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Muruga P, Siqueira AC, Bellwood DR. Meta-analysis reveals weak associations between reef fishes and corals. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:676-685. [PMID: 38374185 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02334-7] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Habitat associations underpin species ecologies in high-diversity systems. Within tropical, shallow water coral reefs, the relationship between fishes and corals is arguably the most iconic and highly scrutinized. A strong relationship between fishes and reef-building hard corals is often assumed, a belief supported by studies that document the decline of reef fishes following coral loss. However, the extent of this relationship is often unclear, as evidenced by conflicting reports. Here we assess the strength of this ecological association by relying on literature that has surveyed both fishes and corals synchronously. We quantitatively synthesize 723 bivariate correlation coefficients (from 66 papers), published over 38 years, that relate fish metrics (abundance, biomass and species richness) with the percentage of hard coral cover. Remarkably, despite extensive variation, the pattern of association on a global scale reveals a predominantly positive, albeit weak (|r| < 0.4), correlation. Even for commonly hypothesized drivers of fish-coral associations, fish family and trophic group, associations were consistently weak. These findings question our assumptions regarding the strength and ubiquity of fish-coral associations, and caution against assuming a direct and omnipresent relationship between these two iconic animal groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooventhran Muruga
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Alexandre C Siqueira
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Zuercher R, Kochan D, Harborne AR. Factors influencing the biomass of large-bodied parrotfish species in the absence of fishing on coral reefs in Florida, USA. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023; 103:1526-1537. [PMID: 37681994 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Parrotfishes are a functionally critical component of Caribbean reef fish assemblages, with large-bodied parrotfish species exerting particularly important top-down control on macroalgae. Despite their importance, low biomasses of large-bodied parrotfishes on many reefs hamper our ability to study and understand their ecology. Florida reefs, where most parrotfish fishing has been illegal since 1992, present a unique opportunity to explore covariates of their distribution. Using boosted regression tree models and 23 covariates, this study identified the major predictors of four species of Atlantic large-bodied parrotfishes. Maximum hard substrate relief, the area of the surrounding reef, and the availability of seagrass habitat were each positively related to parrotfish presence. Strong positive relationships between parrotfish presence and biomass and the biomass of other parrotfishes on a reef suggest that all four species responded to a similar subset of environmental conditions. However, relationships between parrotfish presence and biomass and depth, habitat type, coral cover, and the proximity of a reef to deepwater habitats differed among species, highlighting distinct habitat preferences. These results can improve managers' ability to target important biophysical correlates of large-bodied parrotfishes with appropriate management interventions and identify areas for protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Zuercher
- Institute of Environment and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - David Kochan
- Institute of Environment and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alastair R Harborne
- Institute of Environment and Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
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3
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Borland HP, Gilby BL, Henderson CJ, Connolly RM, Gorissen B, Ortodossi NL, Rummell AJ, Nagelkerken I, Pittman SJ, Sheaves M, Olds AD. Seafloor Terrain Shapes the Three-dimensional Nursery Value of Mangrove and Seagrass Habitats. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00767-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMangroves and seagrasses are important nurseries for many marine species, and this function is linked to the complexity and context of these habitats in coastal seascapes. It is also connected to bathymetric features that influence habitat availability, and the accessibility of refuge habitats, but the significance of terrain variation for nursery function is unknown. To test whether seafloor terrain influences nursery function, we surveyed fish assemblages from mangrove and seagrass habitats in 29 estuaries in eastern Australia with unbaited underwater cameras and quantified the surrounding three-dimensional terrain with a set of complementary surface metrics (that is, depth, aspect, curvature, slope, roughness) applied to sonar-derived bathymetric maps. Terrain metrics explained variability in assemblages in both mangroves and seagrasses, with differing effects for the entire fish assemblage and nursery species composition, and between habitats. Higher depth, plan curvature (concavity or convexity) and roughness (backscatter) were negatively correlated with abundance and diversity in mangroves and positively linked to abundance and diversity in seagrass. Mangrove nursery species (6 species) were most abundant in forests adjacent to flats with concave holes, rough substrates and low-moderate depths, whereas seagrass nursery species (3 species) were most abundant in meadows adjacent to deep channels with soft mounds and ledges. These findings indicate that seafloor terrain influences nursery function and demonstrate contrasting effects of terrain variation in mangroves and seagrass. We suggest that incorporating three-dimensional terrain into coastal conservation and restoration plans could help to improve outcomes for fisheries management, but contrasting strategies might be needed for different nursery habitats.
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Seascape Configuration Leads to Spatially Uneven Delivery of Parrotfish Herbivory across a Western Indian Ocean Seascape. DIVERSITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12110434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Spatial configuration of habitat types in multihabitat seascapes influence ecological function through links of biotic and abiotic processes. These connections, for example export of organic matter or fishes as mobile links, define ecosystem functionality across broader spatial scales. Herbivory is an important ecological process linked to ecosystem resilience, but it is not clear how herbivory relates to seascape configuration. We studied how herbivory and bioerosion by 3 species of parrotfish were distributed in a multi-habitat tropical seascape in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). We surveyed the abundance of three species with different life histories—Leptoscarus vaigiensis (seagrass species), Scarus ghobban (juvenile-seagrass/adults-reefs) and Scarus rubroviolaceus (reef species) —in seagrass meadows and on reefs and recorded their selectivity of feeding substrate in the two habitats. Herbivory rates for L. vaigiensis and S. ghobban and bioerosion for S. rubroviolaceus were then modelled using bite rates for different size classes and abundance and biomass data along seascape gradients (distance to alternative habitat types such as land, mangrove and seagrass). Bioerosion by S. rubroviolaceus was greatest on reefs far from seagrass meadows, while herbivory rates by S. ghobban on reefs displayed the opposite pattern. Herbivory in seagrass meadows was greatest in meadows close to shore, where L. vaigiensis targeted seagrass leaves and S. ghobban the epiphytes growing on them. Our study shows that ecological functions performed by fish are not equally distributed in the seascape and are influenced by fish life history and the spatial configuration of habitats in the seascape. This has implications for the resilience of the system, in terms of spatial heterogeneity of herbivory and bioerosion and should be considered in marine spatial planning and fisheries management.
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Rogers A, Mumby PJ. Mangroves reduce the vulnerability of coral reef fisheries to habitat degradation. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000510. [PMID: 31714938 PMCID: PMC6850520 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite general and wide-ranging negative effects of coral reef degradation on reef communities, hope might exist for reef-associated predators that use nursery habitats. When reef structural complexity is lost, refuge density declines and prey vulnerability increases. Here, we explore whether the presence of nursery habitats can promote high predator productivity on degraded reefs by mitigating the costs of increased vulnerability in early life, whilst allowing for the benefits of increased food availability in adulthood. We apply size-based ecosystem models of coral reefs with high and low structural complexity to predict fish biomass and productivity in the presence and absence of mangrove nurseries. Our scenarios allow us to elucidate the interacting effects of refuge availability and ontogenetic habitat shifts for fisheries productivity. We find that low complexity, degraded reefs with nurseries can support fisheries productivity that is equal to or greater than that in complex reefs that lack nurseries. We compare and validate model predictions with field data from Belize. Our results should inform reef fisheries management strategies and protected areas now and into the future. Despite wide-ranging negative effects of coral reef degradation on reef communities, hope might exist for reef-associated predators that use nursery habitats. This study uses size-based ecosystem models of coral reefs to assess the effects of the presence and absence of mangrove nurseries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Rogers
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter J. Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Robertson DR, Domínguez-Dominguez O, Aroyo YML, Mendoza RM, Simões N. Reef-associated fishes from the offshore reefs of western Campeche Bank, Mexico, with a discussion of mangroves and seagrass beds as nursery habitats. Zookeys 2019; 843:71-115. [PMID: 31139001 PMCID: PMC6522471 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.843.33873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of small emergent coral reefs and shallow, submerged coralliferous banks are scattered along the western edge of Campeche Bank (southwest Gulf of Mexico), 150–200 km offshore from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Here a reasonably comprehensive, annotated checklist of reef-associated fishes for one reef, Cayo Arcas (expanded from 162 to 209 species) is presented, with preliminary checklists of such fishes from three other emergent reefs (Cayo Arenas, Triángulo Oeste, Triángulo Este) and four submerged bank reefs (Banco Obispo Norte, Banco Obispo Sur, Banco Nuevo and Banco Pera). During 2017–18 a total of 260 species was observed or collected from those reefs, and previous studies and georeferenced museum records in the global aggregator Fishnet2 added another 101 shallow-living species recorded on or adjacent to those reefs. Some coral-reef fishes are thought to be strongly dependent on seagrass and mangrove areas as nursery habitats for maintenance of their local populations on reefs near to those habitats. The abundance of a number of such “nursery” species on these Campeche reefs indicates otherwise, as there are no seagrass- or mangrove habitats for reef fishes within ~ 150 km of the study reefs. Other isolated Caribbean-area reefs that lack mangroves and, in some cases, seagrasses, also support many such nursery species of reef-fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Ross Robertson
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panamá Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Panama
| | - Omar Domínguez-Dominguez
- Laboratorio de Biologia Acuatica, Facultad de Biologia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo Morelia Mexico
| | - Yareli Margarita López Aroyo
- Laboratorio de Biologia Acuatica, Facultad de Biologia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo Morelia Mexico
| | - Rigoberto Moreno Mendoza
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación Sisal (UMDI-SISAL), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal, CP 97356 Yucatán, Mexico Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Yucatán Mexico
| | - Nuno Simões
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación Sisal (UMDI-SISAL), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal, CP 97356 Yucatán, Mexico Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Yucatán Mexico.,International Chair for Coastal and Marine Studies, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A and M University - Corpus Christi,Texas, USA Texas A and M University Texas United States of America.,Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera, Laboratorios Nacionales, CONACYT, Mexico Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera, Laboratorios Nacionales Mexico Mexico
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Fulton CJ, Abesamis RA, Berkström C, Depczynski M, Graham NAJ, Holmes TH, Kulbicki M, Noble MM, Radford BT, Tano S, Tinkler P, Wernberg T, Wilson SK. Form and function of tropical macroalgal reefs in the Anthropocene. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Fulton
- Research School of Biology; Australian National University; Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Rene A. Abesamis
- SU-Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management; Silliman University; Dumaguete Philippines
| | - Charlotte Berkström
- Department of Ecology, Environment & Plant Sciences; Stockholm University; Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Öregrund Sweden
| | - Martial Depczynski
- Australian Institute of Marine Science; Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | | | - Thomas H. Holmes
- Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions; Government of Western Australia; Kensington Western Australia Australia
| | - Michel Kulbicki
- UMR “Entropie”, Labex Corail, IRD; University of Perpignan; Perpignan France
| | - Mae M. Noble
- Fenner School of Environment & Society; Australian National University; Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Ben T. Radford
- Australian Institute of Marine Science; Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - Stina Tano
- Department of Ecology, Environment & Plant Sciences; Stockholm University; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Paul Tinkler
- School of Life & Environmental Sciences; Deakin University; Warrnambool Victoria Australia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia Australia
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - Shaun K. Wilson
- Oceans Institute; University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia Australia
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions; Government of Western Australia; Kensington Western Australia Australia
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8
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Roff G, Bejarano S, Priest M, Marshell A, Chollett I, Steneck RS, Doropoulos C, Golbuu Y, Mumby PJ. Seascapes as drivers of herbivore assemblages in coral reef ecosystems. ECOL MONOGR 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- George Roff
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab; School of Biological Sciences; University of Queensland; St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Sonia Bejarano
- Reef Systems Research Group, Ecology Department; Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT); Fahrenheitstraße 6 28359 Bremen Germany
| | - Mark Priest
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab; School of Biological Sciences; University of Queensland; St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Alyssa Marshell
- Department of Marine Science and Fisheries; College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences; Sultan Qaboos University; Muscat Oman
| | - Iliana Chollett
- Smithsonian Marine Station; Smithsonian Institution; Fort Pierce Florida 34949 USA
| | - Robert S. Steneck
- Darling Marine Center; School of Marine Sciences; University of Maine; Walpole Maine 04573 USA
| | | | | | - Peter J. Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab; School of Biological Sciences; University of Queensland; St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
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Brown CJ, Harborne AR, Paris CB, Mumby PJ. Uniting paradigms of connectivity in marine ecology. Ecology 2016; 97:2447-2457. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Brown
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Goddard Building Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
- Australian Rivers Institute Griffith University Nathan Queensland 4111 Australia
| | - Alastair R. Harborne
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Goddard Building Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Goddard Building Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
- Division of Applied Marine Physics Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Research University of Miami 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami Florida 33149 USA
| | - Claire B. Paris
- Department of Biological Sciences Florida International University 3000 NE 151 Street North Miami Florida 33181 USA
| | - Peter J. Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Goddard Building Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Goddard Building Brisbane Queensland 4072 Australia
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Harborne AR, Nagelkerken I, Wolff NH, Bozec Y, Dorenbosch M, Grol MGG, Mumby PJ. Direct and indirect effects of nursery habitats on coral‐reef fish assemblages, grazing pressure and benthic dynamics. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.02602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alastair R. Harborne
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, Goddard Building, The Univ. of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Ivan Nagelkerken
- Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences and The Environment Institute DX 650 418, The Univ. of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
- Dept of Animal Ecology and Ecophysiology Inst. for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen Toernooiveld 1 NL‐6525 ED Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - Nicholas H. Wolff
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, Goddard Building, The Univ. of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Yves‐Marie Bozec
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, Goddard Building, The Univ. of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Exeter Stocker Road Exeter EX4 4QD UK
| | - Martijn Dorenbosch
- Dept of Animal Ecology and Ecophysiology Inst. for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen Toernooiveld 1 NL‐6525 ED Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - Monique G. G. Grol
- Dept of Animal Ecology and Ecophysiology Inst. for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen Toernooiveld 1 NL‐6525 ED Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - Peter J. Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, Goddard Building, The Univ. of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Exeter Stocker Road Exeter EX4 4QD UK
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