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Dalongeville A, Boulanger E, Marques V, Charbonnel E, Hartmann V, Santoni MC, Deter J, Valentini A, Lenfant P, Boissery P, Dejean T, Velez L, Pichot F, Sanchez L, Arnal V, Bockel T, Delaruelle G, Holon F, Milhau T, Romant L, Manel S, Mouillot D. Benchmarking eleven biodiversity indicators based on environmental
DNA
surveys: more diverse functional traits and evolutionary lineages inside marine reserves. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emilie Boulanger
- Aix‐Marseille Université Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UM 110 Marseille France
| | - Virginie Marques
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE‐PSL University, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
| | - Eric Charbonnel
- Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue, Observatoire, plage du Rouet. 31 Av. J. Bart. BP 42. 13820 Carry‐le‐Rouet France
| | - Virginie Hartmann
- Reserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère‐Banyuls, Département des Pyrénées‐Orientales, 5 rue Roger David 66650 Banyuls‐sur‐mer France
| | | | - Julie Deter
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD Montpellier France
- Andromède Océanologie, 7 place Cassan – Carnon plage, 34130 Mauguio France
| | - Alice Valentini
- SPYGEN, 17 rue du Lac Saint‐André, 73370 Le Bourget‐du‐Lac France
| | - Philippe Lenfant
- Université Perpignan Via Domitia Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy Perpignan France
| | - Pierre Boissery
- Agence de l’Eau Rhône‐Méditerranée‐Corse, Délégation de Marseille, 2 rue Barbusse, CS 90464, 13207 Marseille Cedex France
| | - Tony Dejean
- SPYGEN, 17 rue du Lac Saint‐André, 73370 Le Bourget‐du‐Lac France
| | - Laure Velez
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD Montpellier France
| | - Franck Pichot
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD Montpellier France
| | - Loic Sanchez
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD Montpellier France
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE‐PSL University, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
| | - Veronique Arnal
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE‐PSL University, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
| | - Thomas Bockel
- Andromède Océanologie, 7 place Cassan – Carnon plage, 34130 Mauguio France
| | | | - Florian Holon
- Andromède Océanologie, 7 place Cassan – Carnon plage, 34130 Mauguio France
| | - Tristan Milhau
- SPYGEN, 17 rue du Lac Saint‐André, 73370 Le Bourget‐du‐Lac France
| | - Lola Romant
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD Montpellier France
| | - Stéphanie Manel
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE‐PSL University, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD Montpellier France
- Institut Universitaire de France Paris France
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2
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Bosch NE, Monk J, Goetze J, Wilson S, Babcock RC, Barrett N, Clough J, Currey‐Randall LM, Fairclough DV, Fisher R, Gibbons BA, Harasti D, Harvey ES, Heupel MR, Hicks JL, Holmes TH, Huveneers C, Ierodiaconou D, Jordan A, Knott NA, Malcolm HA, McLean D, Meekan M, Newman SJ, Radford B, Rees MJ, Saunders BJ, Speed CW, Travers MJ, Wakefield CB, Wernberg T, Langlois TJ. Effects of human footprint and biophysical factors on the body-size structure of fished marine species. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13807. [PMID: 34312893 PMCID: PMC9292308 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Marine fisheries in coastal ecosystems in many areas of the world have historically removed large-bodied individuals, potentially impairing ecosystem functioning and the long-term sustainability of fish populations. Reporting on size-based indicators that link to food-web structure can contribute to ecosystem-based management, but the application of these indicators over large (cross-ecosystem) geographical scales has been limited to either fisheries-dependent catch data or diver-based methods restricted to shallow waters (<20 m) that can misrepresent the abundance of large-bodied fished species. We obtained data on the body-size structure of 82 recreationally or commercially targeted marine demersal teleosts from 2904 deployments of baited remote underwater stereo-video (stereo-BRUV). Sampling was at up to 50 m depth and covered approximately 10,000 km of the continental shelf of Australia. Seascape relief, water depth, and human gravity (i.e., a proxy of human impacts) were the strongest predictors of the probability of occurrence of large fishes and the abundance of fishes above the minimum legal size of capture. No-take marine reserves had a positive effect on the abundance of fishes above legal size, although the effect varied across species groups. In contrast, sublegal fishes were best predicted by gradients in sea surface temperature (mean and variance). In areas of low human impact, large fishes were about three times more likely to be encountered and fishes of legal size were approximately five times more abundant. For conspicuous species groups with contrasting habitat, environmental, and biogeographic affinities, abundance of legal-size fishes typically declined as human impact increased. Our large-scale quantitative analyses highlight the combined importance of seascape complexity, regions with low human footprint, and no-take marine reserves in protecting large-bodied fishes across a broad range of species and ecosystem configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor E. Bosch
- The School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jacquomo Monk
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Jordan Goetze
- Marine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of BiodiversityConservation and AttractionsKensingtonWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Shaun Wilson
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Marine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of BiodiversityConservation and AttractionsKensingtonWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | | | - Neville Barrett
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Jock Clough
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | | | - David V. Fairclough
- Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentGovernment of Western AustraliaNorth BeachWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Rebecca Fisher
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceIndian Ocean Marine Research CentreCrawleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Brooke A. Gibbons
- The School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - David Harasti
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries ResearchPort Stephens Fisheries InstituteTaylors BeachNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Euan S. Harvey
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Michelle R. Heupel
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS)University of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Jamie L. Hicks
- Department for Environment and WaterMarine ScienceAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Thomas H. Holmes
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Marine Science Program, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of BiodiversityConservation and AttractionsKensingtonWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Charlie Huveneers
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Daniel Ierodiaconou
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative EcologyDeakin UniversityWarrnamboolVictoriaAustralia
| | - Alan Jordan
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries ResearchPort Stephens Fisheries InstituteTaylors BeachNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Nathan A. Knott
- Fisheries ResearchNSW Department of Primary IndustriesCoffs HarbourNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Hamish A. Malcolm
- Fisheries ResearchNSW Department of Primary IndustriesCoffs HarbourNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Dianne McLean
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceIndian Ocean Marine Research CentreCrawleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Mark Meekan
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceIndian Ocean Marine Research CentreCrawleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Stephen J. Newman
- Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentGovernment of Western AustraliaNorth BeachWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Ben Radford
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceIndian Ocean Marine Research CentreCrawleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Agriculture and EnvironmentThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Matthew J. Rees
- Fisheries ResearchNSW Department of Primary IndustriesCoffs HarbourNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Benjamin J. Saunders
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Conrad W. Speed
- Australian Institute of Marine ScienceIndian Ocean Marine Research CentreCrawleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Michael J. Travers
- Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentGovernment of Western AustraliaNorth BeachWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Corey B. Wakefield
- Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentGovernment of Western AustraliaNorth BeachWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- The School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Institute of Marine ResearchHisNorway
| | - Tim J. Langlois
- The School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- The UWA Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
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3
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Goetze JS, Wilson S, Radford B, Fisher R, Langlois TJ, Monk J, Knott NA, Malcolm H, Currey‐Randall LM, Ierodiaconou D, Harasti D, Barrett N, Babcock RC, Bosch NE, Brock D, Claudet J, Clough J, Fairclough DV, Heupel MR, Holmes TH, Huveneers C, Jordan AR, McLean D, Meekan M, Miller D, Newman SJ, Rees MJ, Roberts KE, Saunders BJ, Speed CW, Travers MJ, Treml E, Whitmarsh SK, Wakefield CB, Harvey ES. Increased connectivity and depth improve the effectiveness of marine reserves. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:3432-3447. [PMID: 34015863 PMCID: PMC8360116 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Marine reserves are a key tool for the conservation of marine biodiversity, yet only ~2.5% of the world's oceans are protected. The integration of marine reserves into connected networks representing all habitats has been encouraged by international agreements, yet the benefits of this design has not been tested empirically. Australia has one of the largest systems of marine reserves, providing a rare opportunity to assess how connectivity influences conservation success. An Australia-wide dataset was collected using baited remote underwater video systems deployed across a depth range from 0 to 100 m to assess the effectiveness of marine reserves for protecting teleosts subject to commercial and recreational fishing. A meta-analytical comparison of 73 fished species within 91 marine reserves found that, on average, marine reserves had 28% greater abundance and 53% greater biomass of fished species compared to adjacent areas open to fishing. However, benefits of protection were not observed across all reserves (heterogeneity), so full subsets generalized additive modelling was used to consider factors that influence marine reserve effectiveness, including distance-based and ecological metrics of connectivity among reserves. Our results suggest that increased connectivity and depth improve the aforementioned marine reserve benefits and that these factors should be considered to optimize such benefits over time. We provide important guidance on factors to consider when implementing marine reserves for the purpose of increasing the abundance and size of fished species, given the expected increase in coverage globally. We show that marine reserves that are highly protected (no-take) and designed to optimize connectivity, size and depth range can provide an effective conservation strategy for fished species in temperate and tropical waters within an overarching marine biodiversity conservation framework.
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Tao H, Dur G, Ke P, Souissi S, Hsieh C. Age-specific habitat preference, carrying capacity, and landscape structure determine the response of population spatial variability to fishing-driven age truncation. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:6358-6370. [PMID: 34141223 PMCID: PMC8207361 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms underlying spatial variability of exploited fish is critical for the sustainable management of fish stocks. Empirical studies suggest that size-selective fishing can elevate fish population spatial variability (i.e., more heterogeneous distribution) through age truncation, making the population less resilient to changing environment. However, species differ in how their spatial variability responds to age truncation and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.We hypothesize that age-specific habitat preference, together with environmental carrying capacity and landscape structure, determines the response of population spatial variability to fishing-induced age truncation. To test these hypotheses, we design an individual-based model of an age-structured fish population on a two-dimensional landscape under size-selective fishing. Individual fish reproduces and survives, and moves between habitats according to age-specific habitat preference and density-dependent habitat selection.Population spatial variability elevates with increasing age truncation, and the response is stronger for populations with stronger age-specific habitat preference. On a gradient landscape, reducing carrying capacity elevates the relative importance of density dependence in habitat selection, which weakens the response of spatial variability to age truncation for populations with strong age-specific habitat preference. On a fragmented landscape, both populations with strong and weak age-specific habitat preferences are restricted at local optimal habitats, and reducing carrying capacity weakens the responses of spatial variability to age truncation for both populations. Synthesis and applications. We demonstrate that to track and predict the changes in population spatial variability under exploitation, it is essential to consider the interactive effects of age-specific habitat preference, carrying capacity, and landscape structure. To improve spatial management in fisheries, it is crucial to enhance empirical and theoretical developments in the methodology to quantify age-specific habitat preference of marine fish, and to understand how climatic change influences carrying capacity and landscape continuity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao‐Hang Tao
- Institute of OceanographyNational Taiwan UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Gaël Dur
- Creative Science Unit (Geosciences)Faculty of ScienceShizuoka UniversityShizuokaJapan
| | - Po‐Ju Ke
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNJUSA
| | - Sami Souissi
- Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de GéosciencesUMR 8187 CNRS‐ULille‐ULCOUniversité de LilleWimereuxFrance
| | - Chih‐hao Hsieh
- Institute of OceanographyNational Taiwan UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Life ScienceInstitute of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyNational Taiwan UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- National Center for Theoretical SciencesTaipeiTaiwan
- Research Center for Environmental ChangesAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
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5
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Sbragaglia V, Coco S, Correia RA, Coll M, Arlinghaus R. Analyzing publicly available videos about recreational fishing reveals key ecological and social insights: A case study about groupers in the Mediterranean Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 765:142672. [PMID: 33077204 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142672] [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: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
iEcology and conservation culturomics are two emerging research approaches that rely on digital data for studying ecological patterns and human-nature interactions. We applied data mining of videos published on YouTube related to recreational fishing of four species of groupers (family: Epinephelidae) in Italy between 2011 and 2017 to learn whether digital user-supplied data help uncover key spatio-temporal ecological patterns characteristic of the studied species. Our results support an ontogenetic deepening of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) as revealed by a positive relationship between body mass and depth of captures declared in spearfishing videos. In addition, the data support a northward expansion of the white grouper (Epinephelus aeneus) because the average latitude associated to the catch was found to be positively correlated with the years when the videos were uploaded on YouTube. Furthermore, the georeferenced data about the white grouper filled a knowledge gap in a well-established international occurrence records dataset. The approach presented here could help mitigating data deficiencies and inform about harvesting patterns shown by recreational anglers and spearfishers. Our work illustrates the value of digital data associated with recreational fishing for advancing fish and fisheries research. The approach can be broadened to larger spatial and temporal scales, and to different species, contributing to a better understanding of macroecological patterns, assessment and conservation of exploited species, and monitoring of recreational fisheries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Sbragaglia
- Department of Marine Renewable Resources, Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Salvatore Coco
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Viale Circonvallazione 93-95, 62024 Matelica, Italy
| | - Ricardo A Correia
- Helsinki Lab of Interdisciplinary Conservation Science (HELICS), Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Insitute for Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; DBIO & CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus A. C. Simões, Avenida Lourival Melo Mota, Tabuleiro dos Martins, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Marta Coll
- Department of Marine Renewable Resources, Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, 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, Department of Crop and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, Haus 7, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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6
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Harvesting forage fish can prevent fishing-induced population collapses of large piscivorous fish. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:1917079118. [PMID: 33531361 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917079118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fisheries have reduced the abundances of large piscivores-such as gadids (cod, pollock, etc.) and tunas-in ecosystems around the world. Fisheries also target smaller species-such as herring, capelin, and sprat-that are important parts of the piscivores' diets. It has been suggested that harvesting of these so-called forage fish will harm piscivores. Multispecies models used for fisheries assessments typically ignore important facets of fish community dynamics, such as individual-level bioenergetics and/or size structure. We test the effects of fishing for both forage fish and piscivores using a dynamic, multitrophic, size-structured, bioenergetics model of the Baltic Sea. In addition, we analyze historical patterns in piscivore-biomass declines and fishing mortalities of piscivores and forage fish using global fish-stock assessment data. Our community-dynamics model shows that piscivores benefit from harvesting of their forage fish when piscivore fishing mortality is high. With substantial harvesting of forage fish, the piscivores can withstand higher fishing mortality. On the other hand, when piscivore fishing mortality is low, piscivore biomass decreases with more fishing of the forage fish. In accordance with these predictions, our statistical analysis of global fisheries data shows a positive interaction between the fishing mortalities of forage-fish stocks and piscivore stocks on the strength of piscivore-biomass declines. While overfishing of forage fish must be prevented, our study shows that reducing fishing pressures on forage fish may have unwanted negative side effects on piscivores. In some cases, decreasing forage-fish exploitation could cause declines, or even collapses, of piscivore stocks.
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7
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Savva I, Chartosia N, Antoniou C, Kleitou P, Georgiou A, Stern N, Hadjioannou L, Jimenez C, Andreou V, Hall-Spencer JM, Kletou D. They are here to stay: the biology and ecology of lionfish (Pterois miles) in the Mediterranean Sea. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2020; 97:148-162. [PMID: 32249927 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The lionfish, Pterois miles, is one of the most recent Lessepsian immigrants into the Mediterranean Sea, and it poses a serious threat to marine ecosystems in the region. This study assesses the basic biology and ecology of lionfish in the Mediterranean, examining morphometrics, reproduction and diet as well as population structure and distribution. The population density of lionfish has increased dramatically in Cyprus since the first sighting in late 2012; by 2018 aggregations of up to 70 lionfish were found on rocky grounds with complex reefs and artificial reefs in depths of 0-50 m. Lionfish in Cyprus become mature within a year, and adults are capable of spawning year-round, with peak spawning in summer when the sea-surface temperature reaches 28.4°C. The Cypriot lionfish grow faster and bigger than in their native range, and females are more common than males. Lionfish are generalist predators in these waters, as also found in their native range, consuming a range of teleost and crustacean prey, some of which are of high economic value (e.g., Spicara smaris and Sparisoma cretense) or have an important role in local trophic webs (e.g., Chromis chromis). Overall, the reproductive patterns, the presence of juveniles and adults throughout the year, the rapid growth rates and the generalist diet indicate that lionfish are thriving and are now already well established in the region and could potentially become the serious nuisance that they are in their temperate and tropical western Atlantic-invasive range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Savva
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Niki Chartosia
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Periklis Kleitou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab, Limassol, Cyprus
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Andreas Georgiou
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus
- KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Nir Stern
- National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Carlos Jimenez
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Vasilis Andreou
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, Nicosia, Cyprus
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8
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Myers EMV, Anderson MJ, Eme D, Liggins L, Roberts CD. Changes in key traits versus depth and latitude suggest energy-efficient locomotion, opportunistic feeding and light lead to adaptive morphologies of marine fishes. J Anim Ecol 2019; 89:309-322. [PMID: 31646627 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Understanding patterns and processes governing biodiversity along broad-scale environmental gradients, such as depth or latitude, requires an assessment of not just taxonomic richness, but also morphological and functional traits of organisms. Studies of traits can help to identify major selective forces acting on morphology. Currently, little is known regarding patterns of variation in the traits of fishes at broad spatial scales. The aims of this study were (a) to identify a suite of key traits in marine fishes that would allow assessment of morphological variability across broad-scale depth (50-1200 m) and latitudinal (29.15-50.91°S) gradients, and (b) to characterize patterns in these traits across depth and latitude for 144 species of ray-finned fishes in New Zealand waters. Here, we describe three new morphological traits, namely fin-base-to-perimeter ratio, jaw-length-to-mouth-width ratio, and pectoral-fin-base-to-body-depth ratio. Four other morphological traits essential for locomotion and food acquisition that are commonly measured in fishes were also included in the study. Spatial ecological distributions of individual fish species were characterized in response to a standardized replicated sampling design, and morphological measurements were obtained for each species from preserved museum specimens. With increasing depth, fishes, on average, became larger and more elongate, with higher fin-base-to-perimeter ratio and larger jaw-length-to-mouth-width ratio, all of which translates into a more eel-like anguilliform morphology. Variation in mean trait values along the depth gradient was stronger at lower latitudes for fin-base-to-perimeter ratio, elongation and total body length. Average eye size peaked at intermediate depths (500-700 m) and increased with increasing latitude at 700 m. These findings suggest that, in increasingly extreme environments, fish morphology shifts towards a body shape that favours an energy-efficient undulatory swimming style and an increase in jaw-length vs. mouth width for opportunistic feeding. Furthermore, increases in eye size with both depth and latitude indicate that changes in both the average ambient light conditions as well as seasonal variations in day-length can act to select ecomorphological adaptations in fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth M V Myers
- New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS), Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Marti J Anderson
- New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS), Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David Eme
- New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS), Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.,IFREMER, unité Ecologie et Modèles pour l'Halieutique, Nantes, France
| | - Libby Liggins
- School of Natural and Computational Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.,Auckland War Memorial Museum, Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Clive D Roberts
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand
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9
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Burns NM, Bailey DM, Wright PJ. A method to improve fishing selectivity through age targeted fishing using life stage distribution modelling. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214459. [PMID: 30939152 PMCID: PMC6445474 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding spatial distributions of fish species is important to those seeking to manage fisheries and advise on marine developments. Distribution patterns, habitat use, and aggregative behaviour often vary throughout the life cycle and can increase the vulnerability of certain life stages to anthropogenic impacts. Here we investigate distribution changes during the life cycle of whiting (Merlangius merlangus) to the west of the UK. Density distributions for age-0, age-1 and mature fish were modelled as functions of environmental variables using generalised additive mixed effects models. The greatest densities of age-0 whiting occurred over finer sediments where temperatures were between 12 to 13°C. Age-0 whiting densities decreased with increasing depth. Higher densities of age-1 whiting were also associated with fine sediments and peaked at 60 m, but this influence was also dependent on proximity to shore. Mature fish, while showing no association with any particular sediment type, were strongly associated with depths >60 m. Geostatistical aggregation curves were used to classify space use and showed persistent aggregations of age-0 whiting occupying inshore waters while age-1 and mature fish were more dispersed and differed among years. The differences in distributions among life stages suggested a general coastal to offshore shift as cohorts developed with mature whiting mainly occupying deep offshore waters. The spatial dynamics and areas of persistent life stage aggregation identified here could enable informed targeting and avoidance of specific age-class whiting to aid bycatch reduction. Given that landing obligation legislation is counterproductive unless it encourages greater fishing selectivity, the ability to avoid this species and undersized individuals would aid conservation measures and fishermen alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil M. Burns
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Marine Scotland Science, Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - David M. Bailey
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. Wright
- Marine Scotland Science, Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Williams J, Jordan A, Harasti D, Davies P, Ingleton T. Taking a deeper look: Quantifying the differences in fish assemblages between shallow and mesophotic temperate rocky reefs. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0206778. [PMID: 30875385 PMCID: PMC6420037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial distribution of a species assemblage is often determined by habitat and climate. In the marine environment, depth can become an important factor as declining light and water temperature leads to changes in the biological habitat structure. To date, much of the focus of ecological fish research has been based on reefs in less than 40 m with little research on the ecological role of mesophotic reefs. We deployed baited remote underwater stereo video systems (stereo-BRUVS) on temperate reefs in two depth categories: shallow (20–40 m) and mesophotic (80–120 m), off Port Stephens, Australia. Sites were selected using data collected by swath acoustic sounder to ensure stereo-BRUVS were deployed on reef. The sounder also provided rugosity, slope and relief data for each stereo-BRUVS deployment. Multivariate analysis indicates that there are significant differences in the fish assemblages between shallow and mesophotic reefs, primarily driven by Ophthalmolepis lineolatus and Notolabrus gymnogenis only occurring on shallow reefs and schooling species of fish that were unique to each depth category: Atypichthys strigatus on shallow reefs and Centroberyx affinis on mesophotic reefs. While shallow reefs had a greater species richness and abundance of fish when compared to mesophotic reefs, mesophotic reefs hosted the same species richness of fishery-targeted species. Chrysophrys auratus and Nemodactylus douglassii are two highly targeted species in this region. While C. auratus was numerically more abundant on shallow reefs, mesophotic reefs provide habitat for larger fish. In comparison, N. douglassii were evenly distributed across all sites sampled. Generalized linear models revealed that depth and habitat type provided the most parsimonious model for predicting the distribution of C. auratus, while habitat type alone best predicted the distribution of N. douglassii. These results demonstrate the importance of mesophotic reefs to fishery-targeted species and therefore have implications for informing the management of these fishery resources on shelf rocky reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Williams
- Fisheries Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Alan Jordan
- Fisheries Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Harasti
- Fisheries Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter Davies
- New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tim Ingleton
- New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Dance MA, Rooker JR. Cross-shelf habitat shifts by red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in the Gulf of Mexico. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213506. [PMID: 30870449 PMCID: PMC6417787 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat shifts that occur during the life cycles of marine fishes influence population connectivity and structure. A generalized additive modeling approach was used to characterize relationships between environmental variables and the relative abundance of red snapper Lutjanus campechanus over unconsolidated substrate on the continental shelf (<150 m) of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GoM) at three different life stages: juvenile (age-0, <125 mm FL), sub-adult (age-1-2, 125-300 mm FL), and adult (age-2+, >300 mm FL). Fisheries independent data (2008-2014) were used to develop separate models for both the eastern and western GoM, and final models were used to predict the relative availability of suitable habitat for each life stage across the two regions. Predictor variables included in final models varied by age class and region, with depth, dissolved oxygen, longitude, and distance to artificial structure common to most models. Depth was among the most influential variables in all models, and preferred depth increased with increasing size/age. Regional differences in fish-habitat relationships were also observed, as relative abundance of larger red snapper over unconsolidated substrates was more closely linked to artificial structure in the eastern GoM. The location of predicted high quality habitat for juvenile red snapper was greatest on the inner Texas shelf and a smaller area east of the Mississippi River Delta, suggesting these two areas may represent important nursery grounds for the respective regions. Clear ontogenetic shifts in the spatial distribution of predicted high quality habitat were evident in both the eastern (expansion from west to east with age) and western (shift from inshore to offshore) GoM. Given the unique population dynamics between the eastern and western GoM, improving our understanding of spatial and temporal variability in habitat quality may be important to maintaining connectivity between juvenile and adult habitats, and may enhance recovery and management of red snapper stocks in the GoM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Dance
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Jay R. Rooker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University (Galveston Campus), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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Reply to Baudron et al.: Fishing matters: Age-specific deepening is driven by exploitation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:2393-2394. [PMID: 30674684 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1819288116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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13
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Ontogenetic deepening of Northeast Atlantic fish stocks is not driven by fishing exploitation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:2390-2392. [PMID: 30674685 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1817295116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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