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Biophysical Lagrangian particle tracking models used to predict larval transport and dispersal are potentially sensitive to input parameters. Here we test the effects of four common input parameters (release interval, number of particles, diffusion, and release depth) for a 2D particle tracking model in the North Central Pacific Ocean. We evaluated the effects on modeled larval transport (particle movement) and dispersal (import) into the Hawaiian Archipelago from eight different regions for a shallow reef organism. Model results were sensitive to all input parameters to varying degrees across the planktonic larval duration/settlement windows and output metrics (transport vs. dispersal) tested. Variation in larval transport pathways 180 days after release was only evident when evaluating depth of release. In contrast, larval transport at 30 days post release did not vary when testing depth of release. Larval dispersal was not different for shorter settlement windows (30 days) regardless of the parameter tested. Occasional connections between distant archipelagos (e.g., Kiritimati, Okinawa, Wake) only occurred when larval duration was at its maximum (180 days), but these long- distance connections were also variable with depth of release. Out of the four parameters tested, changes in release depth resulted in the most significant differences for larval transport and had inconsistent connections for larval dispersal. These outcomes emphasize the importance of choosing a depth layer in future modeling studies. Because factors that affect larval depth distribution, such as spawning depth, buoyancy changes, and swimming behavior, are typically unknown for many taxa, future research should focus on field sampling to determine these in situ behaviors for better parameterization of models.