Guidelines for larval dispersal simulations: flow field representation versus biological traits
Résumé
The natural mechanism for sessile species resilience after major population disturbance is larval dispersal during reproduction. Modelling larval dispersal when processes controlling dispersal are accounted for, is a powerful tool to anticipate connectivity patterns among populations. However, simulations performance might be altered considerably by either flow representation in the underlying hydrodynamical simulations or the inclusion of larval traits. Here, we assessed how behaviour, ocean model resolution and temporal variability in the ocean dynamics influence connectivity patterns among coastal rocky locations, some of them being designated as MPAs. We combined a fine (0.3 km) and coarser (1.5 km) resolution ocean model, with or without the negatively buoyant behaviour of Paramuricea clavata larvae, with different turbulence intensity, in three years and for pelagic larval duration (PLD) ranging from 1 to 28 days. Ocean model resolution was the most influential factor on the resulting connectivity levels. The results were also equally influenced by buoyancy, PLD and temporal variability, in the fine resolution configuration, while turbulence could be neglected. Based on these results, guidelines for coastal biophysical modelling are proposed.
Domaines
Océan, Atmosphère
Origine : Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s)