image: Pictured is a coral grouper. view more
Credit: Image credit: Hugo B. Harrison
Researchers examined larval dispersal patterns of the coral grouper, Plectropomus maculatus, from marine reserves in the Great Barrier Reef and found that the performance of single reserves varied through time; however, having a reserve network generated a reliable source of larval offspring to replenish exploited fish stocks while minimizing risk to ocean ecosystems, according to the authors.
Article #19-20580: "A connectivity portfolio effect stabilizes marine reserve performance," by Hugo B. Harrison, Michael Bode, David H. Williamson, Michael L. Berumen, and Geoffrey P. Jones.
MEDIA CONTACT: Hugo B. Harrison, James Cook University, Townsville, AUSTRALIA; tel: +61-499-523-939 e-mail: hugo.harrison@jcu.edu.au
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Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences