Moving on up: Vertical distribution shifts in rocky reef fish species during climate‐driven decline in dissolved oxygen from 1995 to 2009

Marine reserves exhibit increases in targeted fish species, but long-term effects on biodiversity are poorly understood. Factors other than reserve status may affect decadal changes, including environmental change. We examined the fish fauna at the iconic Poor Knights Islands over 4 decades (1974–2016) before and after implementation of a no-take marine reserve in 1998. We document a substantial increase in commercially and recreationally targeted Chrysophrys auratus, which was virtually absent before 1994 but by 2016 had reached up to 11 fish per 500m2 (220 per hectare). There were also large changes to the fish community, including the decline of subtropical and coastal wrasses, some species with no change and others that increased significantly. Many declines occurred >20 years before the arrival of abundant C. auratus, suggesting the changes do not represent a trophic cascade. Furthermore, this normally benthic-feeding fish has adopted a mid-water foraging behaviour targeting planktivorous fish. The increase in C. auratus appears to be linked both to reserve status and catch regulations in the wider region. Overall, the data point to long-term environmental fluctuations from the late 1970s having a negative effect on the abundance of more than half the reef fish species at these islands.

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Length‐weight relationships of 4 coral‐reef fish species encountered in Gilbert Islands coastal artisanal fisheries

Journal of Applied Ichthyology ◽

10.1111/jai.14195 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sebastien Gislard ◽

Pauline Bosserelle ◽

George Shedrawi ◽

Rateiti Vaimalie ◽

Liliana Iotebatu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Fish Species ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Artisanal Fisheries ◽

Reef Fish Species

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Strong genetic but not spatial subdivision of two reef fish species targeted by fishers on the Great Barrier Reef

Fisheries Research ◽

10.1016/j.fishres.2009.10.002 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 102 (1-2) ◽

pp. 16-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

R.D. Evans ◽

L. van Herwerden ◽

G.R. Russ ◽

A.J. Frisch

Keyword(s):

Great Barrier Reef ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Fish Species ◽

Barrier Reef ◽

Spatial Subdivision ◽

Reef Fish Species

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Body size, reef area and temperature predict global reef-fish species richness across spatial scales

Global Ecology and Biogeography ◽

10.1111/geb.12851 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 315-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

D. R. Barneche ◽

E. L. Rezende ◽

V. Parravicini ◽

E. Maire ◽

G. J. Edgar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Body Size ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Fish Species ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Reef Area ◽

Reef Fish Species

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Predictive mapping of reef fish species richness, diversity and biomass in Zanzibar using IKONOS imagery and machine-learning techniques

Remote Sensing of Environment ◽

10.1016/j.rse.2010.01.007 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 114 (6) ◽

pp. 1230-1241 ◽

Cited By ~ 66

Author(s):

Anders Knudby ◽

Ellsworth LeDrew ◽

Alexander Brenning

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Species Richness ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Fish Species ◽

Machine Learning Techniques ◽

Predictive Mapping ◽

Learning Techniques ◽

Reef Fish Species

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Lessons learned from data-limited evaluations of data-rich reef fish species in the Gulf of Mexico: implications for providing fisheries management advice for data-poor stocks

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2017-0482 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (9) ◽

pp. 1624-1639 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Skyler R. Sagarese ◽

William J. Harford ◽

John F. Walter ◽

Meaghan D. Bryan ◽

J. Jeffery Isely ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Fish Species ◽

Stock Assessment ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Management Objectives ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Data Limitations ◽

Management Procedures ◽

Reef Fish Species

Specifying annual catch limits for artisanal fisheries, low economic value stocks, or bycatch species is problematic due to data limitations. Many empirical management procedures (MPs) have been developed that provide catch advice based on achieving a stable catch or a historical target (i.e., instead of maximum sustainable yield). However, a thorough comparison of derived yield streams between empirical MPs and stock assessment models has not been explored. We first evaluate trade-offs in conservation and yield metrics for data-limited approaches through management strategy evaluation (MSE) of seven data-rich reef fish species in the Gulf of Mexico. We then apply data-limited approaches for each species and compare how catch advice differs from current age-based assessment models. MSEs identified empirical MPs (e.g., using relative abundance) as a compromise between data requirements and the ability to consistently achieve management objectives (e.g., prevent overfishing). Catch advice differed greatly among data-limited approaches and current assessments, likely due to data inputs and assumptions. Adaptive MPs become clearly viable options that can achieve management objectives while incorporating auxiliary data beyond catch-only approaches.

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