scholarly journals Capture, Culture and Release of Postlarvae Fishes: Proof-of-Concept as a Tool Approach to Support Reef Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilo Cortés-Useche ◽  
Williams Reyes-Gamboa ◽  
José Luís Cabrera-Pérez ◽  
Johanna Calle-Triviño ◽  
Ana Cerón-Flores ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Reef Management ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Release Experiment

The changing world presents negative impacts on marine ecosystems and has led to the development of diversified tools to support reef restoration. Harnessing restoration to achieve success needs innovative techniques that also address the restoration of reef fish assemblages, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functions and also tackle the cost-effectiveness through impact-driven solutions. Here, we propose a proof-of-concept for enhancing fish populations on reefs using: (1) postlarvae capture, (2) aquarium culture, and (3) release to reef sites. We conducted field studies in the Mexican Caribbean to analyze for the first time, the possibility of using the capture and aquarium culture of postlarvae fish species and release of juveniles as a tool for the potential recovery of reef biodiversity resilience. We tested the potential of postlarvae capture using two distinct night light traps (BOX and collect by artificial reef ecofriendly traps, C.A.R.E.) in three sampling sites with different distances from shoreline and depth. We collected 748 postlarvae reef fishes from eight orders, 20 families, and 40 species. Acanthuridae, Pomacentridae, Monacanthidae, and Tetraodontidae comprised the highest species number of postlarvae families. We also set up a pilot release experiment with Stegastes partitus using two trials (32 and 1 day after capture) and propose analysis to determine appropriate reef sites to release the cultured juveniles and to aid ecological planning. We present the results of the pilot release experiment with S. partitus, showing that there is a positive effect in survivorship during the capture (80%) and release (76–100%) procedures into suitable habitat and good chance that more studies will bring novelty to the field. Although trials carried out with more species relevant to restoration will be needed. The use of these techniques can be a great opportunity to improve the research of restoration efforts in the Caribbean region with fish-depleted coral reefs with vulnerable food webs, especially at local scales and supporting other management strategies.

scholarly journals Coral species composition drives key ecosystem function on coral reefs

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1921) ◽  
pp. 20192214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura E. Richardson ◽  
Nicholas A. J. Graham ◽  
Andrew S. Hoey
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Algal Turf ◽  
Benthic Assemblages ◽  
Ecosystem Recovery ◽  
Visual Occlusion

Rapid and unprecedented ecological change threatens the functioning and stability of ecosystems. On coral reefs, global climate change and local stressors are reducing and reorganizing habitat-forming corals and associated species, with largely unknown implications for critical ecosystem functions such as herbivory. Herbivory mediates coral–algal competition, thereby facilitating ecosystem recovery following disturbance such as coral bleaching events or large storms. However, relationships between coral species composition, the distribution of herbivorous fishes and the delivery of their functional impact are not well understood. Here, we investigate how herbivorous fish assemblages and delivery of two distinct herbivory processes, grazing and browsing, differ among three taxonomically distinct, replicated coral habitats. While grazing on algal turf assemblages was insensitive to different coral configurations, browsing on the macroalga Laurencia cf. obtusa varied considerably among habitats, suggesting that different mechanisms may shape these processes. Variation in browsing among habitats was best predicted by the composition and structural complexity of benthic assemblages (in particular the cover and composition of corals, but not macroalgal cover), and was poorly reflected by visual estimates of browser biomass. Surprisingly, the lowest browsing rates were recorded in the most structurally complex habitat, with the greatest cover of coral (branching Porites habitat). While the mechanism for the variation in browsing is not clear, it may be related to scale-dependent effects of habitat structure on visual occlusion inhibiting foraging activity by browsing fishes, or the relative availability of alternate dietary resources. Our results suggest that maintained functionality may vary among distinct and emerging coral reef configurations due to ecological interactions between reef fishes and their environment determining habitat selection.

scholarly journals The evolution of traits and functions in herbivorous coral reef fishes through space and time

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1897) ◽  
pp. 20182672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre C. Siqueira ◽  
David R. Bellwood ◽  
Peter F. Cowman
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Ecological Framework ◽  
Functional Composition ◽  
Ecological Process ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The World ◽  
Trait Space

Herbivory by fishes has been identified as a key ecological process shaping coral reefs through time. Although taxonomically limited, herbivorous reef fishes display a wide range of traits, which results in varied ecosystem functions on reefs around the world. Yet, we understand little about how these trait combinations and functions in ecosystems changed through time and across biogeographic realms. Here, we used fossils and phylogenies in a functional ecological framework to reveal temporal changes in nominally herbivorous fish assemblages among oceanic basins in both trait space and lineage richness among functions. We show that the trait space occupied by extant herbivorous fishes in the Indo-Pacific resulted from an expansion of traits from the ancestral Tethyan assemblages. By contrast, trait space in the Atlantic is the result of lineage turnover, with relatively recent colonization by lineages that arose in the east Tethys/Indo-Pacific. From an ecosystem function perspective, the Atlantic supports a depauperate fauna, with few extant herbivorous reef fish lineages performing each function. Indo-Pacific fishes support both more functions and more lineages within each function, with a marked Miocene to Pleistocene expansion. These disparities highlight the importance of history in explaining global variation in fish functional composition on coral reefs.

scholarly journals Unexpected high vulnerability of functions in wilderness areas: evidence from coral reef fishes

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1844) ◽  
pp. 20160128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie D'agata ◽  
Laurent Vigliola ◽  
Nicholas A. J. Graham ◽  
Laurent Wantiez ◽  
Valeriano Parravicini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
New Caledonia ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Wilderness Areas ◽  
High Species Richness

High species richness is thought to support the delivery of multiple ecosystem functions and services under changing environments. Yet, some species might perform unique functional roles while others are redundant. Thus, the benefits of high species richness in maintaining ecosystem functioning are uncertain if functions have little redundancy, potentially leading to high vulnerability of functions. We studied the natural propensity of assemblages to be functionally buffered against loss prior to fishing activities, using functional trait combinations, in coral reef fish assemblages across unfished wilderness areas of the Indo-Pacific: Chagos Archipelago, New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Fish functional diversity in these wilderness areas is highly vulnerable to fishing, explained by species- and abundance-based redundancy packed into a small combination of traits, leaving most other trait combinations (60%) sensitive to fishing, with no redundancy. Functional vulnerability peaks for mobile and sedentary top predators, and large species in general. Functional vulnerability decreases for certain functional entities in New Caledonia, where overall functional redundancy was higher. Uncovering these baseline patterns of functional vulnerability can offer early warning signals of the damaging effects from fishing, and may serve as baselines to guide precautionary and even proactive conservation actions.

Spatial assemblage structure of shallow-water reef fish in Southwest Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 649 ◽  
pp. 125-140
Author(s):  
DS Goldsworthy ◽  
BJ Saunders ◽  
JRC Parker ◽  
ES Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Reef Fish Assemblage ◽  
Reef Type ◽  
Present Distribution ◽  
Southwest Australia

Bioregional categorisation of the Australian marine environment is essential to conserve and manage entire ecosystems, including the biota and associated habitats. It is important that these regions are optimally positioned to effectively plan for the protection of distinct assemblages. Recent climatic variation and changes to the marine environment in Southwest Australia (SWA) have resulted in shifts in species ranges and changes to the composition of marine assemblages. The goal of this study was to determine if the current bioregionalisation of SWA accurately represents the present distribution of shallow-water reef fishes across 2000 km of its subtropical and temperate coastline. Data was collected in 2015 using diver-operated underwater stereo-video surveys from 7 regions between Port Gregory (north of Geraldton) to the east of Esperance. This study indicated that (1) the shallow-water reef fish of SWA formed 4 distinct assemblages along the coast: one Midwestern, one Central and 2 Southern Assemblages; (2) differences between these fish assemblages were primarily driven by sea surface temperature, Ecklonia radiata cover, non-E. radiata (canopy) cover, understorey algae cover, reef type and reef height; and (3) each of the 4 assemblages were characterised by a high number of short-range Australian and Western Australian endemic species. The findings from this study suggest that 4, rather than the existing 3 bioregions would more effectively capture the shallow-water reef fish assemblage patterns, with boundaries having shifted southwards likely associated with ocean warming.

scholarly journals Regional and Seasonal Differences in Species Composition and Trophic Groups for Tidepool Fishes of a Western Pacific Island – Taiwan

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin K. C. Wen ◽  
Li-Shu Chen ◽  
Kwang-Tsao Shao
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Trophic Groups ◽  
Species Numbers ◽  
Intertidal Fish ◽  
Intertidal Fishes

Spatial and temporal variations in the species composition of assemblages are common in many marine organisms, including fishes. Variations in the fish species composition of subtidal coral reefs have been well documented, however much less is known about such differences for intertidal fish assemblages. This is surprising, given that intertidal fishes are more vulnerable to terrestrial human disturbances. It is critical to evaluate the ecology and biology of intertidal fishes before they are severely impacted by coastal development, especially in developing countries such as those in the tropical western Pacific region where coastal development is rapidly increasing. In this study, we investigated the species composition, abundance, biomass and species number (richness) for intertidal fish assemblages in subtropical (northern) and tropical (southern) Taiwan across four seasons by collecting fishes from tidepools using clove oil. We also examined the gut contents of collected fishes to identify their trophic functional groups in order to investigate regional and seasonal variations for different trophic groups. We found significant differences in the species composition of tidepool fish assemblages between subtropical and tropical Taiwan. Bathygobius fuscus, Abudefduf vaigiensis and Istiblennius dussumieri were dominant species in subtropical Taiwan, whereas Bathygobius coalitus, Abudefduf septemfasciatus and Istiblennius lineatus were dominant in tropical Taiwan. Other species such as Bathygobius cocosensis, Abudefduf sordidus and Istiblennius edentulus were common in both regions. For trophic groups, omnivores and detritivores had or showed trends towards higher species numbers and abundances in the subtropical region, whereas herbivores, planktivores and general carnivores had or showed trends towards higher species numbers and biomass in the tropical region. Overall, many intertidal fish species and trophic groups showed differences in abundance, biomass and species number between subtropical and tropical Taiwan. Further studies on large scale geographical gradients in trophic groups and species compositions in the Indo-west Pacific region are encouraged to assist with ecosystem monitoring and assessment. Keywords: Intertidal fishes, spatio-temporal pattern, feeding guild, diet

scholarly journals Coral settlement and recruitment responses to reef fish foraging and trait diversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cher F Y Chow ◽  
Caitlin Bolton ◽  
Nader Boutros ◽  
Viviana Brambilla ◽  
Luisa Fontoura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Coral Recruitment ◽  
Coral Settlement ◽  
Trait Divergence ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Recruitment Success ◽  
Trait Diversity

The process of coral recruitment is crucial to the healthy functioning of coral reef ecosystems, as well as recovery following disturbances. Fishes are key modulators of this process by feeding on algae and other benthic taxa that compete with corals for benthic space. However, foraging strategies within reef fish assemblages are highly diverse and the effect of foraging diversity on coral recruitment success remains poorly understood. Here, we test how the foraging traits of reef fishes affect coral settlement and juvenile success at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Using a multi-model inference approach incorporating six metrics of fish assemblage foraging diversity (foraging rates, trait richness, trait evenness, trait divergence, herbivore abundance, and benthic invertivore abundance), we found that herbivore abundance had positive effects on both coral settlement and recruitment success. However, foraging trait diversity had a negative effect on coral settlement but not on recruitment. Coral settlement was higher at sites with less trait diverse fish assemblages, specifically in trait divergence and richness. Moreover, these two trait diversity metrics were stronger predictors of coral settlement success compared to herbivore abundance. Our findings provide evidence that impacts mediated by fish foraging on coral juveniles can potentially be harmful during settlement, but the space-clearing effect overall remains advantageous. We show here that the variation of fish biodiversity across reefs can be a partial driver to spatially uneven patterns of coral recruitment and reef recovery.

scholarly journals COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND TROPHIC STATUS OF REEF FISH IN NATUNA WATERS

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Isa Nagib Edrus ◽  
Pratiwi Lestari
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Community Structures ◽  
Underwater Visual Census ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Coral Health ◽  
Density And Biomass

A field research on reef fish-community structures in Natuna waters was carried out in November 2015. This research aimed to obtain the trophic composition of reef fishes and its correlation to diversity, density, and biomass. Underwater visual census on several transect areas was used to collect data. Results show that the identified reef fishes were about 100 species of target-reef fish belonging to 18 families and 23 species of indicator-reef fish of the Chaetodontidae family. The mean species number of target reef fish and indicator reef fish were 42 and 7 species, respectively. The  mean density of the target reef fish and indicator reef fish were 0.4 and 0.05 individual per m2, respectively. The mean of the reef fish relative stock was 0.6 ton/ha. The composition of the herbivores mostly found in the resilient coral reefs r was 46.45 % and the omnivores and planktivores as marketable targeted fishes were 18.64 % and 14.28 %, respectively. The most predominant or major families were from herbivorous, carnivorous, planktivorous, and corallivorous fishes, including Scaridae (i.e. Scarus spp), Lutjanidae (i.e. Lutjanus spp.), Caesionidae (i,e. Caesio cuning and Pterocaesio caerulaurea), and Chaetodontidae (i.e. Chaetodon baronessa and Chaetodon octofasciatus). The results suggested that the community structures were quite prospectively implemented for fisheries; however, it may not be promising for coral resilience. Furthermore, the coral health status was at moderate level in regard to the high numbers of corallivorous butterflyfishes.

scholarly journals Olfactory responses of coral-reef fishes to coral degradation and crown-of-thorns (Acanthaster planci)

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy G. Coppock ◽  
Naomi M. Gardiner ◽  
Geoffrey P. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Acanthaster Planci ◽  
Olfactory Responses ◽  
Olfactory Stimuli ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems

Coral degradation is a major threat towards the biodiversity of coral-reef ecosystems, either through the physical effects of environmental change, or biological agents such as crown-of-thorns (Acanthaster planci). Coral loss is leading to significant declines in reef-fish assemblages, particularly those dependent on live coral as settlement sites. Most reef fishes use olfactory stimuli at settlement; however, their ability to detect chemical stimuli from degraded corals or A. planci is unknown. Here, olfactory responses of juvenile reef fishes to the presence of stressed corals and A. planci were tested. Juveniles of eight common coral-associated species were subjected to a series of pair-wise choice tests, where the period of time spent in two differing water sources was noted. All species demonstrated a significant attraction towards healthy coral (≥76%), avoiding cues emitted by stressed coral colonies. When given the choice between a control water (untreated reef water) and water containing chemical cues from A. planci, most species elicited no response. Finally, when given the choice between chemical cues derived from feeding A. planci or the control, all species avoided A. planci (≥70%). Our results indicated that juvenile reef fish are capable of distinguishing the state of coral health, but not directly from disturbance agents.

Assessing the importance of fishing impacts on Hawaiian coral reef fish assemblages along regional-scale human population gradients

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. D. WILLIAMS ◽  
W. J. WALSH ◽  
R. E. SCHROEDER ◽  
A. M. FRIEDLANDER ◽  
B. L. RICHARDS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Fish Biomass ◽  
Human Population Density ◽  
General Decline

SUMMARYHumans can impact coral reef fishes directly by fishing, or indirectly through anthropogenic degradation of habitat. Uncertainty about the relative importance of those can make it difficult to develop and build consensus for appropriate remedial management. Relationships between fish assemblages and human population density were assessed using data from 18 locations widely spread throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) to evaluate the significance of fishing as a factor potentially driving fish trends on a regional scale. Fish biomass in several groups was negatively correlated with local human population density and a number of lines of evidence indicate that fishing was the prime driver of those trends. First, declines were consistently evident among fish groups targeted by fishers, but not among lightly fished or non-target groupings, which indicates that declines in target groups were not simply indicative of a general decline in habitat quality along human population gradients. Second, proximity to high human populations was not associated with low fish biomass where shoreline structure prevented ready access by fishers. Relatively remote and inaccessible locations within the MHI had 2.1–4.2 times the biomass of target fishes compared to accessible and populous locations, and may therefore function as partial refugia. However, stocks in those areas were clearly far from pristine, as biomass of large predators was more than an order of magnitude lower than at more intact ecosystems elsewhere in the Pacific.

The Effects of Fishing on Coral Reef Fish Abundance and Diversity

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 229-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggie Watson ◽  
Dave Righton ◽  
Tim Austin ◽  
Rupert Ormond
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Fishing Pressure ◽  
Artisanal Fishing ◽  
Commercial Species ◽  
Habitat Refugia ◽  
Abundance And Diversity

The effect of artisanal fishing on the abundance and diversity of coral reef fish assemblages was investigated in the Kisite Marine National Park and Mpunguti Marine National Reserve at Shimoni, Kenya. Fishing is prohibited within the Park whereas in the Reserve artisanal fishing using traditional methods is practised. Visual censuses of six representative reef fish families (Chaetodontidae, Lethrinidae, Lutjanidae and Serranidae in 1992 and 1994, and Labridae and Pomacentridae in 1994 only) were undertaken along 250×10 m band transects on two similar pairs of reefs subject to differing fishing pressure. The abundance of commercial species (Lethrinidae, Lutjanidae and Serranidae) was depressed in the Reserve. The unfished butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) and damselfishes (Pomacentridae) also showed a greater abundance in the Park than in the Reserve. However, neither species number nor Shannon diversity (H′) of any of these families was affected by fishing pressure. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed. The abundance of commercial species, though not of non-commercial unfished species, increased significantly in the Reserve between 1992 and 1994, suggesting that the unfished Park may be acting as a source of larvae or supply of emigrating adults for the depleted Reserve. The results are comparable with other recent studies describing the effects of fishing pressure and also with those studies detailing the effects of habitat refugia in coral reef areas.

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