Our second line of research focuses on understanding the ecology and evolution of marine larval dispersal. Many marine organisms have a bi-partite life cycle composed of a sedentary adult phase and a dispersing larval phase. Analyzing the patterns of marine larval dispersal is central to understanding marine population dynamics, population divergence and designing effective networks of marine reserves. We have conducted some of the first quantitative investigations of larval dispersal in marine fishes: the anemonefish Amphiprion percula, in Papua New Guinea, and the goby Elacatinus lori, in Belize. In both cases we have demonstrated that the probability of successful larval dispersal declines rapidly as a function of distance from source. Our work illustrates the importance of empirically quantifying patterns of dispersal if we are to really understand the spatial scale at which marine populations are connected.

Relevant publications

2014    D’Aloia, C., Bogdanowicz, S. M., Harrison, R. G. & Buston, P. M. Seascape continuity plays an

            important role in determining spatial genetic structure in a coral reef fish.

            Molecular Ecology 23: 2902-2913.

2013    Buston, P. M. & D’Aloia, C. C. Marine Ecology: Reaping the benefits of local dispersal.

            Current Biology 23: R351-R353.

2013    D’Aloia, C., Bogdanowicz, S. M., Majoris, J., Harrison, R. G. & Buston, P. M. Self-recruitment in a

            Caribbean reef fish: a new method for approximating dispersal kernels accounting for seascape.

            Molecular Ecology 22: 2563-2572.

2012    Buston, P., Jones, G., Planes, S. & Thorrold, S. Probability of successful larval dispersal declines

            fivefold over one kilometer in a coral reef fish.

            Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B 279: 1883-1888. (Cover photo).

2012    Wong, M. Y. L., Fauvelot, C., Planes, S. & Buston, P. M.  Discrete and continuous reproductive

            tactics in a hermaphroditic society.

            Animal Behavior 84: 897-906.

2011    D’Aloia, C., Majoris, J. & Buston, P. M. Predictors of the distribution and abundance of a tube

            sponge and its resident goby.

            Coral Reefs 30: 777-786.

2011    Buston, P. & Elith J. Determinants of reproductive success in dominant pairs of clownfish:

            a boosted regression tree analysis.

            Journal of Animal Ecology 80: 528-538.

2009    Buston, P. Fauvelot, C. Wong, M. & Planes, S.  Genetic relatedness in groups of humbug

            damselfish Dascyllus aruanus: small, similarly-sized individuals are close kin.

            Molecular Ecology 18: 4707-4715. (Cover photo).

2009    Fauvelot, C., Smith-Kuene, C., Jerry D. R., Buston, P. M. & Planes, S.  Isolation and

            characterization of 16 microsatellite loci for humbug damselfish Dascyllus aruanus.

            Molecular Ecology Resources 9: 651-653.

2007    Buston, P. M., Bogdanowicz, S. M., Wong, A. & Harrison, R. G. Are clownfish groups composed

            of relatives? Analysis of microsatellite DNA variation in Amphiprion percula.

            Molecular Ecology 16: 3671-3678. (Cover photo).

2007    Buston, P. M. & García, M. B. An extraordinary life span estimate for the clown anemonefish.

            Journal of Fish Biology 70: 1710-1719

2006    Buston, P. M. & Cant, M. A. A new perspective on size hierarchies in nature: patterns, causes

            and consequences.

            Oecologia 149: 362-372.

2003    Buston, P. Forcible eviction and prevention of recruitment in the clown anemonefish.        

            Behavioral Ecology 14: 576-582.

2003    Buston, P. Mortality is associated with social rank in the clown anemonefish.

            Marine Biology 143: 811-815