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Pelagic larval duration and growth rate of the endemic reef fish, halichoeres socialis (Labridae): Mesoamerican barrier reef, Central America

Halichoeres socialis Randall & Lobel, 2003, is the only wrasse species (Teleostei: Labridae) with a restricted distribution within the Caribbean Meso-American Barrier Reef (MABR), Central America. This study examined the early life history of H. socialis to gain insight into its natural history and to assess if any pattern in otolith microstructure could be linked to its endemism. The sagittal otoliths from 67 individuals (ranging 9.8–43.4mm SL) were analyzed to determine the daily age and increment profile. Results indicate that (1) H. socialis displays a typical “settlement mark”; (2) the pelagic larval duration (PLD) ranged from 22 to 32 (mean=27, n=59) days, which was similar to its congeners; and (3) the juvenile growth rate is 0.7mm/d, which was faster than most congeners. The endemism of H. socialis is not explained by its PLD. Alternatively, it is possible that larval behaviors (vertical migration and/or schooling) play a key factor in how H. socialis larvae are retained within the MABR region. / 2026-03-19T00:00:00Z

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/48448
Date19 March 2024
CreatorsSun, Zhixian
ContributorsLobel, Phillip S.
Source SetsBoston University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis/Dissertation

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