Abstract

The queen conch (Aliger gigas) is an important fishery resource species in the Caribbean region, increasingly threatened by overharvest. The species’ life history is characterized by density-dependent reproduction, benthic egg masses, and a 2-4-week planktotrophic period with potential for long-distance dispersal. This review focuses on veliger growth, development, and settlement, especially as related to environmental variables, and larval duration and behavior relevant to transport. More than 3000 plankton collections for queen conch made throughout the region show that most veligers occur in the upper water column during the warmest season, with evidence for a positive association between abundance of late-stage veligers and subsequent abundance of juveniles in nursery grounds. Biophysical models based upon the best information on veliger duration and vertical movement yield predictions on population connectivity and can be used in design for networks of marine protected areas. While the earliest genetic studies suggested an open panmictic Caribbean population, more recent molecular genetic results show that populations exhibit a continuum-like structure, and self-recruitment occurs in certain localities. The current state of knowledge of early life history and connectivity for queen conch is discussed in terms of recruitment potential, climate change, and management for sustainable fisheries.

摘要

女王海螺（Aliger gigas）是加勒比地区重要的渔业资源物种，日益受到过度捕捞的威胁。该物种的生活史的特点是密度依赖性繁殖、底栖卵块以及具有长距离扩散潜力的 2-4 周浮游营养期。本综述重点关注幼虫的生长、发育和定居，特别是与环境变量、幼虫持续时间和与运输相关的行为。在整个地区收集的 3000 多个女王海螺浮游生物样本表明，大多数幼海螺在最温暖的季节出现在上层水体中，有证据表明晚期幼海螺的丰富度与随后在苗圃中幼体的丰富度之间存在正相关关系。基于维利格持续时间和垂直运动的最佳信息的生物物理模型可以预测种群连通性，并可用于海洋保护区网络的设计。虽然最早的遗传学研究表明存在一个开放的大规模加勒比种群，但最近的分子遗传学结果表明，种群表现出类似连续体的结构，并且在某些地区发生自我招募。从招募潜力、气候变化和可持续渔业管理方面讨论了海螺早期生活史和连通性的知识现状。最近的分子遗传学结果表明，种群表现出类似连续体的结构，并且在某些地方会发生自我招募。从招募潜力、气候变化和可持续渔业管理方面讨论了海螺早期生活史和连通性的知识现状。最近的分子遗传学结果表明，种群表现出类似连续体的结构，并且在某些地方会发生自我招募。从招募潜力、气候变化和可持续渔业管理方面讨论了海螺早期生活史和连通性的知识现状。