EVALUATING KINSHIP OF NEWLY SETTLED JUVENILES WITHIN SOCIAL GROUPS OF THE CORAL REEF FISH ANTHIAS SQUAMIPINNIS

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Abstract
It is conventionally assumed that eggs and/or larvae of most coral reef fishes are thoroughly mixed during a pelagic phase, so that juvenile recruits at any particular reef site represent a random sample of the reproductive products entering the local gene pool. However, a recent review of biological factors that might limit mixing raised the testable hypothesis that groups of genetically related individuals may sometimes persist through the pelagic phase and settle as sibling cohorts (Shapiro, 1983). Here we provide a critical genetic test of this hypothesis by examining allozyme variation in juvenile aggregations of the serranid reef fish, Anthias squamipinnis. Results demonstrate that juvenile cohorts within large social groups in Anthias are not composed exclusively or predominantly of siblings, but rather represent a random sample of progeny from many matings. Also included are considerations of allelic and genotypic criteria by which hypotheses about sibling assemblages might generally be evaluated.
Funding Information
  • National Geographic Society (2987‐84)
  • National Science Foundation