1
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Benedetti-Cecchi L, Bates AE, Strona G, Bulleri F, Horta E Costa B, Edgar GJ, Hereu B, Reed DC, Stuart-Smith RD, Barrett NS, Kushner DJ, Emslie MJ, García-Charton JA, Gonçalves EJ, Aspillaga E. Marine protected areas promote stability of reef fish communities under climate warming. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1822. [PMID: 38418445 PMCID: PMC10902350 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44976-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Protection from direct human impacts can safeguard marine life, yet ocean warming crosses marine protected area boundaries. Here, we test whether protection offers resilience to marine heatwaves from local to network scales. We examine 71,269 timeseries of population abundances for 2269 reef fish species surveyed in 357 protected versus 747 open sites worldwide. We quantify the stability of reef fish abundance from populations to metacommunities, considering responses of species and functional diversity including thermal affinity of different trophic groups. Overall, protection mitigates adverse effects of marine heatwaves on fish abundance, community stability, asynchronous fluctuations and functional richness. We find that local stability is positively related to distance from centers of high human density only in protected areas. We provide evidence that networks of protected areas have persistent reef fish communities in warming oceans by maintaining large populations and promoting stability at different levels of biological organization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda E Bates
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | | | - Fabio Bulleri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, URL CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, Italy
| | - Barbara Horta E Costa
- CCMAR, Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Building 7, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Graham J Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Reef Life Survey Foundation, Battery Point, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Bernat Hereu
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dan C Reed
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA
| | - Rick D Stuart-Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Reef Life Survey Foundation, Battery Point, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Neville S Barrett
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Michael J Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Emanuel J Gonçalves
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eneko Aspillaga
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), 07190, Esporles, Spain
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2
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Ceccarelli DM, Evans RD, Logan M, Jones GP, Puotinen M, Petus C, Russ GR, Srinivasan M, Williamson DH. Physical, biological and anthropogenic drivers of spatial patterns of coral reef fish assemblages at regional and local scales. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166695. [PMID: 37660823 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Species abundance, diversity and community assemblage structure are determined by multiple physical, habitat and management drivers that operate across multiple spatial scales. Here we used a multi-scale coral reef monitoring dataset to examine regional and local differences in the abundance, species richness and composition of fish assemblages in no-take marine reserve (NTMR) and fished zones at four island groups in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia. We applied boosted regression trees to quantify the influence of 20 potential drivers on the coral reef fish assemblages. Reefs in two locations, Magnetic Island and the Keppel Islands, had distinctive fish assemblages and low species richness, while the Palm and Whitsunday Islands had similar species composition and higher species richness. Overall, our analyses identified several important physical (temperature, wave exposure) and biological (coral, turf, macroalgal and unconsolidated substratum cover) drivers of inshore reef fish communities, some of which are being altered by human activities. Of these, sea surface temperature (SST) was more influential at large scales, while wave exposure was important both within and between island groups. Species richness declined with increasing macroalgal cover and exposure to cyclones, and increased with SST. Species composition was most strongly influenced by mean SST and percent cover of macroalgae. There was substantial regional variation in the local drivers of spatial patterns. Although NTMR zoning influenced total fish density in some regions, it had negligible effects on fish species richness, composition and trophic structure because of the relatively small number of species targeted by the fishery. These findings show that inshore reef fishes are directly influenced by disturbances typical of the nearshore Great Barrier Reef, highlighting the need to complement global action on climate change with more targeted localised efforts to maintain or improve the condition of coral reef habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M Ceccarelli
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia.
| | - Richard D Evans
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia; Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Murray Logan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Geoffrey P Jones
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Marji Puotinen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Caroline Petus
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic System Research, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Garry R Russ
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Maya Srinivasan
- College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic System Research, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David H Williamson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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3
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Hoeksema BW, van der Loos LM, van Moorsel GWNM. Coral diversity matches marine park zonation but not economic value of coral reef sites at St. Eustatius, eastern Caribbean. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 320:115829. [PMID: 36056482 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Stony corals play a key role in the marine biodiversity of many tropical coastal areas as suppliers of substrate, food and shelter for other reef organisms. Therefore, it is remarkable that coral diversity usually does not play a role in the planning of protected areas in coral reef areas. In the present study we examine how stony coral diversity patterns relate to marine park zonation and the economic value of reefs around St. Eustatius, a small island in the eastern Caribbean, with fisheries and tourism as important sources of income. The marine park contains two no-take reserves. A biodiversity survey was performed at 39 sites, 24 inside the reserves and 15 outside; 22 had a maximum depth >18 m and 17 were shallower. Data on economic value per site were obtained from the literature. Corals were photographed for the verification of identifications made in the field. Coral species richness (n = 49) was highest in the no-take reserves and species composition was mainly affected by maximum depth. No distinct relation is observed between coral diversity and fishery value or total economic value. Based on the outcome of this study we suggest that in future designs of marine park zonation in reef areas, coral diversity should be taken into consideration. This is best served by including reef areas with a continuous depth gradient from shallow flats to deep slopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert W Hoeksema
- Taxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, the Netherlands; Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9505, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Luna M van der Loos
- Taxonomy, Systematics and Geodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands; Phycology Research Group, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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4
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Payet SD, Pratchett MS, Saenz‐Agudelo P, Berumen ML, DiBattista JD, Harrison HB. Demographic histories shape population genomics of the common coral grouper ( Plectropomus leopardus). Evol Appl 2022; 15:1221-1235. [PMID: 36051464 PMCID: PMC9423088 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Many coral reef fishes display remarkable genetic and phenotypic variation across their geographic ranges. Understanding how historical and contemporary processes have shaped these patterns remains a focal question in evolutionary biology since they reveal how diversity is generated and how it may respond to future environmental change. Here, we compare the population genomics and demographic histories of a commercially and ecologically important coral reef fish, the common coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus [Lacépède 1802]), across two adjoining regions (the Great Barrier Reef; GBR, and the Coral Sea, Australia) spanning approximately 14 degrees of latitude and 9 degrees of longitude. We analysed 4548 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers across 11 sites and show that genetic connectivity between regions is low, despite their relative proximity (~100 km) and an absence of any obvious geographic barrier. Inferred demographic histories using 10,479 markers suggest that the Coral Sea population was founded by a small number of GBR individuals and that divergence occurred ~190 kya under a model of isolation with asymmetric migration. We detected population expansions in both regions, but estimates of contemporary effective population sizes were approximately 50% smaller in Coral Sea sites, which also had lower genetic diversity. Our results suggest that P. leopardus in the Coral Sea have experienced a long period of isolation that precedes the recent glacial period (~10-120 kya) and may be vulnerable to localized disturbances due to their relative reliance on local larval replenishment. While it is difficult to determine the underlying events that led to the divergence of the Coral Sea and GBR lineages, we show that even geographically proximate populations of a widely dispersed coral reef fish can have vastly different evolutionary histories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel D. Payet
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Morgan S. Pratchett
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
| | - Pablo Saenz‐Agudelo
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y EvolutivasUniversidad Austral de ChileValdiviaChile
| | - Michael L. Berumen
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Joseph D. DiBattista
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian MuseumSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Hugo B. Harrison
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
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5
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Effectiveness of management zones for recovering parrotfish species within the largest coastal marine protected area in Brazil. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12232. [PMID: 35851599 PMCID: PMC9293920 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15990-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The establishment of multiple zones offering different protection levels within a Marine Protected Area (MPA) can minimize social conflicts while maintaining associated biodiversity benefits such as fish population replenishment. Parrotfishes are among one of the most ecologically important reef fishes; yet extremely overexploited worldwide. In this context, well-designed priority management areas allowing no fishing activity (no-take zones) could help recover fish species, such as parrotfishes, through a MPA zoning process. Here, we tested this hypothesis by identifying the spatial configuration of zones that maximize the recovery of endangered parrotfish species (Scarus trispinosus; Scarus zelindae; Sparisoma amplum; Sparisoma axillare; Sparisoma frondosum) at the largest MPA in Brazil protecting nearshore coral reefs (MPA Costa dos Corais). We used parrotfish distribution data to produce species distribution models (SDMs) and combined them with conservation planning tools to delineate priority zones following a systematic approach. Then, we contrasted priority zones against non-systematic, newly designed no-take zones based on managers' and stakeholders' perspectives. After mapping the predicted abundance of each species within both zones based upon field surveys, we found that priority zones were more effective than non-systematic ones for the protection of two out of the five species: Scarus trispinosus and Sparisoma amplum. Thus, we considered that designing systematic zones was particularly relevant for increased protection of the two parrotfish species facing the largest decline. The prioritization analyses also showed that priority areas for parrotfish conservation following a systematic approach were mostly located surrounding and within no-take zones delineated by local stakeholders. The spatial overlap between systematic and non-systematic zones was of 38%. Hence, our study reinforces the importance of considering scientific information and methods (e.g., spatial distribution data and prioritization analyses) as a complementary strategy along with local stakeholders' knowledge, for delineating and refining management zones within MPAs.
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6
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Kroon FJ, Barneche DR, Emslie MJ. Fish predators control outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6986. [PMID: 34880205 PMCID: PMC8654818 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26786-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) have caused persistent and widespread loss of coral cover across Indo-Pacific coral reefs. The potential drivers of these outbreaks have been debated for more than 50 years, hindering effective management to limit their destructive impacts. Here, we show that fish biomass removal through commercial and recreational fisheries may be a major driver of CoTS population outbreaks. CoTS densities increase systematically with increasing fish biomass removal, including for known CoTS predators. Moreover, the biomass of fish species and families that influence CoTS densities are 1.4 to 2.1-fold higher on reefs within no-take marine reserves, while CoTS densities are 2.8-fold higher on reefs that are open to fishing, indicating the applicability of fisheries-based management to prevent CoTS outbreaks. Designing targeted fisheries management with consideration of CoTS population dynamics may offer a tangible and promising contribution to effectively reduce the detrimental impacts of CoTS outbreaks across the Indo-Pacific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederieke J Kroon
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia.
| | - Diego R Barneche
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Michael J Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
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7
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Hall AE, Kingsford MJ. Habitat type and complexity drive fish assemblages in a tropical seascape. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:1364-1379. [PMID: 34240745 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Inshore marine seascapes support a diversity of interconnected habitats and are an important focus for biodiversity conservation. This study examines the importance of habitat attributes to fish assemblages across a mosaic of inshore habitats: coral reefs, rocky reefs, macroalgae beds and sand/rubble beds. Fishes and benthic habitats were surveyed at 34 sites around continental islands of the central Great Barrier Reef using baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS). Species richness was influenced foremost by habitat type and also by structural complexity within habitat types. The most speciose assemblages occurred in coral and rocky reef habitats with high structural complexity, provided by the presence of coral bommies/overhangs, boulders and rock crevices. Nonetheless, macroalgae and sand/rubble beds also supported unique species, and therefore contributed to the overall richness of fish assemblages in the seascape. Most trophic groups had positive associations with complexity, which was the most important predictor for abundance of piscivorous fishes and mobile planktivores. There was significant differentiation of fish assemblages among habitats, with the notable exception of coral and rocky reefs. Species assemblages overlapped substantially between coral and rocky reefs, which had 60% common species, despite coral cover being lower on rocky reefs. This suggests that, for many species, rocky and coral substrates can provide equivalent habitat structure, emphasizing the importance of complexity in providing habitat refuges, and highlighting the contribution of rocky reefs to habitat provision within tropical seascapes. The results of this study support an emerging recognition of the collective value of habitat mosaics in inshore marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- April E Hall
- College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael J Kingsford
- College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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8
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Liu SYV, Green J, Briggs D, Hastings R, Jondelius Y, Kensinger S, Leever H, Santos S, Throne T, Cheng C, Madduppa H, Toonen RJ, Gaither MR, Crandall ED. Dongsha Atoll is an important stepping-stone that promotes regional genetic connectivity in the South China Sea. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12063. [PMID: 34540369 PMCID: PMC8415289 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding region-wide patterns of larval connectivity and gene flow is crucial for managing and conserving marine biodiversity. Dongsha Atoll National Park (DANP), located in the northern South China Sea (SCS), was established in 2007 to study and conserve this diverse and remote coral atoll. However, the role of Dongsha Atoll in connectivity throughout the SCS is seldom studied. In this study, we aim to evaluate the role of DANP in conserving regional marine biodiversity. Methods In total, 206 samples across nine marine species were collected and sequenced from Dongsha Atoll, and these data were combined with available sequence data from each of these nine species archived in the Genomic Observatories Metadatabase (GEOME). Together, these data provide the most extensive population genetic analysis of a single marine protected area. We evaluate metapopulation structure for each species by using a coalescent sampler, selecting among panmixia, stepping-stone, and island models of connectivity in a likelihood-based framework. We then completed a heuristic graph theoretical analysis based on maximum dispersal distance to get a sense of Dongsha’s centrality within the SCS. Results Our dataset yielded 111 unique haplotypes across all taxa at DANP, 58% of which were not sampled elsewhere. Analysis of metapopulation structure showed that five out of nine species have strong regional connectivity across the SCS such that their gene pools are effectively panmictic (mean pelagic larval duration (PLD) = 78 days, sd = 60 days); while four species have stepping-stone metapopulation structure, indicating that larvae are exchanged primarily between nearby populations (mean PLD = 37 days, sd = 15 days). For all but one species, Dongsha was ranked within the top 15 out of 115 large reefs in the South China Sea for betweenness centrality. Thus, for most species, Dongsha Atoll provides an essential link for maintaining stepping-stone gene flow across the SCS. Conclusions This multispecies study provides the most comprehensive examination of the role of Dongsha Atoll in marine connectivity in the South China Sea to date. Combining new and existing population genetic data for nine coral reef species in the region with a graph theoretical analysis, this study provides evidence that Dongsha Atoll is an important hub for sustaining connectivity for the majority of coral-reef species in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Yin Vanson Liu
- Dongsha Atoll Research Station, College of Marine Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.,Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Jacob Green
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, California, United States.,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States
| | - Dana Briggs
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, California, United States
| | - Ruth Hastings
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, California, United States
| | - Ylva Jondelius
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, California, United States
| | - Skylar Kensinger
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, California, United States.,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States
| | - Hannah Leever
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, California, United States
| | - Sophia Santos
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, California, United States
| | - Trevor Throne
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, California, United States
| | - Chi Cheng
- Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Hawis Madduppa
- Department of Marine Science and Technology, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Robert J Toonen
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kane'ohe, Hawai'i, United States
| | - Michelle R Gaither
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, United States
| | - Eric D Crandall
- School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, California, United States.,Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
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9
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Grorud-Colvert K, Sullivan-Stack J, Roberts C, Constant V, Horta E Costa B, Pike EP, Kingston N, Laffoley D, Sala E, Claudet J, Friedlander AM, Gill DA, Lester SE, Day JC, Gonçalves EJ, Ahmadia GN, Rand M, Villagomez A, Ban NC, Gurney GG, Spalding AK, Bennett NJ, Briggs J, Morgan LE, Moffitt R, Deguignet M, Pikitch EK, Darling ES, Jessen S, Hameed SO, Di Carlo G, Guidetti P, Harris JM, Torre J, Kizilkaya Z, Agardy T, Cury P, Shah NJ, Sack K, Cao L, Fernandez M, Lubchenco J. The MPA Guide: A framework to achieve global goals for the ocean. Science 2021; 373:eabf0861. [PMID: 34516798 DOI: 10.1126/science.abf0861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Grorud-Colvert
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA.,Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Jenna Sullivan-Stack
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Callum Roberts
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Vanessa Constant
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Barbara Horta E Costa
- Center of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal.,School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Elizabeth P Pike
- Marine Protection Atlas, Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA, 98103-9090, USA.,Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Naomi Kingston
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA.,UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Dan Laffoley
- IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.,School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
| | - Enric Sala
- National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Geography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2190, USA
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 75005 Paris, France.,Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Alan M Friedlander
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kāne'ohe, HI 96744, USA.,Pristine Seas, National Geography Society, Washington, DC 20036, USA
| | - David A Gill
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Sarah E Lester
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA.,Department of Geography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2190, USA
| | - Jon C Day
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Emanuel J Gonçalves
- Pristine Seas, National Geography Society, Washington, DC 20036, USA.,Duke University Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA.,Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), ISPA-Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal.,Oceano Azul Foundation, Oceanário de Lisboa, Esplanada D. Carlos I,1990-005 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabby N Ahmadia
- Ocean Conservation, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC 20037, USA.,School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Matt Rand
- IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.,Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Angelo Villagomez
- IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.,Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Natalie C Ban
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.,School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Georgina G Gurney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Ana K Spalding
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia.,Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), ISPA-Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal.,School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama; Coiba Scientific Station (Coiba AIP), Panama City, Panama.,Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | - Nathan J Bennett
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 75005 Paris, France.,The Peopled Seas Initiative, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Johnny Briggs
- Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | | | - Russell Moffitt
- Marine Protection Atlas, Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA, 98103-9090, USA.,Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Marine Deguignet
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ellen K Pikitch
- National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA.,School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Emily S Darling
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.,Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Sabine Jessen
- Marine Protection Atlas, Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA, 98103-9090, USA.,National Ocean Program, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ottawa, ON K2P 0A4, Canada
| | - Sarah O Hameed
- The Peopled Seas Initiative, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Blue Parks Program, Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
| | | | - Paolo Guidetti
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy.,National Research Council, Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR-IAS), V16149 Genoa, Italy
| | - Jean M Harris
- Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (CMR), Nelson Mandela University, Gomeroy Avenue, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth 6031, South Africa
| | - Jorge Torre
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C. Isla del Peruano 215, Col. Lomas de Miramar, Guaymas, Sonora, 85454, Mexico
| | - Zafer Kizilkaya
- Mediterranean Conservation Society, Bornova, Izmir 35100 Turkey
| | - Tundi Agardy
- Oceano Azul Foundation, Oceanário de Lisboa, Esplanada D. Carlos I,1990-005 Lisbon, Portugal.,Sound Seas, Colrain, MA 01340, USA
| | - Philippe Cury
- Center of Marine Sciences, CCMAR, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal.,MARBEC, Montpellier University, CNRS, IRD, IFREMER, Sète, France
| | - Nirmal J Shah
- School of Public Policy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA.,Nature Seychelles, Centre for Environment and Education, Sanctuary at Roche Caiman, Mahe, Seychelles
| | - Karen Sack
- Ocean Conservation, World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC 20037, USA.,Ocean Unite, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Ling Cao
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 230000, China
| | - Miriam Fernandez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Panama; Coiba Scientific Station (Coiba AIP), Panama City, Panama.,Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas de Las Cruces and Departmento de Ecología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jane Lubchenco
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR, USA.,Marine Conservation Institute, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
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10
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Cheal AJ, Emslie MJ, Currey-Randall LM, Heupel MR. Comparability and complementarity of reef fish measures from underwater visual census (UVC) and baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 289:112375. [PMID: 33813301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The much-publicized threats to coral reef systems necessitate a considered management response based on comprehensive ecological data. However, data from large reef systems commonly originate from multiple monitoring programs that use different methods, each with distinct biases that limit united assessments of ecological status. The effective integration of data from different monitoring methods would allow better assessment of system status and hence, more informed management. Here we examine the scope for comparability and complementarity of fish data from two different methods used on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR): underwater visual census (UVC) and baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS). We compared commonly reported reef fish measures from UVC and BRUVS on similar reef slope habitats of three central GBR reefs. Both methods recorded similar estimates of total species richness, although ~30% of recorded species were not common to both methods. There were marked differences between methods in sub-group species richness, frequency of species occurrences, relative abundances of taxa and assemblage structure. The magnitude and orientation of inter-method differences were often inconsistent among taxa. However, each method better categorized certain components of fish communities: BRUVS sampled more predatory species in higher numbers while UVC was similarly better at sampling damselfishes (Pomacentridae). Our results suggest limited scope for direct or adjusted comparisons of data from UVC and BRUVS. Conversely, complementary aspects of the two methods confirm that their integration in monitoring programs will provide a more complete and extensive assessment of reef fish status for managers than from either method alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair J Cheal
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia.
| | - Michael J Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | | | - Michelle R Heupel
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), Hobart, Tasmania, 7004, Australia
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11
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McClure EC, Hoey AS, Sievers KT, Abesamis RA, Russ GR. Relative influence of environmental factors and fishing on coral reef fish assemblages. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:976-990. [PMID: 32939886 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Understanding whether assemblages of species respond more strongly to bottom-up (availability of trophic resources or habitats) or top-down (predation pressure) processes is important for effective management of resources and ecosystems. We determined the relative influence of environmental factors and predation by humans in shaping the density, biomass, and species richness of 4 medium-bodied (10-40 cm total length [TL]) coral reef fish groups targeted by fishers (mesopredators, planktivores, grazer and detritivores, and scrapers) and the density of 2 groups not targeted by fishers (invertivores, small fish ≤10 cm TL) in the central Philippines. Boosted regression trees were used to model the response of each fish group to 21 predictor variables: 13 habitat variables, 5 island variables, and 3 fishing variables (no-take marine reserve [NTMR] presence or absence, NTMR size, and NTMR age). Targeted and nontargeted fish groups responded most strongly to habitat variables, then island variables. Fishing (NTMR) variables generally had less influence on fish groups. Of the habitat variables, live hard coral cover, structural complexity or habitat complexity index, and depth had the greatest effects on density, biomass, and species richness of targeted fish groups and on the density of nontargeted fishes. Of the island variables, proximity to the nearest river and island elevation had the most influence on fish groups. The NTMRs affected only fishes targeted by fishers; NTMR size positively correlated with density, biomass, and species richness of targeted fishes, particularly mesopredatory, and grazing and detritivorous fishes. Importantly, NTMRs as small as 15 ha positively affected medium-bodied fishes. This finding provides reassurance for regions that have invested in small-scale community-managed NTMRs. However, management strategies that integrate sound coastal land-use practices to conserve adjacent reef fish habitat, strategic NTMR placement, and establishment of larger NTMRs will be crucial for maintaining biodiversity and fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C McClure
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- Australian Rivers Institute - Coast and Estuaries, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, 4215, Australia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Katie T Sievers
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Rene A Abesamis
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management, Silliman University, Dumaguete, 6200, Philippines
| | - Garry R Russ
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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12
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Knott NA, Williams J, Harasti D, Malcolm HA, Coleman MA, Kelaher BP, Rees MJ, Schultz A, Jordan A. A coherent, representative, and bioregional marine reserve network shows consistent change in rocky reef fish assemblages. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- N. A. Knott
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Huskisson New South Wales2540Australia
| | - J. Williams
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens Fisheries Institute Taylors Beach Road Taylors Beach New South Wales2316Australia
| | - D. Harasti
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens Fisheries Institute Taylors Beach Road Taylors Beach New South Wales2316Australia
| | - H. A. Malcolm
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Coffs Harbour New South Wales2800Australia
| | - M. A. Coleman
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Coffs Harbour New South Wales2800Australia
| | - B. P. Kelaher
- National Marine Science Centre and Marine Ecology Research Centre Southern Cross University Coffs Harbour New South Wales2450Australia
| | - M. J. Rees
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Huskisson New South Wales2540Australia
| | - A. Schultz
- Fisheries Research NSW Department of Primary Industries Coffs Harbour New South Wales2800Australia
| | - A. Jordan
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Port Stephens Fisheries Institute Taylors Beach Road Taylors Beach New South Wales2316Australia
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13
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Lavin CP, Jones GP, Williamson DH, Harrison HB. Minimum size limits and the reproductive value of numerous, young, mature female fish. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202714. [PMID: 33715428 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Fisheries management relies on various catch and effort controls to preserve spawning stock biomass and maximize sustainable yields while limiting fishery impacts on marine ecosystems. These include species-specific minimum or maximum size limits to protect either small non-reproductive subadults, a portion of reproductively mature adults, or large highly fecund individuals. Protecting size classes of mature fish is expected to yield a viable source of larvae for replenishing populations and reduce the risk of recruitment overfishing, yet size-specific recruitment contributions have rarely been assessed empirically. Here, we apply genetic parentage analysis to measure the reproductive success of a size-structured population of a commercially important species of coral grouper (Plectropomus maculatus-Serranidae) in no-take marine reserves (NTMRs) in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia. Although the per capita reproductive success of individual fish increases rapidly with body length, the numerous young mature female fish, below the minimum size limit (MSL) (38 cm total length), were responsible for generating disproportionately large contributions (36%) towards larval replenishment of both fished and reserve reefs. Our findings indicate that MSLs are an effective harvest control measure to safeguard a portion of the spawning stock biomass for coral grouper and supplement recruitment subsidies assured from NTMRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles P Lavin
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Geoffrey P Jones
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David H Williamson
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hugo B Harrison
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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14
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Russ GR, Rizzari JR, Abesamis RA, Alcala AC. Coral cover a stronger driver of reef fish trophic biomass than fishing. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02224. [PMID: 32866333 PMCID: PMC7816266 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
An influential paradigm in coral reef ecology is that fishing causes trophic cascades through reef fish assemblages, resulting in reduced herbivory and thus benthic phase shifts from coral to algal dominance. Few long-term field tests exist of how fishing affects the trophic structure of coral reef fish assemblages, and how such changes affect the benthos. Alternatively, benthic change itself may drive the trophic structure of reef fish assemblages. Reef fish trophic structure and benthic cover were quantified almost annually from 1983 to 2014 at two small Philippine islands (Apo, Sumilon). At each island a No-Take Marine Reserve (NTMR) site and a site open to subsistence reef fishing were monitored. Thirteen trophic groups were identified. Large planktivores often accounted for >50% of assemblage biomass. Significant NTMR effects were detected at each island for total fish biomass, but for only 2 of 13 trophic components: generalist large predators and large planktivores. Fishing-induced changes in biomass of these components had no effect on live hard coral (HC) cover. In contrast, HC cover affected biomass of 11 of 13 trophic components significantly. Positive associations with HC cover were detected for total fish biomass, generalist large predators, piscivores, obligate coral feeders, large planktivores, and small planktivores. Negative associations with HC cover were detected for large benthic foragers, detritivores, excavators, scrapers, and sand feeders. These associations of fish biomass to HC cover were most clear when environmental disturbances (e.g., coral bleaching, typhoons) reduced HC cover, often quickly (1-2 yr), and when HC recovered, often slowly (5-10 yr). As HC cover changed, the biomass of 11 trophic components of the fish assemblage changed. Benthic and fish assemblages were distinct at all sites from the outset, remaining so for 31 yr, despite differences in fishing pressure and disturbance history. HC cover alone explained ~30% of the variability in reef fish trophic structure, whereas fishing alone explained 24%. Furthermore, HC cover affected more trophic groups more strongly than fishing. Management of coral reefs must include measures to maintain coral reef habitats, not just measures to reduce fishing by NTMRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garry R. Russ
- College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueensland4811Australia
| | - Justin R. Rizzari
- School of Life and Environmental SciencesDeakin UniversityGeelong Waurn Ponds CampusGeelongVictoria3216Australia
| | - Rene A. Abesamis
- Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental ManagementSilliman UniversityDumaguete City6200Philippines
| | - Angel C. Alcala
- Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental ManagementSilliman UniversityDumaguete City6200Philippines
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15
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Pereira PHC, Côrtes LGF, Lima GV, Gomes E, Pontes AVF, Mattos F, Araújo ME, Ferreira-Junior F, Sampaio CLS. Reef fishes biodiversity and conservation at the largest Brazilian coastal Marine Protected Area (MPA Costa dos Corais). NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2021-0071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Coral reefs harbor one of the largest fish biodiversity on earth; yet information on reef fishes is still absent for many regions. We analyzed reef fish richness, distribution, and conservation on the largest Brazilian multiple use coastal MPA; which cover a large extent of coral reefs at the SWA. A total of 325 fish species have been listed for MPA Costa dos Corais, including Chondrichthyes (28 species) and Actinopterygii (297). Fish species were represented by 81 families and the most representative families were Carangidae (23 species), Labridae (21) and Gobiidae (15). The MPA fish richness represented 44% of all recorded fish species of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWA) highlighting the large-scale importance of this MPA. A total of 40 species (12%) are registered at Near Threatened (NT), Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR). This study reinforces the importance of MPA Costa dos Corais on reef fish biodiversity and conservation and emphasize the urgent need of conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luís G. F. Côrtes
- Projeto Conservação Recifal, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Erandy Gomes
- Projeto Conservação Recifal, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria E. Araújo
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
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16
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Ceccarelli DM, McLeod IM, Boström-Einarsson L, Bryan SE, Chartrand KM, Emslie MJ, Gibbs MT, Gonzalez Rivero M, Hein MY, Heyward A, Kenyon TM, Lewis BM, Mattocks N, Newlands M, Schläppy ML, Suggett DJ, Bay LK. Substrate stabilisation and small structures in coral restoration: State of knowledge, and considerations for management and implementation. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240846. [PMID: 33108387 PMCID: PMC7591095 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems are under increasing pressure from local and regional stressors and a changing climate. Current management focuses on reducing stressors to allow for natural recovery, but in many areas where coral reefs are damaged, natural recovery can be restricted, delayed or interrupted because of unstable, unconsolidated coral fragments, or rubble. Rubble fields are a natural component of coral reefs, but repeated or high-magnitude disturbances can prevent natural cementation and consolidation processes, so that coral recruits fail to survive. A suite of interventions have been used to target this issue globally, such as using mesh to stabilise rubble, removing the rubble to reveal hard substrate and deploying rocks or other hard substrates over the rubble to facilitate recruit survival. Small, modular structures can be used at multiple scales, with or without attached coral fragments, to create structural complexity and settlement surfaces. However, these can introduce foreign materials to the reef, and a limited understanding of natural recovery processes exists for the potential of this type of active intervention to successfully restore local coral reef structure. This review synthesises available knowledge about the ecological role of coral rubble, natural coral recolonisation and recovery rates and the potential benefits and risks associated with active interventions in this rapidly evolving field. Fundamental knowledge gaps include baseline levels of rubble, the structural complexity of reef habitats in space and time, natural rubble consolidation processes and the risks associated with each intervention method. Any restoration intervention needs to be underpinned by risk assessment, and the decision to repair rubble fields must arise from an understanding of when and where unconsolidated substrate and lack of structure impair natural reef recovery and ecological function. Monitoring is necessary to ascertain the success or failure of the intervention and impacts of potential risks, but there is a strong need to specify desired outcomes, the spatial and temporal context and indicators to be measured. With a focus on the Great Barrier Reef, we synthesise the techniques, successes and failures associated with rubble stabilisation and the use of small structures, review monitoring methods and indicators, and provide recommendations to ensure that we learn from past projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M. Ceccarelli
- Marine Ecology Consultant, Nelly Bay, QLD, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- * E-mail: (DMC); (IMM)
| | - Ian M. McLeod
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail: (DMC); (IMM)
| | - Lisa Boström-Einarsson
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Scott E. Bryan
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kathryn M. Chartrand
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael J. Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark T. Gibbs
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Division of Business Development, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Manuel Gonzalez Rivero
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Margaux Y. Hein
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew Heyward
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Tania M. Kenyon
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brett M. Lewis
- School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Neil Mattocks
- Reef Joint Field Management Program, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Maxine Newlands
- TropWATER (Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research), James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- School of Social Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marie-Lise Schläppy
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Engineering, Oceans Graduate School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - David J. Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Line K. Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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17
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Maxwell SL, Cazalis V, Dudley N, Hoffmann M, Rodrigues ASL, Stolton S, Visconti P, Woodley S, Kingston N, Lewis E, Maron M, Strassburg BBN, Wenger A, Jonas HD, Venter O, Watson JEM. Area-based conservation in the twenty-first century. Nature 2020; 586:217-227. [PMID: 33028996 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2773-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Humanity will soon define a new era for nature-one that seeks to transform decades of underwhelming responses to the global biodiversity crisis. Area-based conservation efforts, which include both protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, are likely to extend and diversify. However, persistent shortfalls in ecological representation and management effectiveness diminish the potential role of area-based conservation in stemming biodiversity loss. Here we show how the expansion of protected areas by national governments since 2010 has had limited success in increasing the coverage across different elements of biodiversity (ecoregions, 12,056 threatened species, 'Key Biodiversity Areas' and wilderness areas) and ecosystem services (productive fisheries, and carbon services on land and sea). To be more successful after 2020, area-based conservation must contribute more effectively to meeting global biodiversity goals-ranging from preventing extinctions to retaining the most-intact ecosystems-and must better collaborate with the many Indigenous peoples, community groups and private initiatives that are central to the successful conservation of biodiversity. The long-term success of area-based conservation requires parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to secure adequate financing, plan for climate change and make biodiversity conservation a far stronger part of land, water and sea management policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean L Maxwell
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Victor Cazalis
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
| | - Nigel Dudley
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Equilibrium Research, Bristol, UK
| | - Michael Hoffmann
- Conservation and Policy, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Ana S L Rodrigues
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Piero Visconti
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, London, UK.,International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Stephen Woodley
- World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Naomi Kingston
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Cambridge, UK
| | - Edward Lewis
- UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Cambridge, UK
| | - Martine Maron
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bernardo B N Strassburg
- Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Department of Geography and the Environment, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,International Institute for Sustainability, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Programa de Pós Graduacão em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Amelia Wenger
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Global Marine Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harry D Jonas
- World Commission on Protected Areas, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland.,Future Law, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Oscar Venter
- Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
| | - James E M Watson
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY, USA
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18
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A connectivity portfolio effect stabilizes marine reserve performance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:25595-25600. [PMID: 32989139 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1920580117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Well-managed and enforced no-take marine reserves generate important larval subsidies to neighboring habitats and thereby contribute to the long-term sustainability of fisheries. However, larval dispersal patterns are variable, which leads to temporal fluctuations in the contribution of a single reserve to the replenishment of local populations. Identifying management strategies that mitigate the uncertainty in larval supply will help ensure the stability of recruitment dynamics and minimize the volatility in fishery catches. Here, we use genetic parentage analysis to show extreme variability in both the dispersal patterns and recruitment contribution of four individual marine reserves across six discrete recruitment cohorts for coral grouper (Plectropomus maculatus) on the Great Barrier Reef. Together, however, the asynchronous contributions from multiple reserves create temporal stability in recruitment via a connectivity portfolio effect. This dampening effect reduces the variability in larval supply from individual reserves by a factor of 1.8, which effectively halves the uncertainty in the recruitment contribution of individual reserves. Thus, not only does the network of four marine reserves generate valuable larval subsidies to neighboring habitats, the aggregate effect of individual reserves mitigates temporal fluctuations in dispersal patterns and the replenishment of local populations. Our results indicate that small networks of marine reserves yield previously unrecognized stabilizing benefits that ensure a consistent larval supply to replenish exploited fish stocks.
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19
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Madin EMP, Madin JS, Harmer AMT, Barrett NS, Booth DJ, Caley MJ, Cheal AJ, Edgar GJ, Emslie MJ, Gaines SD, Sweatman HPA. Latitude and protection affect decadal trends in reef trophic structure over a continental scale. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6954-6966. [PMID: 32760504 PMCID: PMC7391320 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The relative roles of top-down (consumer-driven) and bottom-up (resource-driven) forcing in exploited marine ecosystems have been much debated. Examples from a variety of marine systems of exploitation-induced, top-down trophic forcing have led to a general view that human-induced predator perturbations can disrupt entire marine food webs, yet other studies that have found no such evidence provide a counterpoint. Though evidence continues to emerge, an unresolved debate exists regarding both the relative roles of top-down versus bottom-up forcing and the capacity of human exploitation to instigate top-down, community-level effects. Using time-series data for 104 reef communities spanning tropical to temperate Australia from 1992 to 2013, we aimed to quantify relationships among long-term trophic group population density trends, latitude, and exploitation status over a continental-scale biogeographic range. Specifically, we amalgamated two long-term monitoring databases of marine community dynamics to test for significant positive or negative trends in density of each of three key trophic levels (predators, herbivores, and algae) across the entire time series at each of the 104 locations. We found that trophic control tended toward bottom-up driven in tropical systems and top-down driven in temperate systems. Further, alternating long-term population trends across multiple trophic levels (a method of identifying trophic cascades), presumably due to top-down trophic forcing, occurred in roughly fifteen percent of locations where the prerequisite significant predator trends occurred. Such alternating trophic trends were significantly more likely to occur at locations with increasing predator densities over time. Within these locations, we found a marked latitudinal gradient in the prevalence of long-term, alternating trophic group trends, from rare in the tropics (<5% of cases) to relatively common in temperate areas (~45%). Lastly, the strongest trends in predator and algal density occurred in older no-take marine reserves; however, exploitation status did not affect the likelihood of alternating long-term trophic group trends occurring. Our data suggest that the type and degree of trophic forcing in this system are likely related to one or more covariates of latitude, and that ecosystem resiliency to top-down control does not universally vary in this system based on exploitation level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. P. Madin
- Department of Biological SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNSWAustralia
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawai'iKane'oheHIUSA
| | - Joshua S. Madin
- Department of Biological SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNSWAustralia
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawai'iKane'oheHIUSA
| | - Aaron M. T. Harmer
- Department of Biological SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNSWAustralia
- School of Natural and Computational SciencesMassey UniversityAucklandNew Zealand
| | - Neville S. Barrett
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
| | - David J. Booth
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - M. Julian Caley
- School of Mathematical SciencesQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical FrontiersThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVICAustralia
| | | | - Graham J. Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
| | | | - Steven D. Gaines
- Bren School of Environmental Science and ManagementUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCAUSA
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Kroon FJ, Lefèvre CD, Doyle JR, Patel F, Milton G, Severati A, Kenway M, Johansson CL, Schnebert S, Thomas-Hall P, Bonin MC, Cameron DS, Westcott DA. DNA-based identification of predators of the corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) from fish faeces and gut contents. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8184. [PMID: 32424321 PMCID: PMC7235266 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65136-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) has been linked with the widespread loss of scleractinian coral cover on Indo-Pacific reefs during periodic population outbreaks. Here, we re-examine CoTS consumption by coral reef fish species by using new DNA technologies to detect Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in fish faecal and gut content samples. CoTS DNA was detected in samples from 18 different coral reef fish species collected on reefs at various stages of CoTS outbreaks in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, nine of which had not been previously reported to feed on CoTS. A comprehensive set of negative and positive control samples confirmed that our collection, processing and analysis procedures were robust, although food web transfer of CoTS DNA cannot be ruled out for some fish species. Our results, combined with the (i) presence of CoTS spines in some samples, (ii) reported predation on CoTS gametes, larvae and settled individuals, and (iii) known diet information for fish species examined, strongly indicate that direct fish predation on CoTS may well be more common than is currently appreciated. We provide recommendations for specific management approaches to enhance predation on CoTS by coral reef fishes, and to support the mitigation of CoTS outbreaks and reverse declines in hard coral cover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederieke J Kroon
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia.
| | - Carine D Lefèvre
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
| | - Jason R Doyle
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
| | - Frances Patel
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
| | - Grant Milton
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
| | - Andrea Severati
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
| | - Matt Kenway
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
| | | | - Simon Schnebert
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
| | - Peter Thomas-Hall
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
| | - Mary C Bonin
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
| | - Darren S Cameron
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia
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21
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Boschetti F, Lozano-Montes H, Stelfox B. Modelling regional futures at decadal scale: application to the Kimberley region. Sci Rep 2020; 10:849. [PMID: 31964923 PMCID: PMC6972922 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56646-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We address the question of how to provide meaningful scientific information to support environmental decision making at the regional scale and at the temporal scale of several decades in a network of marine parks in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Where environmental sustainability is affected by slow-dynamics climate change processes and one-off investments in large infrastructure which can affect a region for decades to come, both strategic and reactive planning is necessary and prediction becomes as urgent as standard adaptive management. At the interface between future studies, socio-economic modelling and environmental modelling, we define 18 scenarios of economic development and climate change impacts and five management strategies. We explore these potential futures using coupled models of terrestrial and marine ecosystem dynamics. We obtain a projection of the Kimberley marine system to the year 2050, conditional on the chosen scenarios and management strategies. Our results suggest that climate change, not economic development, is the largest factor affecting the future of marine ecosystems in the Kimberley region, with site-attached species such as reef fish at greatest risk. These same species also benefit most from more stringent management strategies, especially expansion of sanctuary zones and Marine Protected Areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Boschetti
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation, Canberra, Australia.
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22
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Ceccarelli DM, Evans RD, Logan M, Mantel P, Puotinen M, Petus C, Russ GR, Williamson DH. Long-term dynamics and drivers of coral and macroalgal cover on inshore reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02008. [PMID: 31550393 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying the role of biophysical and anthropogenic drivers of coral reef ecosystem processes can inform management strategies that aim to maintain or restore ecosystem structure and productivity. However, few studies have examined the combined effects of multiple drivers, partitioned their impacts, or established threshold values that may trigger shifts in benthic cover. Inshore fringing reefs of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) occur in high-sediment, high-nutrient environments and are under increasing pressure from multiple acute and chronic stressors. Despite world-leading management, including networks of no-take marine reserves, relative declines in hard coral cover of 40-50% have occurred in recent years, with localized but persistent shifts from coral to macroalgal dominance on some reefs. Here we use boosted regression tree analyses to test the relative importance of multiple biophysical drivers on coral and macroalgal cover using a long-term (12-18 yr) data set collected from reefs at four island groups. Coral and macroalgal cover were negatively correlated at all island groups, and particularly when macroalgal cover was above 20%. Although reefs at each island group had different disturbance-and-recovery histories, degree heating weeks (DHW) and routine wave exposure consistently emerged as common drivers of coral and macroalgal cover. In addition, different combinations of sea-surface temperature, nutrient and turbidity parameters, exposure to high turbidity (primary) floodwater, depth, grazing fish density, farming damselfish density, and management zoning variously contributed to changes in coral and macroalgal cover at each island group. Clear threshold values were apparent for multiple drivers including wave exposure, depth, and degree heating weeks for coral cover, and depth, degree heating weeks, chlorophyll a, and cyclone exposure for macroalgal cover, however, all threshold values were variable among island groups. Our findings demonstrate that inshore coral reef communities are typically structured by broadscale climatic perturbations, superimposed upon unique sets of local-scale drivers. Although rapidly escalating climate change impacts are the largest threat to coral reefs of the GBRMP and globally, our findings suggest that proactive management actions that effectively reduce chronic stressors at local scales should contribute to improved reef resistance and recovery potential following acute climatic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M Ceccarelli
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Richard D Evans
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Western Australia, 6151, Australia
- Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Murray Logan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - Philippa Mantel
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Marji Puotinen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - Caroline Petus
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Garry R Russ
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - David H Williamson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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Hopf JK, Jones GP, Williamson DH, Connolly SR. Marine reserves stabilize fish populations and fisheries yields in disturbed coral reef systems. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01905. [PMID: 30985954 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Marine reserve networks are increasingly implemented to conserve biodiversity and enhance the persistence and resilience of exploited species and ecosystems. However, the efficacy of marine reserve networks in frequently disturbed systems, such as coral reefs, has rarely been evaluated. Here we analyze a well-mixed larval pool model and a spatially explicit model based on a well-documented coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) metapopulation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia, to determine the effects of marine reserve coverage and placement (in relation to larval connectivity and disturbance heterogeneity) on the temporal stability of fisheries yields and population biomass in environmentally disturbed systems. We show that marine reserves can contribute to stabilizing fishery yield while increasing metapopulation persistence, irrespective of whether reserves enhance or diminish average fishery yields. However, reserve placement and the level of larval connectivity among subpopulations were important factors affecting the stability and sustainability of fisheries and fish metapopulations. Protecting a mix of disturbed and non-disturbed reefs, rather than focusing on the least-disturbed habitats, was the most consistently beneficial approach across a range of dispersal and reserve coverage scenarios. Placing reserves only in non-disturbed areas was the most beneficial for biomass enhancement, but had variable results for fisheries and could potentially destabilize yields in systems with well-mixed larval or those that are moderately fished. We also found that focusing protection on highly disturbed areas could actually increase variability in yields and biomass, especially when degraded reef reserves were distant and poorly connected to the meta-population. Our findings have implications for the design and implementation of reserve networks in the presence of stochastic, patchy environmental disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jess K Hopf
- College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Geoffrey P Jones
- College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - David H Williamson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- College of Science and Engineering, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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24
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Madin EMP, Harborne AR, Harmer AMT, Luiz OJ, Atwood TB, Sullivan BJ, Madin JS. Marine reserves shape seascapes on scales visible from space. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190053. [PMID: 31014221 PMCID: PMC6501923 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine reserves can effectively restore harvested populations, and 'mega-reserves' increasingly protect large tracts of ocean. However, no method exists of monitoring ecological responses at this large scale. Herbivory is a key mechanism structuring ecosystems, and this consumer-resource interaction's strength on coral reefs can indicate ecosystem health. We screened 1372, and measured features of 214, reefs throughout Australia's Great Barrier Reef using high-resolution satellite imagery, combined with remote underwater videography and assays on a subset, to quantify the prevalence, size and potential causes of 'grazing halos'. Halos are known to be seascape-scale footprints of herbivory and other ecological interactions. Here we show that these halo-like footprints are more prevalent in reserves, particularly older ones (approx. 40 years old), resulting in predictable changes to reef habitat at scales visible from space. While the direct mechanisms for this pattern are relatively clear, the indirect mechanisms remain untested. By combining remote sensing and behavioural ecology, our findings demonstrate that reserves can shape large-scale habitat structure by altering herbivores' functional importance, suggesting that reserves may have greater value in restoring ecosystems than previously appreciated. Additionally, our results show that we can now detect macro-patterns in reef species interactions using freely available satellite imagery. Low-cost, ecosystem-level observation tools will be critical as reserves increase in number and scope; further investigation into whether halos may help seems warranted. Significance statement: Marine reserves are a widely used tool to mitigate fishing impacts on marine ecosystems. Predicting reserves' large-scale effects on habitat structure and ecosystem functioning is a major challenge, however, because these effects unfold over longer and larger scales than most ecological studies. We use a unique approach merging remote sensing and behavioural ecology to detect ecosystem change within reserves in Australia's vast Great Barrier Reef. We find evidence of changes in reefs' algal habitat structure occurring over large spatial (thousands of kilometres) and temporal (40+ years) scales, demonstrating that reserves can alter herbivory and habitat structure in predictable ways. This approach demonstrates that we can now detect aspects of reefs' ecological responses to protection even in remote and inaccessible reefs globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. P. Madin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Manoa, HI 96744, USA
| | - Alastair R. Harborne
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Aaron M. T. Harmer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland 0745, New Zealand
| | - Osmar J. Luiz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Trisha B. Atwood
- Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Watershed Sciences and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | | | - Joshua S. Madin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Manoa, HI 96744, USA
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25
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The Distribution of Planktivorous Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) on the Great Barrier Reef and the Relative Influences of Habitat and Predation. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11030033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Planktivorous damselfishes (Pomacentridae) are diverse and abundant on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), are important prey for commercially harvested coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) and their feeding mode plays a central role in transferring energy from the plankton to the reef. However, little is known about their distribution patterns throughout the GBR and how those patterns are influenced by predators and habitat despite increasing pressures on both. Here we quantify the distribution and abundance of GBR planktivorous damselfishes, then examine the role of coral trout and habitat in shaping their assemblages. The assemblage structure of planktivorous damselfishes varied across the continental shelf, yet their total abundances varied sub-regionally, dependent on differences in coral habitat. Latitudinal patterns were relatively weak. Damselfish assemblages generally retained characteristics of their sub-regional setting over 20 years and assemblage degradation was only associated with major coral losses. Damselfish numbers were not negatively influenced by top-down control from coral trout. Instead, numbers of coral trout and damselfishes were both positively associated with coral habitat and each other. Our findings suggest that a complexity of factors and interactions shape reef fish assemblages and reinforce the fundamental importance of coral as the foundation of healthy reef communities.
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26
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Scott ME, Heupel MR, Simpfendorfer CA, Matley JK, Pratchett MS. Latitudinal and seasonal variation in space use by a large, predatory reef fish,
Plectropomus leopardus. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Molly E. Scott
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | | | - Colin A. Simpfendorfer
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Jordan K. Matley
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research University of Windsor Windsor Canada
| | - Morgan S. Pratchett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
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27
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Diversity and Structure of Parrotfish Assemblages across the Northern Great Barrier Reef. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The structure and dynamics of coral reef environments vary across a range of spatial scales, with patterns of associated faunal assemblages often reflecting this variability. However, delineating drivers of biological variability in such complex environments has proved challenging. Here, we investigated the assemblage structure and diversity of parrotfishes—a common and ecologically important group—across 6° of latitude on the Northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. Parrotfish abundance and biomass were determined from stereo-video surveys across 82 sites spanning 31 reefs and assessed against geographic, biophysical, and management-related factors in a multivariate framework to determine major drivers and associated scales of assemblage structure. Large cross-shelf variation in parrotfish assemblages pervaded along the entire Northern GBR, with distinct assemblages associated with sheltered and exposed reefs. Species abundances and diversity generally decreased with decreasing latitude. The gradient of explicit predator biomass associated with management zoning had no effect on parrotfish assemblage structure, but was positively correlated with parrotfish diversity. Our results highlight the ubiquitous presence of cross-shelf variation, where the greatest differences in parrotfish community composition existed between sheltered (inner and mid shelf) and exposed (outer shelf) reef systems. Prior attempts to explain linkages between parrotfishes and fine-scale biophysical factors have demonstrated parrotfishes as habitat generalists, but recent developments in nutritional ecology suggest that their cross-shelf variation on the GBR is likely reflective of benthic resource distribution and species-specific feeding modes.
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28
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Lam VYY, Chaloupka M, Thompson A, Doropoulos C, Mumby PJ. Acute drivers influence recent inshore Great Barrier Reef dynamics. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.2063. [PMID: 30404884 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of habitat-forming organisms is fundamental to managing natural ecosystems. Most studies of coral reef dynamics have focused on clear-water systems though corals inhabit many turbid regions. Here, we illustrate the key drivers of an inshore coral reef ecosystem using 10 years of biological, environmental, and disturbance data. Tropical cyclones, crown-of-thorns starfish, and coral bleaching are recognized as the major drivers of coral loss at mid- and offshore reefs along the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). In comparison, little is known about what drives temporal trends at inshore reefs closer to major anthropogenic stress. We assessed coral cover dynamics using state-space models within six major inshore GBR catchments. An overall decline was detected in nearly half (46%) of the 15 reefs at two depths (30 sites), while the rest exhibited fluctuating (23%), static (17%), or positive (13%) trends. Inshore reefs responded similarly to their offshore counterparts, where contemporary trends were predominantly influenced by acute disturbance events. Storms emerged as the major driver affecting the inshore GBR, with the effects of other drivers such as disease, juvenile coral density, and macroalgal and turf per cent cover varying from one catchment to another. Flooding was also associated with negative trends in live coral cover in two southern catchments, but the mechanism remains unclear as it is not reflected in available metrics of water quality and may act through indirect pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Y Y Lam
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia .,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Milani Chaloupka
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Ecological Modelling Services Pty Ltd, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Angus Thompson
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christopher Doropoulos
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter J Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia .,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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29
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Scianna C, Niccolini F, Bianchi CN, Guidetti P. Applying organization science to assess the management performance of Marine Protected Areas: An exploratory study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 223:175-184. [PMID: 29929073 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.05.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are important tools to achieve marine conservation and resources management goals. The management effectiveness of MPAs (the degree to which MPAs achieve their goals) is highly variable and can be affected by many MPA attributes, for example their design, enforcement and age. Another key factor possibly affecting MPA management effectiveness is the management performance, here conceived according to Horigue et al. definition (2014) as the "level of effort exerted to enhance and sustain management of MPAs". Organization Science (OS), the discipline that studies organizations, can offer a useful framework to assess and interpret MPA management performance. Using an exploratory multiple case study approach, we applied OS principles to 11 Mediterranean MPAs in order to: i) characterize several MPA organizational features; ii) assess MPA management performance (evaluated as the effort deployed in, for example, planning the future, formalizing measurable goals, and implementing specific strategies). Results show that a number of organizational features and networking attributes are highly variable among the MPAs we have studied. For instance, goals are seldom measurable and the strategy to achieve goals is not systematically pursued. Two relevant outcomes emerge from this exploratory study: i) the management performance of the MPAs considered needs considerable improvements; ii) the methods and the approach proposed could help MPAs' managers and policy makers to understand how to improve their management performance and, consequently, their effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Scianna
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, FRE 3729 ECOMERS, Parc Valrose 28, Avenue Valrose, 06108 Nice, France.
| | - Federico Niccolini
- Department of Economy and Management, University of Pisa, via C. Ridolfi 10, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Carlo Nike Bianchi
- DiSTAV, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Paolo Guidetti
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, FRE 3729 ECOMERS, Parc Valrose 28, Avenue Valrose, 06108 Nice, France; Interuniversity Consortium of Marine Sciences (CoNISMa), Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy
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30
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Strain EMA, Edgar GJ, Ceccarelli D, Stuart‐Smith RD, Hosack GR, Thomson RJ. A global assessment of the direct and indirect benefits of marine protected areas for coral reef conservation. DIVERS DISTRIB 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth M. A. Strain
- School of Bioscience University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Graham J. Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Daniela Ceccarelli
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Rick D. Stuart‐Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Geoffrey R. Hosack
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Russell J. Thomson
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
- School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics Centre for Research in Mathematics Western Sydney University Penrith New South Wales Australia
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31
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Emslie MJ, Cheal AJ, MacNeil MA, Miller IR, Sweatman HPA. Reef fish communities are spooked by scuba surveys and may take hours to recover. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4886. [PMID: 29844998 PMCID: PMC5971101 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological monitoring programs typically aim to detect changes in the abundance of species of conservation concern or which reflect system status. Coral reef fish assemblages are functionally important for reef health and these are most commonly monitored using underwater visual surveys (UVS) by divers. In addition to estimating numbers, most programs also collect estimates of fish lengths to allow calculation of biomass, an important determinant of a fish’s functional impact. However, diver surveys may be biased because fishes may either avoid or are attracted to divers and the process of estimating fish length could result in fish counts that differ from those made without length estimations. Here we investigated whether (1) general diver disturbance and (2) the additional task of estimating fish lengths affected estimates of reef fish abundance and species richness during UVS, and for how long. Initial estimates of abundance and species richness were significantly higher than those made on the same section of reef after diver disturbance. However, there was no evidence that estimating fish lengths at the same time as abundance resulted in counts different from those made when estimating abundance alone. Similarly, there was little consistent bias among observers. Estimates of the time for fish taxa that avoided divers after initial contact to return to initial levels of abundance varied from three to 17 h, with one group of exploited fishes showing initial attraction to divers that declined over the study period. Our finding that many reef fishes may disperse for such long periods after initial contact with divers suggests that monitoring programs should take great care to minimise diver disturbance prior to surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Alistair J Cheal
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - M Aaron MacNeil
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Ian R Miller
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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32
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Davies TE, Epstein G, Aguilera SE, Brooks CM, Cox M, Evans LS, Maxwell SM, Nenadovic M, Ban NC. Assessing trade-offs in large marine protected areas. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195760. [PMID: 29668750 PMCID: PMC5905982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Large marine protected areas (LMPAs) are increasingly being established and have a high profile in marine conservation. LMPAs are expected to achieve multiple objectives, and because of their size are postulated to avoid trade-offs that are common in smaller MPAs. However, evaluations across multiple outcomes are lacking. We used a systematic approach to code several social and ecological outcomes of 12 LMPAs. We found evidence of three types of trade-offs: trade-offs between different ecological resources (supply trade-offs); trade-offs between ecological resource conditions and the well-being of resource users (supply-demand trade-offs); and trade-offs between the well-being outcomes of different resource users (demand trade-offs). We also found several divergent outcomes that were attributed to influences beyond the scope of the LMPA. We suggest that despite their size, trade-offs can develop in LMPAs and should be considered in planning and design. LMPAs may improve their performance across multiple social and ecological objectives if integrated with larger-scale conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy E. Davies
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Colombia, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Graham Epstein
- Environmental Change and Governance Group, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stacy E. Aguilera
- The Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Cassandra M. Brooks
- Stanford University, Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Michael Cox
- Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Louisa S. Evans
- Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sara M. Maxwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Mateja Nenadovic
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Natalie C. Ban
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Colombia, Canada
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33
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Russ GR, Lowe JR, Rizzari JR, Bergseth BJ, Alcala AC. Partitioning no-take marine reserve (NTMR) and benthic habitat effects on density of small and large-bodied tropical wrasses. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188515. [PMID: 29216194 PMCID: PMC5720769 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
No-take marine reserves (NTMRs) are increasingly implemented for fisheries management and biodiversity conservation. Yet, assessing NTMR effectiveness depends on partitioning the effects of NTMR protection and benthic habitat on protected species. Such partitioning is often difficult, since most studies lack well-designed sampling programs (i.e. Before-After-Control-Impact-Pair designs) spanning long-term time scales. Spanning 31 years, this study quantifies the effects of NTMR protection and changes to benthic habitat on the density of tropical wrasses (F. Labridae) at Sumilon and Apo Islands, Philippines. Five species of wrasse were studied: two species of large-bodied (40-50 cm TL) Hemigymnus that were vulnerable to fishing, and three species of small-bodied (10-25 cm TL) Thalassoma and Cirrhilabrus that were not targeted by fishing. NTMR protection had no measurable effect on wrasse density, irrespective of species or body size, over 20 (Sumilon) and 31 (Apo) years of protection. However, the density of wrasses was often affected strongly by benthic cover. Hemigymnus spp. had a positive association with hard coral cover, while Thalassoma spp. and Cirrhilabrus spp. had strong positive associations with cover of rubble and dead substratum. These associations were most apparent after environmental disturbances (typhoons, coral bleaching, crown of thorns starfish (COTS) outbreaks, use of explosives and drive nets) reduced live hard coral cover and increased cover of rubble, dead substratum and sand. Disturbances that reduced hard coral cover often reduced the density of Hemigymnus spp. and increased the density of Thalassoma spp. and Cirrhilabrus spp. rapidly (1-2 years). As hard coral recovered, density of Hemigymnus spp. often increased while density of Thalassoma spp. and Cirrhilabrus spp. often decreased, often on scales of 5-10 years. This study demonstrates that wrasse population density was influenced more by changes to benthic cover than by protection from fishing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garry R. Russ
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jake R. Lowe
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Justin R. Rizzari
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Brock J. Bergseth
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Angel C. Alcala
- Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management (SUAKCREM), Dumaguete City, Negros, Philippines
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34
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Castro-Sanguino C, Bozec YM, Dempsey A, Samaniego BR, Lubarsky K, Andrews S, Komyakova V, Ortiz JC, Robbins WD, Renaud PG, Mumby PJ. Detecting conservation benefits of marine reserves on remote reefs of the northern GBR. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186146. [PMID: 29117191 PMCID: PMC5695593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) is the largest network of marine reserves in the world, yet little is known of the efficacy of no-fishing zones in the relatively lightly-exploited remote parts of the system (i.e., northern regions). Here, we find that the detection of reserve effects is challenging and that heterogeneity in benthic habitat composition, specifically branching coral cover, is one of the strongest driving forces of fish assemblages. As expected, the biomass of targeted fish species was generally greater (up to 5-fold) in no-take zones than in fished zones, but we found no differences between the two forms of no-take zone: 'no-take' versus 'no-entry'. Strong effects of zoning were detected in the remote Far-North inshore reefs and more central outer reefs, but surprisingly fishing effects were absent in the less remote southern locations. Moreover, the biomass of highly targeted species was nearly 2-fold greater in fished areas of the Far-North than in any reserve (no-take or no-entry) further south. Despite high spatial variability in fish biomass, our results suggest that fishing pressure is greater in southern areas and that poaching within reserves may be common. Our results also suggest that fishers 'fish the line' as stock sizes in exploited areas decreased near larger no-take zones. Interestingly, an analysis of zoning effects on small, non-targeted fishes appeared to suggest a top-down effect from mesopredators, but was instead explained by variability in benthic composition. Thus, we demonstrate the importance of including appropriate covariates when testing for evidence of trophic cascades and reserve successes or failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Castro-Sanguino
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yves-Marie Bozec
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexandra Dempsey
- Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, Annapolis, United States of America
| | - Badi R Samaniego
- School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Philippines
| | - Katie Lubarsky
- State of Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources, Honolulu, United States of America
| | - Stefan Andrews
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Valeriya Komyakova
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Juan Carlos Ortiz
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - William D Robbins
- Wildlife Marine, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philip G Renaud
- Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, Annapolis, United States of America
| | - Peter J Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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35
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Sato M, Honda K, Uy WH, Baslot DI, Genovia TG, Nakamura Y, Bernardo LPC, Kurokochi H, Pantallano ADS, Lian C, Nadaoka K, Nakaoka M. Marine protected area restricts demographic connectivity: Dissimilarity in a marine environment can function as a biological barrier. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:7859-7871. [PMID: 29043040 PMCID: PMC5632639 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) can often lead to environmental differences between MPAs and fishing zones. To determine the effects on marine dispersal of environmental dissimilarity between an MPA and fishing zone, we examined the abundance and recruitment patterns of two anemonefishes (Amphiprion frenatus and A. perideraion) that inhabit sea anemones in different management zones (i.e., an MPA and two fishing zones) by performing a field survey and a genetic parentage analysis. We found lower levels of abundance per anemone in the MPA compared to the fishing zones for both species (n = 1,525 anemones, p = .032). The parentage analysis also showed that lower numbers of fishes were recruited from the fishing zones and outside of the study area into each anemone in the MPA than into each anemone in the fishing zones (n = 1,525 anemones, p < .017). However, the number of self-recruit production per female did not differ between the MPA and fishing zones (n = 384 females, p = .516). Because the ocean currents around the study site were unlikely to cause a lower settlement intensity of larvae in the MPA, the ocean circulation was not considered crucial to the observed abundance and recruitment patterns. Instead, stronger top-down control and/or a lower density of host anemones in the MPA were potential factors for such patterns. Our results highlight the importance of dissimilarity in a marine environment as a factor that affects connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Sato
- Graduate School of Environmental Science Hokkaido University Akkeshi-cho Hokkaido Japan.,Present address: National Research Institute of Fisheries Engineering Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency Hasaki Kamisu-shi Ibaraki Japan
| | - Kentaro Honda
- Akkeshi Marine Station Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere Hokkaido University Akkeshi-cho Hokkaido Japan.,Present address: Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency Toyohira-ku Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Wilfredo H Uy
- Institute of Fisheries Research and Development Mindanao State University at Naawan Naawan Misamis Oriental Philippines
| | - Darwin I Baslot
- Institute of Fisheries Research and Development Mindanao State University at Naawan Naawan Misamis Oriental Philippines
| | - Tom G Genovia
- Institute of Fisheries Research and Development Mindanao State University at Naawan Naawan Misamis Oriental Philippines
| | - Yohei Nakamura
- Graduate School of Kuroshio Science Kochi University Nankoku Kochi Japan
| | - Lawrence Patrick C Bernardo
- Department of Mechanical and Environmental Informatics Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering Tokyo Institute of Technology Meguro Tokyo Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kurokochi
- Asian Natural Environmental Science Center The University of Tokyo Nishitokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Allyn Duvin S Pantallano
- Institute of Fisheries Research and Development Mindanao State University at Naawan Naawan Misamis Oriental Philippines.,Graduate School of Kuroshio Science Kochi University Nankoku Kochi Japan
| | - Chunlan Lian
- Asian Natural Environmental Science Center The University of Tokyo Nishitokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Kazuo Nadaoka
- Department of Mechanical and Environmental Informatics Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering Tokyo Institute of Technology Meguro Tokyo Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakaoka
- Akkeshi Marine Station Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere Hokkaido University Akkeshi-cho Hokkaido Japan
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36
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Juhel JB, Vigliola L, Mouillot D, Kulbicki M, Letessier TB, Meeuwig JJ, Wantiez L. Reef accessibility impairs the protection of sharks. J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Juhel
- Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie; Noumea New Caledonia France
- Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD); UMR ENTROPIE; Laboratoire Excellence LABEX Corail; Noumea New Caledonia France
- UMR 9190 MARBEC; Université de Montpellier; Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD); UMR ENTROPIE; Laboratoire Excellence LABEX Corail; Noumea New Caledonia France
| | - David Mouillot
- UMR 9190 MARBEC; Université de Montpellier; Montpellier Cedex 5 France
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville QLD Australia
| | - Michel Kulbicki
- Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD); UMR ENTROPIE; Laboratoire d'excellence LABEX Corail; Université de Perpignan; Perpignan France
| | - Tom B. Letessier
- Institute of Zoology; Zoological Society of London; Regent's Park; London UK
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute; The University of Western Australia; Crawley WA Australia
| | - Jessica J. Meeuwig
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute; The University of Western Australia; Crawley WA Australia
| | - Laurent Wantiez
- Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie; Noumea New Caledonia France
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37
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Reproductive benefits of no-take marine reserves vary with region for an exploited coral reef fish. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9693. [PMID: 28852089 PMCID: PMC5575329 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10180-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
No-take marine reserves (NTMRs) are expected to benefit fisheries via the net export of eggs and larvae (recruitment subsidy) from reserves to adjacent fished areas. Quantifying egg production is the first step in evaluating recruitment subsidy potential. We calculated annual egg production per unit area (EPUA) from 2004 to 2013 for the commercially important common coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, on fished and NTMR reefs throughout the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. Geographic region, NTMR status, fish size, and population density were all found to affect EPUA. The interactions among these factors were such that, EPUA on NTMR reefs compared to reefs open to fishing was 21% greater in the southern GBR, 152% greater in the central GBR, but 56% less in the northern GBR. The results show that while NTMRs can potentially provide a substantial recruitment subsidy (central GBR reefs), they may provide a far smaller subsidy (southern GBR), or serve as recruitment sinks (northern GBR) for the same species in nearby locations where demographic rates differ. This study highlights the importance of considering spatial variation in EPUA when assessing locations of NTMRs if recruitment subsidy is expected from them.
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38
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Larval fish dispersal in a coral-reef seascape. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:148. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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39
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Rising temperatures may drive fishing-induced selection of low-performance phenotypes. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40571. [PMID: 28094310 PMCID: PMC5240134 DOI: 10.1038/srep40571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate warming is likely to interact with other stressors to challenge the physiological capacities and survival of phenotypes within populations. This may be especially true for the billions of fishes per year that undergo vigorous exercise prior to escaping or being intentionally released from fishing gear. Using adult coral grouper (Plectropomus leopardus), an important fisheries species throughout the Indo-Pacific, we show that population-level survival following vigorous exercise is increasingly compromised as temperatures increase from current-day levels (100-67% survival at 24-30 °C) to those projected for the end of the century (42% survival at 33 °C). Intriguingly, we demonstrate that high-performance individuals take longer to recover to a resting metabolic state and subsequently have lower survival in warm water compared with conspecifics that exercise less vigorously. Moreover, we show that post-exercise mortality of high-performance phenotypes manifests after 3-13 d at the current summer maximum (30 °C), while mortality at 33 °C occurs within 1.8-14.9 h. We propose that wild populations in a warming climate may become skewed towards low-performance phenotypes with ramifications for predator-prey interactions and community dynamics. Our findings highlight the susceptibility of phenotypic diversity to fishing activities and demonstrate a mechanism that may contribute to fishing-induced evolution in the face of ongoing climate change.
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40
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Williamson DH, Harrison HB, Almany GR, Berumen ML, Bode M, Bonin MC, Choukroun S, Doherty PJ, Frisch AJ, Saenz‐Agudelo P, Jones GP. Large‐scale, multidirectional larval connectivity among coral reef fish populations in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:6039-6054. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David H. Williamson
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Hugo B. Harrison
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Glenn R. Almany
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) USR 3278 CNRS‐EPHE CRIOBE University of Perpignan 66860 Perpignan Cedex France
| | - Michael L. Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center King Abdullah University of Science and Technology 23955‐6900 Thuwal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael Bode
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions School of BioSciences University of Melbourne Parkville Melbourne Vic. 3010 Australia
| | - Mary C. Bonin
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Severine Choukroun
- Physical Sciences College of Science, Technology and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Peter J. Doherty
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB#3 Townsville MC Qld 4810 Australia
| | - Ashley J. Frisch
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Townsville Qld 4810 Australia
| | - Pablo Saenz‐Agudelo
- National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) USR 3278 CNRS‐EPHE CRIOBE University of Perpignan 66860 Perpignan Cedex France
- Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Townsville Qld 4810 Australia
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas Universidad Austral de Chile Valdivia Chile
| | - Geoffrey P. Jones
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
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41
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Casey JM, Baird AH, Brandl SJ, Hoogenboom MO, Rizzari JR, Frisch AJ, Mirbach CE, Connolly SR. A test of trophic cascade theory: fish and benthic assemblages across a predator density gradient on coral reefs. Oecologia 2016; 183:161-175. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3753-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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42
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D'agata S, Mouillot D, Wantiez L, Friedlander AM, Kulbicki M, Vigliola L. Marine reserves lag behind wilderness in the conservation of key functional roles. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12000. [PMID: 27354026 PMCID: PMC4931279 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Although marine reserves represent one of the most effective management responses to human impacts, their capacity to sustain the same diversity of species, functional roles and biomass of reef fishes as wilderness areas remains questionable, in particular in regions with deep and long-lasting human footprints. Here we show that fish functional diversity and biomass of top predators are significantly higher on coral reefs located at more than 20 h travel time from the main market compared with even the oldest (38 years old), largest (17,500 ha) and most restrictive (no entry) marine reserve in New Caledonia (South-Western Pacific). We further demonstrate that wilderness areas support unique ecological values with no equivalency as one gets closer to humans, even in large and well-managed marine reserves. Wilderness areas may therefore serve as benchmarks for management effectiveness and act as the last refuges for the most vulnerable functional roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie D'agata
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France.,ENTROPIE, UMR IRD-UR-CNRS 9220, Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX CORAIL, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia.,Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Marine Program, Bronx, New York 10460 USA
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, UMR IRD-CNRS-UM-IFREMER 9190, Université Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex, France
| | - Laurent Wantiez
- Université de Nouvelle Calédonie-EA4243 Laboratoire « LIVE » - BP R4, 98851 Nouméa-Nouvelle Calédonie
| | - Alan M Friedlander
- Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, University of Hawaii, 2538 McCarthy Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA.,Pristine Seas-National Geographic Society, Washington, DC 20036, USA
| | - Michel Kulbicki
- ENTROPIE, UMR IRD-UR-CNRS 9220, Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX CORAIL, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université de Perpignan, 66860 Perpignan Cedex 9, France
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- ENTROPIE, UMR IRD-UR-CNRS 9220, Laboratoire d'Excellence LABEX CORAIL, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
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43
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Vanhatalo J, Hosack GR, Sweatman H. Spatiotemporal modelling of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef to inform control strategies. J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jarno Vanhatalo
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics and Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 00014 Helsinki Finland
| | | | - Hugh Sweatman
- Australian Institute of Marine Science; PMB 3 Townsville MC Qld 4810 Australia
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Ceccarelli DM, Emslie MJ, Richards ZT. Post-Disturbance Stability of Fish Assemblages Measured at Coarse Taxonomic Resolution Masks Change at Finer Scales. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156232. [PMID: 27285160 PMCID: PMC4902313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantifying changes to coral reef fish assemblages in the wake of cyclonic disturbances is challenging due to spatial variability of damage inherent in such events. Often, fish abundance appears stable at one spatial scale (e.g. reef-wide), but exhibits substantial change at finer scales (e.g. site-specific decline or increase). Taxonomic resolution also plays a role; overall stability at coarse taxonomic levels (e.g. family) may mask species-level turnover. Here we document changes to reef fish communities after severe Tropical Cyclone Ita crossed Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Coral and reef fish surveys were conducted concurrently before and after the cyclone at four levels of exposure to the prevailing weather. Coral cover declined across all exposures except sheltered sites, with the largest decline at exposed sites. There was no significant overall reduction in the total density, biomass and species richness of reef fishes between 2011 and 2015, but individual fish taxa (families and species) changed in complex and unpredictable ways. For example, more families increased in density and biomass than decreased following Cyclone Ita, particularly at exposed sites whilst more fish families declined at lagoon sites even though coral cover did not decline. All sites lost biomass of several damselfish species, and at most sites there was an increase in macroinvertivores and grazers. Overall, these results suggest that the degree of change measured at coarse taxonomic levels masked high species-level turnover, although other potential explanations include that there was no impact of the storm, fish assemblages were impacted but underwent rapid recovery or that there is a time lag before the full impacts become apparent. This study confirms that in high-complexity, high diversity ecosystems such as coral reefs, species level analyses are essential to adequately capture the consequences of disturbance events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M. Ceccarelli
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, 4811, Townsville, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Michael J. Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, TMC, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Zoe T. Richards
- Department of Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA, 6016, Perth, Australia
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Lukoschek V, Riginos C, van Oppen MJH. Congruent patterns of connectivity can inform management for broadcast spawning corals on the Great Barrier Reef. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:3065-80. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vimoksalehi Lukoschek
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Cynthia Riginos
- School of Biological Sciences; The University of Queensland; St. Lucia Qld 4072 Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science; PMB 3; Townsville Mail Centre; Townsville Qld 4810 Australia
- School of BioSciences; The University of Melbourne; Parkville Vic. 3010 Australia
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Hopf JK, Jones GP, Williamson DH, Connolly SR. Synergistic Effects of Marine Reserves and Harvest Controls on the Abundance and Catch Dynamics of a Coral Reef Fishery. Curr Biol 2016; 26:1543-1548. [PMID: 27185553 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Marine no-take reserves, where fishing and other extractive activities are prohibited, have well-established conservation benefits [1], yet their impacts on fisheries remains contentious [2-4]. For fishery species, reserves are often implemented alongside more conventional harvest strategies, including catch and size limits [2, 5]. However, catch and fish abundances observed post-intervention are often attributed to reserves, without explicitly estimating the potential contribution of concurrent management interventions [2, 3, 6-9]. Here we test a metapopulation model against observed fishery [10] and population [11] data for an important coral reef fishery (coral trout; Plectropomus spp.) in Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) to evaluate how the combined increase in reserve area [12] and reduction in fishing effort [13, 14] in 2004 influenced changes in fish stocks and the commercial fishery. We found that declines in catch, increases in catch rates, and increases in biomass since 2004 were substantially attributable to the integration of direct effort controls with the rezoning, rather than the rezoning alone. The combined management approach was estimated to have been more productive for fish and fisheries than if the rezoning had occurred alone and comparable to what would have been obtained with effort controls alone. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the direct effort controls prevented initial decreases in catch per unit effort that would have otherwise occurred with the rezoning. Our findings demonstrate that by concurrently restructuring the fishery, the conservation benefits of reserves were enhanced and the fishery cost of rezoning the reserve network was socialized, mitigating negative impacts on individual fishers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jess K Hopf
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - Geoffrey P Jones
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David H Williamson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Sean R Connolly
- Marine Biology and Aquaculture Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Mellin C, Aaron MacNeil M, Cheal AJ, Emslie MJ, Julian Caley M. Marine protected areas increase resilience among coral reef communities. Ecol Lett 2016; 19:629-37. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.12598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Mellin
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No. 3, Townsville MC Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide South Australia 5005 Australia
| | - M. Aaron MacNeil
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No. 3, Townsville MC Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
| | - Alistair J. Cheal
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No. 3, Townsville MC Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
| | - Michael J. Emslie
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No. 3, Townsville MC Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
| | - M. Julian Caley
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No. 3, Townsville MC Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
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Alós J, Puiggrós A, Díaz-Gil C, Palmer M, Rosselló R, Arlinghaus R. Empirical Evidence for Species-Specific Export of Fish Naïveté from a No-Take Marine Protected Area in a Coastal Recreational Hook and Line Fishery. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135348. [PMID: 26275290 PMCID: PMC4537300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
No-take marine protected areas (MPAs) are assumed to enhance fisheries catch via the "spillover" effect, where biomass is exported to adjacent exploited areas. Recent studies in spearfishing fisheries suggest that the spillover of gear-naïve individuals from protected to unprotected sites increases catch rates outside the boundaries of MPAs. Whether this is a widespread phenomenon that also holds for other gear types and species is unknown. In this study, we tested if the distance to a Mediterranean MPA predicted the degree of vulnerability to hook and line in four small-bodied coastal fish species. With the assistance of underwater video recording, we investigated the interaction effect of the distance to the boundary of an MPA and species type relative to the latency time to ingest a natural bait, which was considered as a surrogate of fish naïveté or vulnerability to fishing. Vulnerability to angling increased (i.e., latency time decreased) within and near the boundary of an MPA for an intrinsically highly catchable species (Serranus scriba), while it remained constant for an intrinsically uncatchable control species (Chromis chromis). While all of the individuals of S. scriba observed within the MPA and surrounding areas were in essence captured by angling gear, only one fifth of individuals in the far locations were captured. This supports the potential for the spillover of gear-naïve and consequently more vulnerable fish from no-take MPAs. Two other species initially characterized as intermediately catchable (Coris julis and Diplodus annularis) also had a shorter latency time in the vicinity of an MPA, but for these two cases the trend was not statistically significant. Overall, our results suggest that an MPA-induced naïveté effect may not be universal and may be confined to only intrinsically highly catchable fish species. This fact emphasizes the importance of considering the behavioural dimension when predicting the outcomes of MPAs, otherwise the effective contribution may be smaller than predicted for certain highly catchable species such as S. scriba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep Alós
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Antoni Puiggrós
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Carlos Díaz-Gil
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
- Laboratori d'Investigacions Marines i Aqüicultura, LIMIA (Balearic Government), C/Eng Gabriel Roca 69, 07157, Port d'Andratx, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Miquel Palmer
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Rosario Rosselló
- Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/Miquel Marqués 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Robert Arlinghaus
- Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587, Berlin, Germany
- Division of Integrative Fisheries Management, Faculty of Life Sciences and Integrative Research Institute for the Transformation of Human-Environmental Systems, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 42, 10155, Berlin, Germany
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