COLONIZATION PATTERNS OF REEF FISH LARVAE TO THE LAGOON AT MOOREA ISLAND, FRENCH-POLYNESIA

Colonization of the lagoon at Moorea Island, French Polynesia, by fish larvae was studied with a net fixed on the outer reef crest in order to observe diel and lunar cycles. Fish larvae entered the lagoon at du sk and at night, mainly during moonless periods. Colonization was clos ely related to decreasing light intensity; it was 4 times greater duri ng new moon than during full moon. Other environmental factors such as hydrodynamic features of the water mass above and in front of the ree f crest may have also influenced this colonization. More than 97 % of the larvae that colonized the lagoon were postflexion or later stage l arvae and were probably competent to settle in the lagoon. Gobiidae we re the most numerous with 60.5 % of the catches. Scaridae and Labridae were the second and the third most important families with 10.3 and 6 .2 % of the catches respectively.