ABSTRACT
As with most marine organisms (i.e., corals, crustaceans, fishes), damselfishes have structured life histories with two distinct stages, a relatively sedentary benthic stage (usually juveniles and adults) and a pelagic larval stage capable of long-distance dispersal (for review see Leis and McCormick 2002). The only current known exception to this pomacentrid pattern involves Acanthochromis polyacanthus and the two species of Altrichthys that do not have a pelagic phase. In spite of their diversity, most pomacentrids have common reproductive traits including oviparity, substrate-attached eggs (demersal), paternal care of the eggs and a free pelagic phase (Allen 1991). Thus, damselfish reproduction varies, but all species lay demersal eggs that are guarded by the male. Adult, juvenile and larval traits render this species-rich family one of the most interesting and varied in terms of reproduction and the first ontogenetic developmental stages. In this chapter, we describe the reproductive traits including the mating system, reproductive behavior, fecundity, spawning location and timing and discuss the evolutionary implications of these traits. We also review the duration of the pelagic stage, development of sensory and swimming abilities, as well as dispersal traits including distribution of larval stages in the ocean and dispersal kernels.
