HYDRODYNAMIC DECOUPLING OF RECRUITMENT, HABITAT QUALITY AND ADULT ABUNDANCE IN THE CARIBBEAN SPINY LOBSTER - SOURCE-SINK DYNAMICS

Marine species possess dispersive stages that interconnect subpopulati ons, which may inhabit 'source' and 'sink' habitats, where reproductio n and emigration either exceed or fall short of mortality and immigrat ion, respectively, Postlarval supply, juvenile density and adult abund ance of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, were measured at four widely separated sites spanning >100 km in Exuma Sound, Bahamas. Adult abundance was lowest at a site with the highest postlarval supp ly and little nursery habitat; hence, it was tentatively classified as a sink. Circulation in Exuma Sound is dominated by large-scale gyres which apparently concentrate and advect postlarvae toward the nominal sink. The remaining three sites, including one marine reserve, had hig her adult abundances despite lower postlarval supply, and are therefor e tentatively classified as sources, Postlarval supply is probably dec oupled from adult abundance by physical transport, Adult abundance is likely decoupled from postlarval supply by the effects of varying habi tat quality upon postlarval and juvenile survival, as indicated by non -significant differences among sites in juvenile density. It appears t hat some sites with suitable settlement and nursery habitat are source s of spawning stock for Panulirus argus, whereas others with poor habi tat are sinks despite sufficient postlarval influx.