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Defining the scale of connectivity, or exchange, among marinepopulations and determining the factors driving this exchangeare pivotal to our understanding of the population dynamics,genetic structure, and biogeography of many coastal species.Using a high-resolution biophysical model for the Caribbeanregion, we report that typical larval dispersal distances ofecologically relevant magnitudes are on the scale of only 10to 100 kilometers for a variety of reef fish species. We alsoshow the importance of the early onset of active larval movementmediating the dispersal potential. In addition to self-recruitment,larval import from outside the local area is required to sustainmost populations, although these population subsidies are verylimited in particular systems. The results reveal distinct regionsof population isolation based on larval dispersal that alsocorrespond to genetic and morphological clines observed acrossa range of marine organisms.
1 Marine Biology and Fisheries, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA. 2 Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rcowen{at}rsmas.miami.edu
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