The Indo‐Pacific consists of extensive continuous coastlines and many island groups of varying sizes and isolation. The species ranges of coral reef fishes vary enormously from Indo‐Pacific wide to highly endemic. There is also great variation in the early life history characteristics of coral reef fishes ( e.g . pelagic larval durations, spawning strategies and swimming abilities). We use individual‐based models (IBMs) to sim...

Until recently, oceanographic models have been used, with limited success, to predict the larval dispersal of coral reef fishes. Settlement‐stage larvae have been shown to be capable swimmers and have highly developed sensory organs. We built two simulation individual based models (IBMs) of larval dispersal in the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia. One followed an oceanographic model, while the other was driven by behavio...

The vast majority of tropical reef fishes have a sedentary adult phase and pelagic larval phase that is potentially highly dispersive. Dispersal may be favoured by a wide range of factors including the arrangement of suitable habitat in space. In this paper the dispersal strategy of individuals is followed and allowed to evolve in a simplified model of three different landscapes: an enclosed sea, an open archipelago and a barr...