Diversity of coral reef fish assemblages: Modelling of the species richness spectra from multi-scale environmental variables in the Tuamotu Archipelago (French Polynesia)

Corals provide structure and food sources vital for the maintenance of coral reef fish diversity. However, coral reefs are currently under threat from climate change, which has led to the largest recorded loss of live coral. The loss of live coral, and corresponding shift in reef benthic composition, are predicted to impact the abundance and composition of coral reef fish species and communities. In this study, we investigate the effect of changes in reef benthic composition (eg. live coral, dead coral, algae), on the diversity and composition in an assemblage of butterflyfish species, in Faafu Atoll in the Maldives after the 2016 bleaching event. We show that differences in community composition of butterflyfish are associated to benthic structure, reflecting species feeding preferences. Interestingly, however, we also show that lower coral cover is not associated to lower abundance and species richness of butterflyfish. Our results suggest that maintenance of coral reef structure after a disturbance provides key microhabitats to accommodate non-corallivorous butterflyfish, thus maintaining abundance and species richness. Overall our study provides support for regulation of richness and abundance of coral reef fish assemblages to short term changes in coral reef benthic composition after disturbance via turnover in composition.

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Coral reef fish assemblages at Clipperton Atoll (Eastern Tropical Pacific) and their relationship with coral cover

Scientia Marina ◽

10.3989/scimar.04301.12b ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 479 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Aurora M. Ricart ◽

Fabián A. Rodríguez-Zaragoza ◽

Carlos González-Salas ◽

Marco Ortiz ◽

Amílcar L. Cupul-Magaña ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Coral Reef ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Fish Assemblage ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Live Coral ◽

Assemblage Composition ◽

Live Coral Cover

Clipperton Atoll, one of the most isolated coral reefs worldwide, is of great scientific interest due to its geomorphology and high levels of endemism. This study explored the reef fish assemblage structure of Clipperton Atoll and its relationship with live coral cover. Nine stations were sampled at three sites and three depths (6, 12 and 20 m) around the reef, measuring fish species richness and biomass and hermatypic coral cover (at genus level). We evaluated variation in species richness, biomass and diversity of fish assemblages among sites and depths, as well as the relationship between the entire fish assemblage composition and live coral cover. The results showed that species richness and biomass were similar among sites, but differed across depths, increasing with depth. In contrast, diversity differed among sites but not among depths. Multivariate analyses indicated that fish assemblage composition differed among sites and depths in relation to changes in cover of coral of the genera Pocillopora, Porites, Pavona and Leptoseris, which dominate at different depths. The results showed that fish species richness and diversity were low at Clipperton Atoll and that, in isolated coral reefs with a low habitat heterogeneity and low human disturbance, live coral cover has a significant influence on the spatial variation of the reef fish assemblages. This study highlights the importance of coral habitat structure in shaping coral reef fish assemblages.

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Benthic structure drives butterflyfish species composition and trophic group abundance

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27491v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Miguel Barbosa ◽

Neil Coupland ◽

Clara Douglas ◽

Ellen Harrison ◽

Kelly M James ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Coral Reef ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Food Sources ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Live Coral ◽

Benthic Composition

Corals provide structure and food sources vital for the maintenance of coral reef fish diversity. However, coral reefs are currently under threat from climate change, which has led to the largest recorded loss of live coral. The loss of live coral, and corresponding shift in reef benthic composition, are predicted to impact the abundance and composition of coral reef fish species and communities. In this study, we investigate the effect of changes in reef benthic composition (eg. live coral, dead coral, algae), on the diversity and composition in an assemblage of butterflyfish species, in Faafu Atoll in the Maldives after the 2016 bleaching event. We show that differences in community composition of butterflyfish are associated to benthic structure, reflecting species feeding preferences. Interestingly, however, we also show that lower coral cover is not associated to lower abundance and species richness of butterflyfish. Our results suggest that maintenance of coral reef structure after a disturbance provides key microhabitats to accommodate non-corallivorous butterflyfish, thus maintaining abundance and species richness. Overall our study provides support for regulation of richness and abundance of coral reef fish assemblages to short term changes in coral reef benthic composition after disturbance via turnover in composition.

Download Full-text

Benthic structure drives butterflyfish species composition and trophic group abundance

10.7287/peerj.preprints.27491 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Miguel Barbosa ◽

Neil Coupland ◽

Clara Douglas ◽

Ellen Harrison ◽

Kelly M James ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Coral Reef ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Coral Cover ◽

Food Sources ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Live Coral ◽

Benthic Composition

Corals provide structure and food sources vital for the maintenance of coral reef fish diversity. However, coral reefs are currently under threat from climate change, which has led to the largest recorded loss of live coral. The loss of live coral, and corresponding shift in reef benthic composition, are predicted to impact the abundance and composition of coral reef fish species and communities. In this study, we investigate the effect of changes in reef benthic composition (eg. live coral, dead coral, algae), on the diversity and composition in an assemblage of butterflyfish species, in Faafu Atoll in the Maldives after the 2016 bleaching event. We show that differences in community composition of butterflyfish are associated to benthic structure, reflecting species feeding preferences. Interestingly, however, we also show that lower coral cover is not associated to lower abundance and species richness of butterflyfish. Our results suggest that maintenance of coral reef structure after a disturbance provides key microhabitats to accommodate non-corallivorous butterflyfish, thus maintaining abundance and species richness. Overall our study provides support for regulation of richness and abundance of coral reef fish assemblages to short term changes in coral reef benthic composition after disturbance via turnover in composition.

Download Full-text