Colonization patterns of reef fish larvae to the lagoon at Moorea Island, French Polynesia

Abstract

Colonization of the lagoon at Moorea Island, French Polynesia, by fish larvae was studied with a net fixed on the outer reef crest in order to observe die1 and lunar cycles. Fish larvae entered the lagoon at dusk and at night, mainly during moonless periods. Colonization was closely related to decreasing light intensity; it was 4 times greater during new moon than during full moon. Other environmental factors such as hydrodynamic features of the water mass above and in front of the reef crest may have also influenced this colonization. More than 97 % of the larvae that colonized the lagoon were postflexion or later stage larvae and were probably competent to settle in the lagoon. Gobiidae were the most numerous with 60.5 % of the catches. Scandae and Labridae were the second and the third most important families with 10.3 and 6.2% of the catches respectively.