(Oceanography Society, 2007-09)
Thorrold, Simon R.; Zacherl, Danielle C.; Levin, Lisa A.
The importance of larval dispersal to the population
dynamics and biogeography of marine organisms has been
recognized for almost a century (Hjort, 1914; Thorson, 1950).
More recently, theoretical studies have highlighted the role that connectivity
may play in determining the resilience of marine populations
(Hastings and Botsford, 2006). Effective spatial management of marine capture fisheries,
including the design of marine reserve networks, also requires an understanding
of population connectivity (Sale et al., 2005). However, remarkably few empirical estimates
of larval dispersal or population connectivity in ocean environments exist.
