times, the mesoscale features are absent, the currents are weak 

 and simple tidal oscillations occur (except during episodes of 

 occasional oceanic events, e.g., storms, tsunamis, errant eddies, 

 etc.). Under these conditions, oceanic and coastal waters mix 

 mainly in regions of flood divergence and ebb convergence flows 

 associated with tidal processes. The overall picture will change 

 with time and location especially when a large eddy is present 

 and moves along or away from the coast. An eddy is expected to 

 act as a major entrapment and near-island retention mechanism. 

 Thus, depending on the location of a reef relative to offshore 

 mesoscale features, the larvae produced by the residing fauna may 

 be swept over stretches of reef before moving offshore, move 

 quickly offshore, or be trapped nearshore. Once of f shore, larvae 

 may be carried out to sea and lost or trapped in an eddy which, 

 if it remains near an island, will enable larvae to return to 

 suitable adult habitats. Recruitment may depend, in part, on 

 those mesoscale eddies and currents bringing larvae near to 

 shore. If the seasonality of such currents is predictable in 

 time and space, then potential exists for species to adapt by 

 developing a peak in reproduction at times when the offshore 

 mesoscale field most favors nearshore retention of larvae. 



Research supported by National Science Foundation grants No. 

 OCE-80-09554 and No. OCE-81-17891 . 



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35 



