Predicting recruitment fluctuations of fish populations remains the Holy Grail of fisheries science. While previous work has linked recruitment of reef fish to environmental variables including temperature, the demonstration of a robust relationship with productivity remains elusive. Despite decades of research, empirical evidence to support this critical link remains limited. Here we identify a consistent and strong relationship between recruitment of a temperate wrasse Coris julis, from temperate reefs in the mid-Atlantic region, with Chlorophyll, over contrasting scales, across multiple years. Additionally, we find that the correlation between Chlorophyll and recruitment is not simply masking a temperature-recruitment relationship. Understanding the potential mechanisms underlying recruitment variability, particularly as it relates to changing climate and ocean regimes, is a critical first step towards characterizing species’ vulnerability to mismatches between pulsed planktonic production and early pelagic life stages.
Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), University of the Azores (IMAR/UAz), Dept. of Oceanography and Fisheries, 9901–862 Horta, Portugal;Institute of Marine Research at the University of the Azores (IMAR/UAz), Dept. of Oceanography and Fisheries, 9901–862 Horta, Portugal;Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92023, United States of America;Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, United States of America;Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), University of the Azores (IMAR/UAz), Dept. of Oceanography and Fisheries, 9901–862 Horta, Portugal;Institute of Marine Research at the University of the Azores (IMAR/UAz), Dept. of Oceanography and Fisheries, 9901–862 Horta, Portugal;Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), University of the Azores (IMAR/UAz), Dept. of Oceanography and Fisheries, 9901–862 Horta, Portugal;Institute of Marine Research at the University of the Azores (IMAR/UAz), Dept. of Oceanography and Fisheries, 9901–862 Horta, Portugal
Recommended Citation:
Jorge Fontes,Brice Semmens,Jennifer E. Caselle,et al. Ocean Productivity May Predict Recruitment of the Rainbow Wrasse (Coris julis)[J]. PLOS ONE,2016-01-01,11(11)