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Our aim was to determine whether cyclone‐modified currents and winds can enhance coral larval transport between geographically separate reefs and whether connectivity could occur within the competency period of coral larvae.

The North West Shelf of Australia.

Larval connectivity was modelled between inshore and mid‐shelf reef zones in two years (1996 and 2001) when cyclones occurred around the time of coral spawning. This was contrasted with 2002, when cyclones were absent during the spawning. The effects of current and wind patterns on the dispersal of buoyant coral eggs was simulated using GCOM3D, a three dimensional hydrodynamic current model, and OILMAP, a surface wind stress model.

Modelling showed that larvae could disperse across the North West shelf and well beyond the parent reefs when influenced by cyclone‐modified wind and current …