Spatiotemporal variation in the structure of reef fish and macroalgal assemblages in a north-east Atlantic kelp forest ecosystem: implications for the management of temperate rocky reefs

Temperate rocky reefs and kelp forest ecosystems have been severely affected by overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction, and climate change is a major driver of kelp decline in many regions. Although necessary for management, ecological interactions between kelp and fish remain largely unknown in the north-east Atlantic. In the present study, underwater visual censuses (UVC) and univariate and multivariate multiple regression models were used to analyse the spatiotemporal variations in the abundance and habitat use of the rocky reef fish and macroalgae assemblages of Galicia (north-west Spain). The underwater seascape was dominated by large rocks and kelp forests of Laminaria hyperborea, L. ochroleuca and Saccorhiza polyschides. Fish assemblages were ruled by gadids, labrids and sparids. The most frequent fish species were Labrus bergylta (counted in 90% of UVC) and Pollachius pollachius (in 100% of UVC), whereas the most abundant were Boops boops (mean±s.d., 556.4±39.7 individuals ha–1) and L. bergylta (432.10±440.05 individuals ha–1). Fish and macroalgal assemblages showed different spatial preferences and responded strongly to seasonality, wave exposure and depth. To a lesser degree, fish and macroalgal assemblages showed preferences for habitat structure. Moreover, because the findings of the present study indicate that L. bergylta is a good indicator species of the health of rocky reef and kelp forests ecosystems, monitoring of this fish can be helpful for management and conservation actions.

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Climate-driven shifts in species' distributions may exacerbate the impacts of storm disturbances on North-east Atlantic kelp forests

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf14155 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 65 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Dan A. Smale ◽

Thomas Vance

Keyword(s):

Kelp Forest ◽

Species Distributions ◽

Wave Action ◽

Saccharina Latissima ◽

Kelp Forests ◽

Storm Damage ◽

Laminaria Hyperborea ◽

East Atlantic ◽

North East ◽

The North

Physical disturbance through wave action is a major determinant of kelp forest structure. The North-east Atlantic storm season of 2013–14 was unusually severe; the south coast of the UK was subjected to 6 of the 12 most intense storms recorded in the past 5 years. Inshore significant wave heights and periods exceeded 7m and 13s with two storms classified as ‘1-in-30 year’ events. We examined the impacts of the storm season on kelp canopies at three study sites. Monospecific canopies comprising Laminaria hyperborea were unaffected by storm disturbance. However, at one study site a mixed canopy comprising Laminaria ochroleuca, Saccharina latissima and L. hyperborea was significantly altered by the storms, due to decreased abundances of the former two species. Quantification of freshly severed stipes suggested that the ‘warm water’ kelp L. ochroleuca was more susceptible to storm damage than L. hyperborea. Overall, kelp canopies were highly resistant to storm disturbance because of the low vulnerability of L. hyperborea to intense wave action. However, if climate-driven shifts in kelp species distributions result in more mixed canopies, as predicted, then resistance to storm disturbance may be eroded.

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Survival and behaviour of juvenile red rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii, on rocky reefs with varying predation pressure and habitat complexity

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf07116 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

pp. 246 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

K. A. S. Mislan ◽

Russ C. Babcock

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Kelp Forest ◽

Predatory Fish ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Rocky Reefs ◽

Jasus Edwardsii ◽

Fish Predators ◽

Two Factors ◽

Direct And Indirect Impacts ◽

Indirect Impacts

The role of large predatory fish in coastal communities is generally unknown because of overfishing. In order to understand the direct and indirect impacts of these increased population sizes on coastal food chains, the effect of areas with more fish predators on the survival and behaviour of potential prey was assessed. Juvenile lobsters, Jasus edwardsii (10–20 mm carapace length), were tethered on rocky reefs inside and outside marine reserves in northeastern New Zealand to assess survival under differing predator densities. Since rocky reef habitats in northeastern New Zealand include zones of kelp forest and barren reef, a two-way factorial design was used to determine the effects of predators, habitat, and the interaction of these two factors on juvenile lobster survival. Overall, the results indicated that neither varying large fish density nor varying kelp density had direct impacts on the survival rate of juvenile lobsters. Laboratory manipulations demonstrated behavioural changes by juvenile lobsters such that when a large predatory fish was present, juvenile lobsters spent significantly less time moving, even when separated from the predator by a porous barrier. Thus areas with more fish predators may increase juvenile lobster survival but potentially at the cost of reduced feeding opportunities.

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Spatial, temporal and ontogenetic variation in the association of fishes (family Labridae) with rocky-reef habitats

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf10315 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 62 (7) ◽

pp. 870 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jason K. Morton ◽

William Gladstone

Keyword(s):

Fish Assemblages ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Habitat Variability ◽

Life History Stages ◽

Multiple Spatial Scales ◽

Habitat Specialisation ◽

Rocky Reefs

Habitat variability is an important factor structuring fish assemblages of rocky reefs in temperate Australia. Accepting the generality of this model requires that habitat-related variation is consistent through time, across multiple spatial scales, and applies to all life-history stages. We used repeated underwater visual surveys at multiple spatial scales over a 22-month period to test whether three distinct rocky-reef habitats had different wrasse assemblages and whether these assemblages were subject to spatial, temporal and ontogenetic variability. Overall, the strongest and most consistent habitat association was with sponge gardens, which had the most distinct assemblage, and the greatest species richness and density of individuals. Habitat associations in fringe and barrens were less consistent. A substantial increase in the abundance of small individuals, coinciding with warmer sea temperatures, contributed to temporal fluctuations in the density of wrasses. Overall, habitats were not strongly partitioned among larger individuals of the most abundant species, suggesting that adults are largely habitat generalists whereas small, recruiting individuals showed greater habitat specialisation. The present study emphasises the importance of incorporating spatial, temporal and ontogenetic variability into surveys of fish assemblages to understand more fully the dynamics of temperate rocky-reef systems.

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Multi-scale spatial heterogeneity, habitat structure, and the effect of marine reserves on Western Mediterranean rocky reef fish assemblages

Marine Biology ◽

10.1007/s00227-003-1170-0 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 144 (1) ◽

pp. 161-182 ◽

Cited By ~ 166

Author(s):

J. A. Garc�a-Charton ◽

�. P�rez-Ruzafa ◽

P. S�nchez-Jerez ◽

J. T. Bayle-Sempere ◽

O. Re�ones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Heterogeneity ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Habitat Structure ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Marine Reserves ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Multi Scale ◽

Rocky Reef Fish

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Patterns of variation in behaviour within and among reef fish species on an isolated tropical island: influence of exposure and substratum

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315410000111 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 91 (6) ◽

pp. 1359-1368 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

João Paulo Krajewski ◽

Sergio R. Floeter ◽

Geoffrey P. Jones ◽

Fosca P.P. Leite

Keyword(s):

Reef Fish ◽

Water Flux ◽

Trophic Group ◽

Wave Exposure ◽

Activity Budgets ◽

North East ◽

Rocky Reefs ◽

Fernando De Noronha ◽

Save Energy ◽

Species Specific

Here we studied the activity budgets of nine common reef fish in the oceanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, off north-east Brazil. Species were variable in their behaviour between different sites and similarities in their activity budgets were not necessarily associated with their trophic group. For four species we investigated the relationship of their activity budgets to wave exposure and substratum composition. Staying close to the substratum was positively correlated to wave exposure for most species and foraging was negatively correlated to exposure for two species. By behaving this way, these fish may save energy by avoiding swimming in higher water flux. In contrast to relationships with wave exposure, the responses to substratum composition were species specific. Our results highlight that the activity budgets of fish living in oceanic rocky reefs can be variable and influenced by the local and temporal variation in environmental variables.

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Assessment of rocky reef fish assemblages close to seaweed farming

Aquaculture Research ◽

10.1111/are.12896 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 481-493 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leonardo Lara de Carvalho ◽

Eduardo Godoy Aires de Souza ◽

Mauricio Roque da Mata Júnior ◽

Roberto Campos Villaça

Keyword(s):

Reef Fish ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Seaweed Farming ◽

Rocky Reef Fish

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Relationships between rocky-reef fish assemblages, the sea urchin Diadema antillarum and macroalgae throughout the Canarian Archipelago

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps278157 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 278 ◽

pp. 157-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

F Tuya ◽

A Boyra ◽

P Sanchez-Jerez ◽

C Barbera ◽

RJ Haroun

Keyword(s):

Reef Fish ◽

Sea Urchin ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Diadema Antillarum ◽

Rocky Reef Fish ◽

Canarian Archipelago

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The sea urchin – the ultimate herbivore and biogeographic variability in its ability to deforest kelp ecosystems

10.7287/peerj.preprints.174v1 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Jarrett E Byrnes ◽

Ladd E. Johnson ◽

Sean D. Connell ◽

Nick T. Shears ◽

Selena M McMillan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Urchin ◽

Large Scale ◽

Sea Urchins ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Kelp Forest ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Rocky Reefs ◽

Iconic Images ◽

Balance Of Forces ◽

Almost All

Barren rocky seafloor landscapes, denuded of almost all life by ravenous sea urchins, liberated from their predators, stands as one of the iconic images of trophic cascades in Ecology. While this paradigm has been cited in nearly every temperate rocky reef ecosystem across the globe, there is widespread disagreement as to its generality. Given their biology, sea urchins are clearly one of the ocean’s strongest herbivores in many systems, but where will their impact be strongest? Here we perform a global meta-analysis of sea urchin-kelp relationships in the field. We find that sea urchins appear to be able to control kelp abundances in any system where they can achieve high densities. Furthermore, their ability to create large-scale long-lasting barrens appears to be limited to biogeographic regions where they can achieve high consumptive potential. Based on the literature, we outline a conceptual model that examines when and where sea urchins should be able to have a strong regulating impact on kelp forest ecosystems. We suggest that many elements of global change may shift the balance of forces regulating sea urchin consumptive potential in these ecosystems. Given their ability to have strong impacts on temperate rocky reefs, these drivers need to be considered in concert with their effect on sea urchins when attempting to predict future change to marine ecosystems.

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