Abstract

Population density can affect rates of mortality and individual growth. We measured these for the non-exploited bluehead wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum at three sites around St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Previous work demonstrated that differences in degree of larval retention in these sites results in very large differences in recruitment intensity. Post-settlement mortality differed among sites and was positively related to recruitment density. Post-settlement growth differences were small. Because of strong mortality effects early in life, adult densities and size/age distributions differed among sites and did not reflect differences inrecruitment rateo The site with the highest retention and recruitment (Butler Bay) hadmany small fish, while the two other sites with lower recruitment rates (Jacks Bay and Green Cay) had proportionally more large fish. These differences resulted in large differences in egg production. Per capita production was higbest at the lowest density site (Green Cay). Total egg production at Green Cay was 75% that at Butler Bay, despite only havinghaIfthe~pulationsize, and the highest overall production was at Jack's Bay, with low retention and moderate recruitment. In terms of marine reserve location, sites predicted to have high retention and recruitment may not always be the sites of highest egg production due to density-dependent processes, and it is important to consider fue relative values of self-recruitment and larval export in reserve design.

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