While evidence is mounting that larval reef fish are active participants in the process of dispersal and settlement, the sensory/behavioural mechanisms by which these 1 cm-scaled fishes disperse and return from their oceanic phase to the reefs over km-scaled distances remain unknown. On One Tree Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia) we tested freshly collected animals in a large choice flume on the shore. Here, we present the first evidence that larval reef fish (primarily apogonids) that were approaching the time of settlement are capable of detecting differences between ocean and lagoon water and prefer lagoon water. We also demonstrate that they sniff actively with well-innervated noses and that attraction to lagoon water was not affected by warmer or colder temperature. We conclude that they used chemical signals to orient toward lagoon water. Finally, we describe ebb tide plumes of lagoon water that extend many kilometres from reefs. Such plumes could provide chemosensory cues for dispersal and settlement stages of reef fish as they develop swimming efficiency. We argue that fishes may imprint to reef odour as embryos and/or early larvae and that this could facilitate both retention near the natal reef and navigation toward reefs from greater distances.

Further Publications:

Miller-Sims V., Atema J., Kingsford M. J., and Gerlach G., 2005. DNA microsatellite primers in the spiny damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus. Molecular Ecology Notes, 5, 841-843.

Miller-Sims V., Atema J., Kingsford M. J., and Gerlach G., 2005. DNA microsatellite primers in the neon damselfish (Pomacentrus coelestis). Molecular Ecology Notes 5, 424 – 426

Miller-Sims V., Atema J., Kingsford M. J., and Gerlach G., 2004. Characterization and isolation of DNA microsatellite primers in the cardinalfish (Apogon doederleini). Molecular Ecology Notes 4, 336 – 338