In demersal marine fishes, the dispersal of larvae determines the geographical scale of population connectivity, and larval behaviour may influence dispersal. Yet, little is known of the ontogeny of behaviours that can influence dispersal. The present study examined the development of these behaviours in pelagic larvae of tropical marine fishes (4–21 mm) that occupy non-reef habitats as adults: Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Polynemidae) and Leiognathus equulus (Leiognathidae). In the laboratory, critical speed (U_crit) increased from 3 to 34 cm s^–1 at 1.3–1.7 cm s^–1 per mm of size, with the fastest larvae up to 50% faster. In situ speed increased from 4 to 25 cm s^–1 at 0.7–2.2 cm s^–1 per mm, and was 10–14 body length s^–1 (60–90% of U_crit). Endurance increased from 0 to >40 km at 2.4–4.7 km per mm. In the sea, orientation precision did not change ontogenetically, both species tended to swim in loops, and neither significant overall directionality nor ontogenetic change in orientation was present. Larval orientation of these non-reef species was less precise than that of reef fishes. The two species differed in depth distribution, and one ascended ontogenetically. These behaviours can potentially influence dispersal outcomes over the full size range of these larvae.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Leiognathidae, orientation, Polynemidae, swimming speed, vertical distribution
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Ecology
Research Field:	Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology)
Objective Division:	Environment
Objective Group:	Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
Objective Field:	Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
Author:	Leis, JM (Dr Jeff Leis)
ID Code:	94212
Year Published:	2009
Web of Science® Times Cited:	21
Deposited By:	IMAS Research and Education Centre
Deposited On:	2014-09-03
Last Modified:	2015-02-23
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