Incomplete datasets obscure associations between traits affecting dispersal ability and geographic range size of reef fishes in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

摘要: Dispersal is thought to be an important process determining range size, especially for species in highly spatially structured habitats, such as tropical reef fishes. Despite intensive research efforts, there conflicting evidence about the role of dispersal size. We hypothesize that traits related drive sizes, but complete and comprehensive datasets are essential detecting relationships between species' ability investigate roles six affecting several stages (adult mobility, spawning mode, pelagic larval duration (PLD), body aggregation behavior, circadian activity), explaining size variation fishes Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP). All traits, except PLD (148 species), had data all 497 region. Using a series statistical models, we investigated which were associated with large when analyzing TEP or only data. Furthermore, using null analyzed whether PLD-subset representative regional pool. Several strongly although these could not detected PLD-subset. Pelagic spawners (allowing passive egg dispersal) on average 56% larger sizes than nonpelagic spawners. Species medium high adult mobility 25% 33% range, respectively, low mobility. Null models showed was nonrepresentative pool, why model outcomes differed from ones based dataset. Our results show TEP, variation. regionally dataset crucial theoretically expected, so far empirically unresolved, relationship