The influence of marine protected areas on the patterns and processes in the life cycle of reef fishes

Successful settlement and recruitment of reef fish are influenced by spatial and temporal processes and variables on distinct scales. Moreover, they require survival at various stages in different environments for species with a complex life cycle, as in the case of most reef fish. The variability in those processes can be explained by biotic and abiotic factors that affect pre and postsettlement stages. Despite the many benefits of marine protected areas (MPAs) for fish and fisheries, the positive effects of protected areas on the reproduction, settlement, and recruitment of reef fish are still unclear. The present study reviewed the biotic and abiotic factors that influence the settlement and recruitment of reef fish, especially regarding the role of MPAs in these processes. This bibliographic review shows that the larval settlement is shaped by the interaction of biological traits (e.g., life history) and environmental factors (e.g., temperature, currents), which are determinants of the life cycle and population structure of reef fish. The main contribution of MPAs to these processes is the export of eggs and larvae to adjacent regions. However, further research is needed on the issues of settlement and recruitment in the specific context of MPAs. The absence of studies on this topic, particularly how protection affects, directly and indirectly, recruitment variability and how this is reflected in the adult population, hinders MPAs objectives and seems to be a serious shortcoming in attempts to support future populations at ecologically adequate levels.