The Role of Biodiversity for the Functioning of Rocky Reef Communities

2009 ◽  
pp. 361-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Gamfeldt ◽  
Matthew E.S. Bracken
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Reef Communities

scholarly journals Evidence of the top–down role of predators in structuring sublittoral rocky-reef communities in a Marine Protected Area and nearby areas of the Canary Islands

2008 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Clemente ◽  
José Carlos Hernández ◽  
Alberto Brito
Keyword(s):  
Canary Islands ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Adult Density ◽  
Top Down ◽  
El Hierro ◽  
Reef Communities ◽  
Predation Rates

Abstract Clemente, S., Hernández, J. C., and Brito, A. 2009. Evidence of the top–down role of predators in structuring sublittoral rocky-reef communities in a Marine Protected Area and nearby areas of the Canary Islands. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 64–71. Differences in the sea urchin Diadema aff. antillarum population structure, which have been attributed to removal of predatory fish through overfishing, are observed throughout the Canary Islands. Low urchin abundances and a “desired conservation state” are currently found in Mar de Las Calmas Marine Protected Area and nearby fished areas (FAs) in El Hierro Island, in contrast to the occurrence of high urchin densities and the “undesired conservation state” in the highly FAs (HFAs) of Tenerife Island. Under these different levels of fishing pressure, we consider a set of ecological variables potentially affecting urchin populations (settlement, recruitment, adult urchin densities, predation rates, and abundance of urchin fish predators) to infer their magnitude and relative importance in addressing community-wide changes. No differences in settlement and recruitment rates were found, but predation pressure was higher in El Hierro, where adult density was low and predation rates were high. The combination of these factors provides evidence of a top–down control of sublittoral reef communities. Although the effect of protection was less clear, we demonstrate the positive effects of reduced fishing effort in enhancing trophic cascade processes and reducing the establishment of barren grounds.

Cascading effects of fishing on Galapagos rocky reef communities

2007 ◽  
Vol 343 ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
JI Sonnenholzner ◽  
LB Ladah ◽  
KD Lafferty
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Reef Communities

scholarly journals Interactions between sea urchin grazing and prey diversity on temperate rocky reef communities

Ecology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1636-1646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrett E. K. Byrnes ◽  
Bradley J. Cardinale ◽  
Daniel C. Reed
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Temperate Rocky Reef ◽  
Reef Communities ◽  
Prey Diversity ◽  
Urchin Grazing

The role of herbivorous fishes and urchins in coral reef communities

1978 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Ogden ◽  
Phillip S. Lobel
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Herbivorous Fishes ◽  
Reef Communities ◽  
Coral Reef Communities

The Fish Connection: A Trophic Link Between Planktonic and Rocky Reef Communities?

Science ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 214 (4517) ◽  
pp. 204-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. BRAY ◽  
A. C. MILLER ◽  
G. G. GEESEY
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Trophic Link ◽  
Reef Communities
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