Meeting Abstract
Though once considered passive particles, it is now widely recognized that late-stage reef fish larvae can detect and orient their movements in relation to olfactory, visual, and auditory cues. These behaviors have the potential to influence the emergent pattern of larval dispersal, with important consequences for marine population dynamics and conservation. Yet, little is known about when larvae develop the ability to orient their movement. In this study, we raised a coral reef fish, the neon goby Elacatinus lori , from hatch through settlement to investigate the development of their: i) sensory systems, ii) swimming abilities, and iii) orientation behaviors. Using a variety of anatomical techniques, we show that all of the major sensory organs are present and likely functional at hatch and their sensory organs increase in size, number, and/or structural complexity throughout the larval phase. Using a drifting behavioral arena (DISC), we show that larvae actively swim upon hatching and that swimming speeds increase throughout the larval phase. We also demonstrate that individual larvae orient directionally at all ages (2-30 days post hatch), providing compelling evidence that E. lori have the potential to influence their dispersal trajectory throughout the entire larval phase. Taken together, our results suggest that neon goby larvae may behave in ways that help to explain the relatively restricted pattern of dispersal for the species.
