Population DynamicsTo complete early development, reef fish larvae must find and settle in suitable benthic habitat. As with many things in nature, recently-settled juveniles are often non-randomly distributed, suggesting that pre- and post-settlement processes shape their distribution. Using a series of experimental and observational field studies, research in the Majoris Lab seeks to determine whether larvae express behavioral preferences for settling on habitats that will maximize their post-settlement survival. These settlement behaviors have important implications for the population dynamics and conservation of marine fishes.
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