Yellow Tangs Prove Marine Reserves Work

Drifting yellow tang larvae has provided direct evidence and credibility that marine protected areas can help replenish fish stocks many miles away. Scientists at Oregon State University used DNA fingerprinting and advanced statistical analysis to match juvenile fish with their parents and showed that healthy juveniles spawned long distances from their parents - some up to 114 miles away! Links to the summary and full research article below.


Photo Credit: Bill Walsh

"The identification of connectivity between distant reef fish populations on the island of Hawaii demonstrates that human coastal communities are also linked," the researchers wrote in their conclusion. "Management in one part of the ocean affects people who use another part of the ocean."

Summary:
Drifting fish larvae allow marine reserves to rebuild fisheries

Research Article in PLoS one:
PLoS ONE: Larval Connectivity in an Effective Network of Marine Protected Areas

 

Wow very interesting article!

 

Thats awesome, and that picture is now the background on my phone. ;D

 

Great stuff

 

wow good article glad to see conservation areas are working..

 

"one of these things is not like the other..." lol referring to the yellow shoulder tang in the pic that i see