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We used reared larvae of Gramma loreto sized 5.5 to 10.5 mm to study ontogeny of morphology and swimming. The larvae are slender to moderate in depth, with laterally compressed bodies, about 28 myomeres, a coiled gut that is not compact, extending to 50% to 60% of body length, an inconspicuous gas bladder, head spination limited to tiny preopercular spines, no pectoral-girdle spination, more spines than soft rays in the dorsal fin, and fins without elongate or early-forming elements. The limited pigment is most prominent along the base of the dorsal and anal fins. The development of critical speed (Ucrit) in G. loreto larvae was similar to that of other warm-water species, but speed ranged from 0.2 to 13.5 cm s^–1 (mean 7.3, SE 0.7, body lengths s^–1), which is relatively slow. Increase in speed with size was linear at 2.7 cm s^–1 per mm increase in size. The actual and relative Ucrit of G. loreto were low, and only the four largest, fastest larvae would have been swimming in an inertial hydrodynamic environment. Therefore, for most of their pelagic larval duration the ability of G. loreto larvae to influence their dispersal by horizontal swimming is likely to be low compared with that of many other warm-water fish species.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	ontogeny, larva, critical speed, swimming, coral reef, dispersal
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Ecology
Research Field:	Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Marine systems and management
Objective Field:	Marine biodiversity
UTAS Author:	Leis, JM (Dr Jeff Leis)
ID Code:	94089
Year Published:	2012
Web of Science® Times Cited:	7
Deposited By:	IMAS Research and Education Centre
Deposited On:	2014-08-28
Last Modified:	2014-09-01
Downloads:	352 View Download Statistics