This confirms our hypothesis of top-down trophic control by the oysters inside farming zones of Thau lagoon in summer that fails to meet the ecological requirements of these areas as oyster nurseries. Knowledge of oyster dispersal, connectivity and recruitment in coastal lagoons will help local development of sustainable natural spat collection. On a global scale, our method could be transposed to other basins or used for other species such as mussels, clams or scallops, to better understand the spatial patterns of bivalve recruitment. Management of the oyster industry based on natural spat collection will help develop a sustainable activity, based on locally adapted oyster strains but also by reducing the risks of transferring pathogens between basins and the global carbon footprint of this industry.

Invasive ants disperse seeds farther than native ants, affecting the spatial pattern of seedling recruitment and survival

Mutualists can vary in the quantity and quality of service which they provide to their partners. Variation in seed disperser quality depends on seed-processing traits, dispersal distance, and deposition location, all of which ultimately affect plant fitness. Here, we compared these aspects of seed dispersal quality between a native and an invasive ant species, and examined how they affect competition and plant performance. Using experimental mesocosm communities, we examined how these two ant species affect the spatial pattern of recruitment and establishment for four myrmecochorous plant species, including one invasive species. We measured the locations of dispersed seedlings relative to ant nests, adult plants, and other dispersed seedlings, as well as measured the effects of location on plant performance. The invasive ant, Myrmica rubra, secondarily dispersed seeds farther from its nests, creating a less clumped pattern of seedling recruitment compared to the native ant, Aphaenogaster rudis. Plant species responded differently to dispersal. Invasive seedlings recruited farther from adult plants than native seedlings, and had higher survival the farther they were from conspecifics. In contrast, native plants had higher survival and grew taller when dispersed farther from invasive plants. We show that seed-dispersing ant partners differ in mutualist quality creating differences in dispersal distance and deposition location that affects a plant's competitive environment. Our results reveal the potential for long-term consequences on plant community structure with changing ant partner identity. We emphasize the need to examine dispersal quality in addition to quantity to uncover the importance of partner identity in structuring communities.

Spatial and interspecific differences in recruitment decouple synchrony and stability in trophic metacommunities

Although synchronized oscillations in abundance across spatially segregated populations are a quasi-universal phenomenon, understanding their consequences for the stability of natural systems remains a major challenge. Theory has shown that even low levels of dispersal can synchronize and destabilize populations at both local and global scales. However, little is known about how persistent spatial and interspecific differences in recruitment influence the relationship between dispersal, synchrony, and stability across scales. Using a trophic metacommunity model to represent a set of local keystone food web modules connected via a global propagule pool, we show that spatial and interspecific differences in recruitment give rise to a complex relationship between dispersal, synchrony, and stability. Increasing dispersal from low to intermediate levels dampens both the synchrony and the magnitude of population oscillations and thus stabilizes their dynamics, regardless of interspecific differences in recruitment. However, increasing dispersal from intermediate to high levels generates increasingly large and synchronized population oscillations that destabilize the dynamics of all species. Importantly, when dispersal is high, interspecific differences in spatial recruitment patterns reduce the dispersal-induced destabilization via a trophic decoupling effect that buffers local population growth. Overall, our results suggest that spatial and interspecific differences in recruitment rates can interact in complex ways to alter the relationships between dispersal, synchrony, and stability in trophically structured metacommunities.

Larval transport in the upwelling ecosystem of central Chile: The effects of vertical migration, developmental time and coastal topography on recruitment

Several empirical plankton studies and realistic numerical models of the coastal ocean have clearly shown the dramatic effects that larval behaviour and coastal topography can have on effective alongshore dispersal, population connectivity, successful recruitment and cross-shore distribution of the larval stages of benthic coastal invertebrates and fish. All these are essentially distinct and ecologically important aspects of the dispersal process, but which are correlated to a greater or lesser extent through the interaction of larval attributes (e.g., behaviour, pelagic larval duration, PLD) and specific velocity fields of a region of the ocean. Vertical positioning in the water column and ontogenetic and diel vertical migration (DVM) have been identified as the most efficient behavioural mechanisms that can modulate larval transport in the ocean, especially in stratified, baroclinic water columns such as those typically found in upwelling ecosystems. The large seasonal variability in circulation within most upwelling ecosystems is therefore expected to deeply influence all aspects of the larval dispersal process, but it has been less researched. Here, we use a realistic representation of velocity fields across a section of the Humboldt Current Upwelling Ecosystem (HCUE) to evaluate the relative effects of variation in PLD, geographic position, DVM and the timing of larval release on successful onshore recruitment, alongshore dispersal distances, cross-shore retention and persistence of recruitment spatial patterns. Our results show that an increase in pelagic larval duration exponentially increase larval waste, consequently reducing onshore recruitment, regardless of whether larvae perform DVM or not during their development. For any given larval duration, season of the year and location along the shore (topography) had the largest effects on recruitment variability, explaining over 8.49% and over 11.47% of the temporal and spatial variation, respectively. In contrast, while DVM had a highly consistent positive effect on recruitment along the shore, PLD’s and seasons, it only explained about 3% of recruitment variability. Thus, while performing DVM appears to be a safe strategy to increase recruitment, selective forces for such behaviour maybe weak when only oceanic transport is considered. Neither season of the year, nor larval behaviour altered the broad spatial pattern of recruitment across the study region. Pelagic larval durations of over 20 days did not significantly alter this spatial pattern either, suggesting the existence of persistent sources and sinks for benthic populations across the region, although the connectivity matrices must be examined in more detail. Interestingly, in the section of the HCUE, the DVM behaviour led to significantly higher mean dispersal distances along the shore during the upwelling season, as compared to passively advected particles. Such a behavioural effect on dispersal distances have all but disappeared when larvae were released in winter time. These results demonstrate that onshore recruitment, dispersal and connectivity among populations are not correlated across the different larval behaviours, as it has often been implied in the literature and that timing of peak larval release must receive more attention within the HCUE. Results also illustrate the importance of examining fundamental questions of the dispersal process, distance, recruitment, retention, connectivity, in different regions of the world’s costal ocean.

Otolith microchemistry to identify sources of larval yellow perch in a fluvial lake: an approach towards freshwater fish management

The study aims at determining which spawning sites are contributing to yellow perch (Perca flavescens) juveniles’ recruitment in Lake Saint-Pierre (St. Lawrence River, Canada). We expect to highlight new management perspectives. Thus, we investigated both natal origin and connectivity processes for young of the year prior to their first winter. Otolith chemical composition was measured at larval and juvenile stages using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Five spawning sites were sampled and discriminated using a three-elemental model (manganese, barium, strontium). Results showed that (i) all within-lake sites contributed similarly to juvenile production and (ii) production results from both local recruitment and lake-wide connectivity processes. The study suggests fish management should include an overall evaluation of the lake-wide recruitment. Both local and widespread actions are required, depending on the level of connectivity in the lake, which plays a central role in shaping the spatial pattern of recruitment. Finally, otolith microchemistry proves to be an efficient tool for freshwater fish managers to evaluate both natal origin and connectivity in heterogeneous aquatic ecosystems.

Seed-deposition and recruitment patterns of Clusia species in a disturbed tropical montane forest in Bolivia

Spatial patterns of seed dispersal and recruitment of fleshy-fruited plants in tropical forests are supposed to be driven by the activity of animal seed dispersers, but the spatial patterns of seed dispersal, seedlings and saplings have rarely been analyzed simultaneously. We studied seed deposition and recruitment patterns of three Clusia species in a tropical montane forest of the Bolivian Andes and tested whether these patterns changed between habitat types (forest edge vs. forest interior), distance to the fruiting tree and consecutive recruitment stages of the seedlings. We recorded the number of seeds deposited in seed traps to assess the local seed-deposition pattern and the abundance and distribution of seedlings and saplings to evaluate the spatial pattern of recruitment. More seeds were removed and deposited at the forest edge than in the interior. The number of deposited seeds decreased with distance from the fruiting tree and was spatially clustered in both habitat types. The density of 1-yr-old seedlings and saplings was higher at forest edges, whereas the density of 2-yr-old seedlings was similar in both habitat types. While seedlings were almost randomly distributed, seeds and saplings were spatially clustered in both habitat types. Our findings demonstrate systematic changes in spatial patterns of recruits across the plant regeneration cycle and suggest that the differential effects of biotic and abiotic factors determine plant recruitment at the edges and in the interior of tropical montane forests. These differences in the spatial distribution of individuals across recruitment stages may have strong effects on plant community dynamics and influence plant species coexistence in disturbed tropical forests.

Eastern Caribbean Circulation and Island Mass Effect on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands: A Mechanism for Relatively Consistent Recruitment Patterns.

The northeastern Caribbean Sea is under the seasonal influence of the Trade Winds but also of the Orinoco/Amazon freshwater plume. The latter is responsible for intensification of the Caribbean Current in general and of its eddy activity in the northern part of the Caribbean Sea. More importantly, we show in this study that the front of the freshwater plume drives a northward flow that impinges directly on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. The angle of incidence of the incoming flow controls the nature of the wake on both sides and ends of the island, which changes from cyclonic to anticylonic wake flow, with either attached or shed eddies. Using an off-line bio-physical model, we simulated the dispersal and recruitment of an abundant Caribbean coral reef fish, the bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum) in the context of the wake flow variability around St. Croix. Our results revealed the role played by the consistent seasonal forcing of the wake flow on the recruitment patterns around the island at the interannual scale. The interannual variability of the timing of arrival and northward penetration of the plume instead controls the nature of the wake, hence the regional spatial recruitment patterns.

Dynamics of recruitment and establishment of the invasive seaweed Codium fragile within an eelgrass habitat.

Knowledge of the potential distribution (i.e. abundance and spatial extent) of an invasive species is important to estimating its potential impacts on recipient communities. Most previous studies have focused on the potential spatial extent of invasive species populations at regional scales, but little is known on how species successfully recruit and establish at more local scales. In this study, we examined how recruitment of the green alga Codium fragile ssp. fragile (hereafter Codium) can vary spatially and the environmental factors associated with Codium establishment in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds. Standardized recruitment blocks (65 blocks in a 720 × 240 m2 grid) were used to monitor the number of Codium recruits, juveniles and adults over 2 years. Environmental factors (depth, relative water flow, light and temperature) and attributes of the surrounding macrophyte assemblage (eelgrass density, eelgrass length, Codium biomass) were also measured. Recruitment occurred on all blocks or nearby artificial structures (i.e. buoys) and mainly originated from button stages (i.e. female gametes or utricles). Contrary to other studies, the abundance of Codium (recruits, juveniles and adults) was best predicted by the density of the native canopy-forming species, Z. marina, which highlights a positive interaction between native and non-native canopy-forming species. Seasonal variation in recruitment was observed; it was lower during the summer. Recruitment did not show any distinct spatial pattern (e.g. gradient or patch), but the same spatial pattern of recruitment was observed every sampling date, suggesting that there are “hotspots” for recruitment. In general, the total number of Codium fronds observed on a block at the end of the experiment was positively correlated with the cumulative number of recruits. However, recruitment occurred on some blocks but recruits never grew, suggesting that some environmental factors limit Codium distribution and abundance in eelgrass beds. Overall, the assessment of Codium recruitment over 2 years showed that the colonization of suitable locations by Codium within seagrass beds may take several years and that some factors may not only limit, but also inhibit Codium expansion within eelgrass beds.

A spatial age-structured model for describing sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) population dynamics

The control of invasive sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) presents large-scale management challenges in the Laurentian Great Lakes. No modeling approach has been developed that describes spatial dynamics of lamprey populations. We developed and validated a spatial and age-structured model and applied it to a sea lamprey population in a large river in the Great Lakes basin. We considered 75 discrete spatial areas, included a stock–recruitment function, spatial recruitment patterns, natural mortality, chemical treatment mortality, and larval metamorphosis. Recruitment was variable, and an upstream shift in recruitment location was observed over time. From 1993 to 2011, recruitment, larval abundance, and the abundance of metamorphosing individuals decreased by 80%, 84%, and 86%, respectively. The model successfully identified areas of high larval abundance and showed that areas of low larval density contribute significantly to the population. Estimated treatment mortality was less than expected but had a large population-level impact. The results and general approach of this work have applications for sea lamprey control throughout the Great Lakes and for the restoration and conservation of native lamprey species globally.

Response of Natural Recruitment to Gap Size in Chinese Pine Plantation

Building the stratified uneven-aged mixed forest and promoting the natural recruitment is an important way to realize the sustainable management of forest. This study is to characterize the variation discipline of growth of natural recruitment in different size gaps in 50 years old Chinese pine Plantation as well as its community structure and spatial pattern. All recruitment individuals were measured and stem-mapped in plots and the growth indexes were quantified in different size gaps and under the canopy as well as spatial pattern of recruitment. Ripley’s K-function was selected to analyze spatial pattern of recruitment and spatial association between recruit cohorts in different development stages. Results were showed as following: (1) the proportion of Chinese pine in the natural recruitment community was all higher than 95% in gaps and under the canopy. (2) With the increase of gap size, the recruit density dropped off, whereas the average height, basal stem and age of recruit increased. Gaps enhanced the recruit density and improved the growth of recruit. However, gaps improvement will not fundamentally solve the problem of slow growth speed, low lifetime and maladjusted age structure. (3) The recruitment of Chinese pine was exhibited aggregation at research scales. Intraspecific competition and adult trees were showed with little effort on recruitment. The role of improving the recruitment by gaps was limited under the existing management technology system. Therefore, it is necessary to apply human disturbance to promote the recruitment. To introduce other tree species by human should be attempted. The effort of gaps created by more intensify disturbance and various disturbance frequency ought to be explored so as to find out the most effective interference measurements.

Coral recruitment: the critical role of early post-settlement survival

Abstract Martinez, S., and Abelson, A. 2013. Coral recruitment: the critical role of early post-settlement survival. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: . Coral recruitment is a pivotal factor in coral reef stability and in recovery following substantial disturbances. Despite its immense importance, the study of coral recruitment has some major gaps, notably larval survival before and following settlement, mainly due to technical limitations, which stem from the difficulty in observing the minute larvae. To overcome the major limitation in coral recruitment studies, i.e. the in situ detection of recruits during their early stages, we designed a new detection set-up, composed of a fluorescence detection set-up, a grid-covered substrate, and a Geographic Information System tracking system. This set-up, enabling the identification of coral recruits soon after settlement, revealed that in the critical period of the first day, less than 45% of the settling corals may survive. The results also suggest that either coral larva select locations that may increase their survival chances or they experience dramatic mortality during the early hours of settlement, which induce a consistent pattern of spat distribution. Our study confirms an earlier speculation that the first 24 h post-settlement may determine the rates and spatial patterns of recruitment. The significant implications of these findings, and the implemented “detection set-up” for coral reef monitoring and management, are discussed.

Persistent spatial patterns of recruitment in a guild of Hawaiian coral reef fishes

We herein describe a long-term (22 consecutive yr, 1990 to 2011) time series of recruitment surveys for a guild of coral-sheltering fishes at 7 to 12 sites along a 26 km section of the west coast of Hawaii Island. For arc-eye hawkfish, the numerically dominant species, recruit- ment (defined as the contribution of young-of-year to the benthic population within several months after settlement from the water column) varied 7-fold among years averaged over sites. Nonetheless, recruitment also differed spatially, with sites along the Kohala Peninsula comprising a high recruitment group. Spatial differences were persistent (some sites predictably low, others predictably high) and generally lacked demonstrable variation over time. Complementary em - pirical data suggested that post-settlement processes (predation, interspecific competition) also affected recruitment. A dispersal model combined with currents from an oceanic circulation model (Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model, HYCOM) was used to simulate the spatial patterns of settlement by larvae released throughout the main Hawaiian Islands. These simulations generally agreed with observed spatial patterns of recruitment. Greater recruitment was also predicted near geomorphological features (headlands) on Hawaii Island most influenced by the flow of surface eddy currents generated by prevailing E-NE trade winds. Empirical data and simulations together suggest that the headlands of west Hawaii Island likely enhance recruitment by intercepting or concentrating larvae at greater rates, but that post-settlement processes dampen variations in settlement. We suggest that habitat geomorphology should be considered in the criteria used to select sites for no-take Marine Protected Areas at Hawaii Island.

Vegetation response to removal of non-native feral pigs from Hawaiian tropical montane wet forest

Globally, non-native ungulates threaten native biodiversity, alter biotic and abiotic factors regulating ecological processes, and incur significant economic costs via herbivory, rooting, and trampling. Removal of non-native ungulates is an increasingly common and crucial first step in conserving and restoring native forests. However, removal is often controversial and there is currently little information on plant community responses to this management action. Here, we examine the response of native and non-native understory vegetation in paired sites inside and outside of exclosures across a 6.5–18.5 year chronosequence of feral pig (Sus scrofa) removal from canopy-intact Hawaiian tropical montane wet forest. Stem density and cover of native plants, species richness of ground-rooted native woody plants, and abundance of native plants of conservation interest were all significantly higher where feral pigs had been removed. Similarly, the area of exposed soil was substantially lower and cover of litter and bryophytes was greater with feral pig removal. Spatial patterns of recruitment were also strongly affected. Whereas epiphytic establishment was similar between treatments, the density of ground-rooted woody plants was four times higher with feral pig removal. Abundance of invasive non-native plants also increased at sites where they had established prior to feral pig removal. We found no patterns in any of the measured variables with time, suggesting that commonly occurring species recover within 6.5 years of feral pig removal. Recovery of species of conservation interest, however, was highly site specific and limited to areas that possessed remnant populations at the time of removal, indicating that some species take much longer (>18.5 years) to recover. Feral pig removal is the first and most crucial step for conservation of native forests in this area, but subsequent management should also include control of non-native invasive plants and outplanting native species of conservation interest that fail to recruit naturally.

Microsite and litter cover effects on seed banks vary with seed size and dispersal mechanisms: implications for revegetation of degraded saline land

Seed movements and fates are important for restoration as these determine spatial patterns of recruitment and ultimately shape plant communities. This article examines litter cover and microsite effects on seed availability at a saline site revegetated with Eucalyptus sargentii tree rows interplanted with 5–6 rows of saltbush (Atriplex spp.). As litter accumulation decreases with increasing distance from tree rows, soil seed banks were compared between paired bare and litter-covered zones within three microsites; tree row, saltbush row closest to tree row and saltbush mid-row (middle row of saltbush between tree rows). Germinable seed banks of the four most abundant species with contrasting seed sizes and dispersal mechanisms were assessed to test the hypotheses that: (i) microsites with litter cover contain higher seed densities than bare areas, but that (ii) microsite and litter effects will vary depending on seed size and dispersal mechanisms. Overall, litter cover increased seed densities, however, litter effects varied with seed size, with no effect on small-seeded species and litter increasing densities of large-seeded species. Seed bank composition also differed between tree and shrub microsites due to differences in seed morphology and dispersal mechanisms. Water-dispersed species were unaffected by microsite but densities of wind-dispersed species, including Atriplex spp., were higher in saltbush microsites. Densities of wind-dispersed species also differed between the two saltbush microsites despite similar litter cover. Future plantings should consider row spacing and orientation, as well as the dimensions of seeding mounds and associated neighbouring depressions, to maximize litter and seed-trapping by microsites.