Seascape heterogeneity modifies estuarine fish assemblages in mangrove forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J Henderson ◽  
Ben L Gilby ◽  
Edward Stone ◽  
Hayden P Borland ◽  
Andrew D Olds
Keyword(s):  
Fish Community ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Estuarine Fish ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Estuary Mouth ◽  
Urban Structures ◽  
Catchment Size ◽  
Subtropical Estuaries ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Abstract Mangroves are a dominant structural habitat within tropical and subtropical estuaries that provide a number of ecosystem services, including habitat for a range of crustaceans and fish. However, mangroves are one of the most threatened estuarine habitats globally, having been severely reduced in extent, and replaced by urban structures. Here, we test for the effects of both natural (e.g. seagrass, rock and mangroves habitat extent, and connectivity) and human (e.g. extent of urban area) landscape variables on the number and type of fish inhabiting mangroves forests. We used remote underwater video stations to quantify fish assemblages within mangroves at 150 sites in 30 estuaries across Queensland, Australia. Fish community structure was best explained by the extent of mangroves and seagrasses within an estuary, the distance to the estuary mouth, and the size of the estuary and catchment. Moderate catchment size and proximity to the estuary mouth increased species richness and abundance of harvestable fish at individual mangrove sites. In order to maintain mangrove fish assemblages and the functions they provide, management initiatives should focus on maintaining natural estuarine seascapes that are located closer to the mouth of estuaries, in particular, focusing on estuaries that have lower levels of catchment urbanization.

Colonization by nearshore fish on small artificial reefs in Barkley Sound, British Columbia

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 1635-1646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Gascon ◽  
Roberta A. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Fish Community ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Barkley Sound ◽  
Reef Fish Community ◽  
Concrete Blocks ◽  
Rocky Habitats ◽  
Colonizing Ability

We investigated the structure of a temperate nearshore fish community by examining the development of fish assemblages on small artificial reefs of concrete blocks constructed in two series 6 months apart. In each series, a species equilibrium, of approximately six species, was rapidly reached within 6 months. Eight of the 30 species which had colonized the reefs from the surrounding rocky habitats were common on the reefs. Both juveniles and adults of all species were present, except for the rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) which were represented only by young individuals (1 to 3 years of age). Tagging indicated that the bottom-dwelling species (Gobiidae, Cottidae) remained permanently on the reefs, whereas a seasonal turnover in rockfish occurred.The communities inhabiting the reefs usually did not differ from each other within each series, whereas significant differences occurred between series. This difference was attributed to the differential colonizing ability of species. No evidence of interspecific competition was apparent among the species inhabiting the reefs.The results are discussed in light of some current models of coral reef fish community structure. Some possible factors affecting the differences observed between tropical and temperate waters are also discussed.

scholarly journals Characterization of Fish Community Structure And Development of An Estuarine Fish Community Index For Temporarily Closed Estuaries (TCEs) From India’s Western Coast

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiranya Bella ◽  
Pramila Sahadevan ◽  
Sreekanth Giri Bhavan ◽  
Appukuttannair Bijukumar ◽  
Rajeev Raghavan
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Estuarine Fish ◽  
Feeding Guilds ◽  
Western India ◽  
Western Coast ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Fish Assemblage Structure ◽  
Ecological Quality ◽  
Fish Community Structure

Abstract We present for the first-time data on fish assemblage structure for ten temporarily closed estuaries (TCEs) along the western coast of India. Fish community structure differed significantly between TCEs based on species presence/absence, estuarine use and feeding mode - differences based on estuarine surface area and geographical position (northern and southern locations). Marine migrant and freshwater stragglers dominated the ‘fish guilds’ in all estuaries, while piscivores and zoobenthivores were the major feeding guilds. We used the estuarine fish community index (EFCI) and a combined anthropogenic pressure index (CPI) to determine ecological quality of the TCEs. The application of functional guilds and EFCI could represent the use of TCEs by fish communities, and functional similarities existing between fish assemblages of these estuaries, despite considerable taxonomic, physical and chemical differences. Analysis of EFCI indicated that the ecological health of TCEs in south-western India ranges from “poor” to “good”. Through this index, we also established a significant relationship between CPI, EFCI and ecological quality in various TCEs (EFCI = A + (b X CPI)). Thus, the EFCI provides an integrated measure of the ecological status of fish community for TCEs along Indian coast.

scholarly journals Spatial and Temporal Variation of Fish Assemblages in Seti Gandaki River, Tanahu, Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-104
Author(s):  
ARCHANA PRASAD ◽  
ANJANA SHRESTHA ◽  
JASH HANG LIMBU ◽  
DEEP SWAR
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Mesh Size ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Total Hardness ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
Significant Difference

The space and time variations of the fish community structure in hill streams of Nepal are poorly understood. This research aims at studying the space and time variation of fish community structure in the Seti Gandaki River, Tanahu, Nepal. The field survey was conducted from July 2017 to June 2018 and the fishes were sampled from six sites using a medium size cast net of mesh size ranging from 3 mm to 6 mm mesh size, 25-33 feet length and 3.5-5 feet width, with the help of local fisher man. A total of 1,440 individuals were caught representing 46 species belonging to three order, nine families and 23 genera. The analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed significant difference in space (R = 0.824, P = 0.001) but not in time (R = 0.135, P = 0.021). On the basis of similarity percentage (SIMPER) analysis, 85.43% similarity was found among the seasons and major contributing species were Barilius bendelisis (8.44%) followed by B. vagra (7.79%), Tor putitora (7.27%), Garra gotyla (7%), Acanthocobotis botia (6.7%), Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (6.64%), Barilius shacra (6%), B. barila (4.5%) and Opsarius barna (4.37%). On the other hand, 85.24% similarity was found among the sites and major contributing species were B. bendelisis (8.8%) followed by B. vagra (7.6%), G. gotyla (7.27%), T. putitora (7.17%), A. botia (6.97%), N. hexagonolepis (6.7%), B. shacra (6.34%), B. barila (4.7%) and O. barna (4.39%). Results from the Canonical Correspondence Analysis indicated that the environmental variables, such as pH, total hardness, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and water temperature have shown to determine the fish community structure of Seti Gandaki River. Keywords: Fish diversity, freshwater, habitat, spatio-temporal, stream

scholarly journals Fish assemblages in a small temperate estuary on the Argentinian coast: spatial variation, environmental influence and relevance as nursery area

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustín Solari ◽  
Andrés J. Jaureguizar ◽  
Andrés C. Milessi ◽  
Mirta L. García
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Environmental Influence ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Spatial Spread ◽  
Temperate Estuary ◽  
Number Of Species

AbstractThe effects of different environmental variables on the fish community structure were evaluated in a small temperate estuary. The biological and environmental data were collected bimonthly between 2007 and 2009 along the main estuarine axis. Multivariate analyses were applied (CLUSTER, SIMPER, CCA) to determine the spatial structure of fish community and to estimate the environmental influence on it. A total of 48 species of "teleost" fishes were observed, with the families Characidae and Sciaenidae presenting the largest number of species, 90% of the catches being juveniles. The fish community was overwhelmingly dominated by one species (Micropogonias furnieri, 88.9%), and only four species contributed more than 1% of total catch (Odontesthes argentinensis5.4%, Brevoortia aurea 1.1%, Paralonchurus brasiliensis 1.1%, and Mugil platanus 1.0%). Estuarine and freshwater stragglers dominated in number of species, followed by freshwater migrants and marine migrants. Three areas with different fish assemblages, with distinctive species and functional guilds, were defined along the main axis. The occurrence and spatial spread of these areas were linked to spatial variation in salinity, which was consistently influenced by discharge from the Río de la Plata and local precipitation. The results highlight the importance of shallow environments as nursery areas and permit emphasis on their susceptibility to environmental changes.

scholarly journals Mangrove-associated fish assemblages off the southern Panama Bight region (tropical eastern Pacific)

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo A. Castellanos-Galindo ◽  
Rodrigo A. Baos ◽  
Luis A. Zapata
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Trophic Relationships ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Artisanal Fishery ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific

ABSTRACT The Panama Bight ecoregion (PBE) in the eastern Pacific contains probably the best developed mangrove forests in the American continent. Fishes inhabiting the mangrove-estuary mosaic play fundamental ecological roles and sustain the artisanal fishery operating there. Here, using data collected along ~300 km between 2012 and 2017, we examine the spatial dynamics of mangrove fish assemblages that undertake intertidal migrations in the southern part of the PBE (southern Colombian Pacific coast), where the largest and least disturbed mangroves of Colombia are located. Sixty-one fish species used intertidal mangrove habitats in these areas, constituting ~30% of all fishes inhabiting the whole mosaic of mangrove habitats in this ecoregion. Species within Clupeidae, Ariidae, Centropomidae and Tetraodontidae, all common in mangroves of the eastern Pacific, were the most dominant. Half of the fish species found are commercially important to the artisanal fishery. Differences in fish community structure could be related to salinity differences, but other environmental and ecological factors could also play a role in explaining these differences. A better understanding of the ecological role of mangrove fishes in the region could be gained by examining the ichthyofauna of other habitats within the mosaic and their trophic relationships.

scholarly journals Seascape Context as a Driver of the Fish Community Structure of Posidonia oceanica Meadows in the Adriatic Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 89-109
Author(s):  
Ivana Zubak Čižmek ◽  
Stewart Tyre Schultz ◽  
Claudia Kruschel ◽  
Hrvoje Čižmek
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Visual Census ◽  
Fish Abundances ◽  
Unique Species

Abstract Marine underwater habitats dominated by seagrass Posidonia oceanica play an essential role in fish community assembly, affecting taxonomic and functional diversity, abundance and fish behavior. The value of seagrasses as habitat depends on the spatial arrangement of the seascape elements and the availability of alternative habitats. Little is known about the effect of the seascape context of P. oceanica meadows on fish assemblages in the Mediterranean Sea. To identify P. oceanica meadows’ relative importance as a habitat for fishes, fish communities in the Croatian Adriatic Sea were investigated, using SCUBA lure-assisted visual census. The results show a significant effect of different arrangements of P. oceanica meadows’ seascape elements and surrounding habitats on fish community structure. Fragmented mosaic meadows with P. oceanica growing directly on and between rocky-algal reefs/boulders had significantly higher fish abundances compared to both types of continuous meadows (bordering rock and bordering sand). Continuous meadows bordering sand harbored the highest number of unique species. Evidence that alternative structured habitats within proximity to seagrass beds may affect the community structure of associated fish assemblages is provided, highlighting the need to consider P. oceanica meadows’ seascape context in conservation management and experimental design for fish community structure.

Fish community structure, habitat complexity, and soundscape characteristics of patch reefs in a tropical, back-reef system

2019 ◽  
Vol 609 ◽  
pp. 33-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
RP Lyon ◽  
DB Eggleston ◽  
DR Bohnenstiehl ◽  
CA Layman ◽  
SW Ricci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Back Reef ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Patch Reefs ◽  
Reef System

Dissolved oxygen and temperature best predict deep-sea fish community structure in the Gulf of California with climate change implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 637 ◽  
pp. 159-180
Author(s):  
ND Gallo ◽  
M Beckwith ◽  
CL Wei ◽  
LA Levin ◽  
L Kuhnz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Gulf Of California ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Demersal Fish ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Explained Variance

Natural gradient systems can be used to examine the vulnerability of deep-sea communities to climate change. The Gulf of California presents an ideal system for examining relationships between faunal patterns and environmental conditions of deep-sea communities because deep-sea conditions change from warm and oxygen-rich in the north to cold and severely hypoxic in the south. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) remotely operated vehicle (ROV) ‘Doc Ricketts’ was used to conduct seafloor video transects at depths of ~200-1400 m in the northern, central, and southern Gulf. The community composition, density, and diversity of demersal fish assemblages were compared to environmental conditions. We tested the hypothesis that climate-relevant variables (temperature, oxygen, and primary production) have more explanatory power than static variables (latitude, depth, and benthic substrate) in explaining variation in fish community structure. Temperature best explained variance in density, while oxygen best explained variance in diversity and community composition. Both density and diversity declined with decreasing oxygen, but diversity declined at a higher oxygen threshold (~7 µmol kg-1). Remarkably, high-density fish communities were observed living under suboxic conditions (<5 µmol kg-1). Using an Earth systems global climate model forced under an RCP8.5 scenario, we found that by 2081-2100, the entire Gulf of California seafloor is expected to experience a mean temperature increase of 1.08 ± 1.07°C and modest deoxygenation. The projected changes in temperature and oxygen are expected to be accompanied by reduced diversity and related changes in deep-sea demersal fish communities.

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