SMALL-SCALE POPULATION DYNAMICS

Kin selection has long been thought to be the central driver for the evolution of complex groups. However, since marine animals usually have a larval dispersal phase, small-scale relatedness patterns were assumed to be unlikely in marine ecosystems. The last few decades have shown that larvae often return to their reefs of origin, therefore it is worthwhile investigating whether delayed dispersal, limited dispersal, or kin cohesion during dispersal may lead to elevated relatedness within groups.

Photo credit: P. Buston

Relevant publications

Rueger, T., Patel, M., Barbasch, T. A., Bogdanowicz, S. M., Buston, P. M. (2025). Kin selection does not explain social group formation in clown anemonefish. Behavioral Ecology, in print

Rueger, T., Bogdanowicz, S., Buston, P., Wong, M. (2021). Genetic relatedness in social groups of the emerald coral goby Paragobiodon xanthosoma creates potential for weak kin selection. Molecular Ecology. 30: 1311-1321.

Rueger, T., Harrison, H., Buston, P., Gardiner, N., Berumen, M., Jones, G. (2020). Natal philopatry increases relatedness within groups of coral reef cardinalfish. Proc B. 287: 20201133.

Talk on natal philopatry in pajama cardinal fish

The Virtual Larval Fish Science Townhall was my first online conference during the pandemic in June 2020.

Check out the other great talks here