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von Hammerstein H, Fett TM, Ferse SCA, Helfer V, Kininmonth S, Bejarano S. Individual mangrove trees provide alternative reef fish habitat on backreefs. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18574. [PMID: 39127710 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69524-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Mangrove trees occur in a variety of geomorphic and sedimentary settings. Yet, studies investigating their role as habitat providers often focus on the most common biophysical types, such as deltaic, estuarine, open coast or lagoonal mangroves on soft sediments, disregarding less typical environments. Here, we investigated the influence of individual mangrove trees growing on a consolidated backreef system (Laucala Bay, Fiji) on habitat use by reef fishes. Combining field surveys and an experiment, we quantified the extent to which reef mangrove trees serve as habitat for solitary or shoaling reef fishes. Using mangrove tree mimics, we disentangled effects attributable to the physical structure of trees from those related to their bio-chemical properties. We found that fish numbers were 3.7 times higher within close proximity to the mangrove trees than at control sites and correlated significantly with root system perimeter. The roots of larger trees sheltered aggregations of juveniles and adults at incoming and high tides. Mangrove trees and mimics attracted fishes alike. We show that mangrove trees on backreefs provide habitat for shoaling and adult reef fishes in addition to serving as nursery areas, an ecosystem service otherwise lacking on backreef areas with low structural complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah von Hammerstein
- Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
- Department of Geography & Environment, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
| | - Theresa-Marie Fett
- Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Sebastian C A Ferse
- Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Jl. Agatis 1, Dramaga Campus, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
- Marine Ecology Department, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Leobener Strasse, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Véronique Helfer
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Stuart Kininmonth
- School of Marine Studies, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
- Heron Island Research Station, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sonia Bejarano
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
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Pimiento C, Albouy C, Silvestro D, Mouton TL, Velez L, Mouillot D, Judah AB, Griffin JN, Leprieur F. Functional diversity of sharks and rays is highly vulnerable and supported by unique species and locations worldwide. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7691. [PMID: 38001077 PMCID: PMC10673927 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43212-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Elasmobranchs (sharks, rays and skates) are among the most threatened marine vertebrates, yet their global functional diversity remains largely unknown. Here, we use a trait dataset of >1000 species to assess elasmobranch functional diversity and compare it against other previously studied biodiversity facets (taxonomic and phylogenetic), to identify species- and spatial- conservation priorities. We show that threatened species encompass the full extent of functional space and disproportionately include functionally distinct species. Applying the conservation metric FUSE (Functionally Unique, Specialised, and Endangered) reveals that most top-ranking species differ from the top Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) list. Spatial analyses further show that elasmobranch functional richness is concentrated along continental shelves and around oceanic islands, with 18 distinguishable hotspots. These hotspots only marginally overlap with those of other biodiversity facets, reflecting a distinct spatial fingerprint of functional diversity. Elasmobranch biodiversity facets converge with fishing pressure along the coast of China, which emerges as a critical frontier in conservation. Meanwhile, several components of elasmobranch functional diversity fall in high seas and/or outside the global network of marine protected areas. Overall, our results highlight acute vulnerability of the world's elasmobranchs' functional diversity and reveal global priorities for elasmobranch functional biodiversity previously overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Pimiento
- Department of Paleontology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama.
| | - Camille Albouy
- Ecosystem and Landscape Evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Unit of Land Change Science, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Daniele Silvestro
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Théophile L Mouton
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
- International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group, P.O. Box 29588, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Laure Velez
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - David Mouillot
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Aaron B Judah
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - John N Griffin
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Fabien Leprieur
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
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Dong Y, García Molinos J, Larson ER, Lin Q, Liu X, Sarà G, Cai Q, Zhang Z, Helmuth B, Bates A. Biological traits, geographic distributions, and species conservation in aquatic ecosystems. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yun‐Wei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Fisheries College Ocean University of China Qingdao China
| | | | - Eric R. Larson
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois USA
| | - Qiang Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio‐resources and Ecology South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Gianluca Sarà
- Laboratory of Ecology, Earth and Marine Sciences Department University of Palermo Palermo Italy
| | - Qing‐Hua Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
| | - Zhixin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio‐resources and Ecology South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Innovation Academy of South China Sea Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China
| | - Brian Helmuth
- Coastal Sustainability Institute Northeastern University Nahant Massachusetts USA
| | - Amanda Bates
- Department of Biology University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
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