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Occurrence Regularity of Silt–Clay Minerals in Wind Eroded Deserts of Northwest China. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13052998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Wind erosion desertification is the most serious type of land degradation in Northwest China, so it is an important task for ecological management in the region. As the core of ecological management, soil quality is mainly affected by the presence of silt–clay content. Therefore, the grasp of its occurrence regularity is the key to controlling wind erosion desertification. At present, research on silt–clay contents is mainly independent in each local area and lacks integrity, which makes it difficult to meet the overall evaluation and planning requirements. To this end, this paper reviewed the related studies on the occurrence and control of wind erosion desertification in recent years and collected nearly 300 relevant silt–clay content data points. We studied the occurrence regularity of silt–clay content during the occurrence and treatment of wind erosion desertification and revealed the mechanism of silt–clay content in different processes. On this basis, the degree of wind erosion desertification in the major areas of Northwest China in the last five years was evaluated by calculations based on soil typing theory, and the fractal dimension interval (2.41–2.53) for the critical discrimination of desertification in these areas was obtained. The results showed that there were obvious distribution intervals of silt–clay content for different degrees of wind erosion desertification. Qualitative changes in soil quality during degradation ranged from light to moderate wind erosion desertification. The occurrence and control of wind erosion desertification were largely affected by the processes of silt–clay particles loss and aggregation. Among the three main treatment measures, biological measures enhanced silt–clay content most significantly. In this study, the occurrence regularity of silt–clay minerals in wind erosion desertification in Northwest China was revealed as a whole. This study provided a preliminary overall judgement of the dynamic evolution of wind erosion desertification, which provided a reference for the overall evaluation and global governance planning of wind erosion desertification in Northwest China.
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Sievers KT, McClure EC, Abesamis RA, Russ GR. Non-reef habitats in a tropical seascape affect density and biomass of fishes on coral reefs. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:13673-13686. [PMID: 33391672 PMCID: PMC7771147 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonreef habitats such as mangroves, seagrass, and macroalgal beds are important for foraging, spawning, and as nursery habitat for some coral reef fishes. The spatial configuration of nonreef habitats adjacent to coral reefs can therefore have a substantial influence on the distribution and composition of reef fish. We investigate how different habitats in a tropical seascape in the Philippines influence the presence, density, and biomass of coral reef fishes to understand the relative importance of different habitats across various spatial scales. A detailed seascape map generated from satellite imagery was combined with field surveys of fish and benthic habitat on coral reefs. We then compared the relative importance of local reef (within coral reef) and adjacent habitat (habitats in the surrounding seascape) variables for coral reef fishes. Overall, adjacent habitat variables were as important as local reef variables in explaining reef fish density and biomass, despite being fewer in number in final models. For adult and juvenile wrasses (Labridae), and juveniles of some parrotfish taxa (Chlorurus), adjacent habitat was more important in explaining fish density and biomass. Notably, wrasses were positively influenced by the amount of sand and macroalgae in the adjacent seascape. Adjacent habitat metrics with the highest relative importance were sand (positive), macroalgae (positive), and mangrove habitats (negative), and fish responses to these metrics were consistent across fish groups evaluated. The 500-m spatial scale was selected most often in models for seascape variables. Local coral reef variables with the greatest importance were percent cover of live coral (positive), sand (negative), and macroalgae (mixed). Incorporating spatial metrics that describe the surrounding seascape will capture more holistic patterns of fish-habitat relationships on reefs. This is important in regions where protection of reef fish habitat is an integral part of fisheries management but where protection of nonreef habitats is often overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie T. Sievers
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
- Australia Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
| | - Eva C. McClure
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
- Australia Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
| | - Rene A. Abesamis
- Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental ManagementSilliman UniversityDumaguete CityPhilippines
| | - Garry R. Russ
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
- Australia Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
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Hein MY, Beeden R, Birtles RA, Chase TJ, Couture F, Haskin E, Marshall N, Ripple K, Terry L, Willis BL, Willis R, Gardiner NM. Effects of coral restoration on fish communities: snapshots of long‐term, multiregional responses and implications for practice. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Y. Hein
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Roger Beeden
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - R. Alastair Birtles
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Tory J. Chase
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Fanny Couture
- Reefscapers Program, Seamarc, Marine Discovery Centre Landaa Giraavaru Maldives
| | | | - Nadine Marshall
- CSIRO Land and Water James Cook University ATSIP Building#145, Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Kayla Ripple
- Coral Restoration Foundation Key Largo FL 03037 U.S.A
| | - Lisa Terry
- The Nature Conservancy St Croix USVI U.S.A
| | - Bette L. Willis
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Reanna Willis
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
| | - Naomi M. Gardiner
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia
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Soeth M, Metri R, Simioni BI, Loose R, Coqueiro GS, Spach HL, Daros FA, Adelir-Alves J. Vulnerable sandstone reefs: Biodiversity and habitat at risk. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 150:110680. [PMID: 31740182 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110680] [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: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Sandstone reefs may be considered a unique geomorphologic feature within the subtropical Southwestern Atlantic Ocean region; however, biodiversity on these reefs has received little to no attention. Herein, we recorded the fish assemblage and benthic cover of sandstone reefs between 23 and 29 m depth in Southern Brazil and evidenced potential threats to habitat health. Video analysis and underwater censuses recorded 30 fish species. The unexpected high biomass of Epinephelus marginatus indicated that sandstone reefs may contain suitable habitats for the recovery of this endangered species. A rich benthic coverage including bryozoans, algae, hydrozoans, sponges, and octocorals increased local habitat structural complexity. However, a wide diversity of tangled fishing gear and broken sandstone slabs suggested that a valuable feature from Southern Brazil seascape is being lost by cumulative fishing impacts. An extensive mapping of sandstone reefs is urgently needed for better delineation of marine protected areas network in Southeast and Southern Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Soeth
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemas Costeiros e Oceânicos, Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 61, 83255-976, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil; Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 61, 83255-976, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil.
| | - Rafael Metri
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Paraná, Campus Paranaguá, 83203-560, Paranaguá, PR, Brazil
| | - Bruno Ivan Simioni
- Laboratório de Estudos Costeiros, Departamento de Geologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81530-001, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Robin Loose
- Associação MarBrasil, 83255-976, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Suzano Coqueiro
- Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, 29075-053, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Henry Louis Spach
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 61, 83255-976, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil
| | - Felippe Alexandre Daros
- Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Campus Experimental de Registro, 11900-000, Registro, SP, Brazil
| | - Johnatas Adelir-Alves
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, P.O. Box 61, 83255-976, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil
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5
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Homing decisions reveal lack of risk perception by Caribbean damselfish of invasive lionfish. Biol Invasions 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-019-01925-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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6
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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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7
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Madin EMP, Precoda K, Harborne AR, Atwood TB, Roelfsema CM, Luiz OJ. Multi-Trophic Species Interactions Shape Seascape-Scale Coral Reef Vegetation Patterns. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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8
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Habitat utilization by an invasive herbivorous fish (Siganus rivulatus) in its native and invaded range. Biol Invasions 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1790-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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Epps CW, Crowhurst RS, Nickerson BS. Assessing changes in functional connectivity in a desert bighorn sheep metapopulation after two generations. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:2334-2346. [PMID: 29637641 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Determining how species move across complex and fragmented landscapes and interact with human-made barriers is a major research focus in conservation. Studies estimating functional connectivity from movement, dispersal or gene flow usually rely on a single study period and rarely consider variation over time. We contrasted genetic structure and gene flow across barriers for a metapopulation of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) using genotypes collected 2000-2003 and 2013-2015. Based on the recently observed but unexpected spread of a respiratory pathogen across an interstate highway previously identified as a barrier to gene flow, we hypothesized that bighorn sheep changed how they interacted with that barrier, and that shifts in metapopulation structure influenced gene flow, genetic diversity and connectivity. Population assignment tests, genetic structure and genetic recapture demonstrated that bighorn sheep crossed the interstate highway in at least one location in 2013-2015, sharply reducing genetic structure between two populations, but supported conclusions of an earlier study that such crossings were very infrequent or unknown in 2000-2003. A recently expanded population established new links and caused decreases in genetic structure among multiple populations. Genetic diversity showed only slight increases in populations linked by new connections. Genetic structure and assignments revealed other previously undetected changes in movements and distribution, but much was consistent. Thus, we observed changes in both structural and functional connectivity over just two generations, but only in specific locations. Movement patterns of species should be revisited periodically to enable informed management, particularly in dynamic and fragmented systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton W Epps
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Rachel S Crowhurst
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Brandon S Nickerson
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
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10
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Aben J, Pellikka P, Travis JMJ. A call for viewshed ecology: Advancing our understanding of the ecology of information through viewshed analysis. Methods Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Job Aben
- Institute of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Petri Pellikka
- Department of Geosciences and GeographyUniversity of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Justin M. J. Travis
- Institute of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
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11
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Weimann SR, Black AN, Leese J, Richter ML, Itzkowitz M, Burger RM. Territorial vocalization in sympatric damselfish: acoustic characteristics and intruder discrimination. BIOACOUSTICS 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2017.1286263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia R. Weimann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Andrew N. Black
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Joseph Leese
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Martin L. Richter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Murray Itzkowitz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - R. Michael Burger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
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12
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Engelhard SL, Huijbers CM, Stewart‐Koster B, Olds AD, Schlacher TA, Connolly RM. Prioritising seascape connectivity in conservation using network analysis. J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L. Engelhard
- Australian Rivers Institute – Coast & Estuaries, and School of Environment Griffith University Gold Coast Qld Australia
| | - Chantal M. Huijbers
- Australian Rivers Institute – Coast & Estuaries, and School of Environment Griffith University Gold Coast Qld Australia
- School of Science and Engineering University of the Sunshine Coast Maroochydore DC Qld Australia
| | | | - Andrew D. Olds
- School of Science and Engineering University of the Sunshine Coast Maroochydore DC Qld Australia
| | - Thomas A. Schlacher
- School of Science and Engineering University of the Sunshine Coast Maroochydore DC Qld Australia
| | - Rod M. Connolly
- Australian Rivers Institute – Coast & Estuaries, and School of Environment Griffith University Gold Coast Qld Australia
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13
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Benkwitt CE. Central‐place foraging and ecological effects of an invasive predator across multiple habitats. Ecology 2016; 97:2729-2739. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra E. Benkwitt
- Department of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon 97331 USA
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14
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Turgeon K, Kramer DL. Immigration Rates during Population Density Reduction in a Coral Reef Fish. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156417. [PMID: 27271081 PMCID: PMC4896503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the importance of density-dependent dispersal has been recognized in theory, few empirical studies have examined how immigration changes over a wide range of densities. In a replicated experiment using a novel approach allowing within-site comparison, we examined changes in immigration rate following the gradual removal of territorial damselfish from a limited area within a much larger patch of continuous habitat. In all sites, immigration occurred at intermediate densities but did not occur before the start of removals and only rarely as density approached zero. In the combined data and in 5 of 7 sites, the number of immigrants was a hump-shaped function of density. This is the first experimental evidence for hump-shaped, density-dependent immigration. This pattern may be more widespread than previously recognized because studies over more limited density ranges have identified positive density dependence at low densities and negative density dependence at high densities. Positive density dependence at low density can arise from limits to the number of potential immigrants and from behavioral preferences for settling near conspecifics. Negative density dependence at high density can arise from competition for resources, especially high quality territories. The potential for non-linear effects of local density on immigration needs to be recognized for robust predictions of conservation reserve function, harvest impacts, pest control, and the dynamics of fragmented populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine Turgeon
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Docteur Penfield Avenue, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Donald L. Kramer
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Docteur Penfield Avenue, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
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Buchanan JR, Krupp F, Burt JA, Feary DA, Ralph GM, Carpenter KE. Living on the edge: Vulnerability of coral-dependent fishes in the Gulf. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 105:480-488. [PMID: 26602440 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 10/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In the Gulf, multiple human impacts and recurrent bleaching events have resulted in serious declines of coral assemblages, particularly in near-shore areas. However, the degree to which the extinction risk of coral-dependent fishes is impacted by these coral declines has been uncertain. Using primary literature and expert knowledge, coral-dependent fishes of the Gulf were identified and species-specific data on the regional distribution, population status, life history characteristics, and major threats were compiled to determine their likelihood of extinction under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species' Categories and Criteria. Due to the limited area and degraded and fragmented nature of coral assemblages in the Gulf, all coral-dependent fishes (where data was sufficient to assess) were listed at elevated risk of extinction. Cross-boundary collaboration among Gulf States is necessary for effective management and protection of coral assemblages and their associated communities within this globally important region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack R Buchanan
- IUCN Species Programme, Marine Biodiversity Unit, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, United States of America.
| | - Friedhelm Krupp
- Senckenberg Research Institute, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt a.M., Germany; Qatar Museums, P.O. Box 2777, Doha, Qatar.
| | - John A Burt
- Department of Biology, New York University - Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - David A Feary
- School of Life Sciences, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
| | - Gina M Ralph
- IUCN Species Programme, Marine Biodiversity Unit, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, United States of America.
| | - Kent E Carpenter
- IUCN Species Programme, Marine Biodiversity Unit, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, United States of America.
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Catano LB, Rojas MC, Malossi RJ, Peters JR, Heithaus MR, Fourqurean JW, Burkepile DE. Reefscapes of fear: predation risk and reef hetero-geneity interact to shape herbivore foraging behaviour. J Anim Ecol 2015; 85:146-56. [PMID: 26332988 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Predators can exert strong direct and indirect effects on ecological communities by intimidating their prey. The nature of predation risk effects is often context dependent, but in some ecosystems these contingencies are often overlooked. Risk effects are often not uniform across landscapes or among species. Indeed, they can vary widely across gradients of habitat complexity and with different prey escape tactics. These context dependencies may be especially important for ecosystems such as coral reefs that vary widely in habitat complexity and have species-rich predator and prey communities. With field experiments using predator decoys of the black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci), we investigated how reef complexity interacts with predation risk to affect the foraging behaviour and herbivory rates of large herbivorous fishes (e.g. parrotfishes and surgeonfishes) across four coral reefs in the Florida Keys (USA). In both high and low complexity areas of the reef, we measured how herbivory changed with increasing distance from the predator decoy to examine how herbivorous fishes reconcile the conflicting demands of avoiding predation vs. foraging within a reefscape context. We show that with increasing risk, herbivorous fishes consumed dramatically less food (ca. 90%) but fed at a faster rate when they did feed (ca. 26%). Furthermore, we show that fishes foraging closest to the predator decoy were 40% smaller than those that foraged at further distances. Thus, smaller individuals showed muted response to predation risk compared to their larger counterparts, potentially due to their decreased risk to predation or lower reproductive value (i.e. the asset protection principle). Habitat heterogeneity mediated risk effects differently for different species of herbivores, with predation risk more strongly suppressing herbivore feeding in more complex areas and for individuals at higher risk of predation. Predators appear to create a reefscape of fear that changes the size structure of herbivores towards smaller individuals, increases individual feeding rates, but suppresses overall amounts of primary producers consumed, potentially altering patterns of herbivory, an ecosystem process critical for healthy coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Catano
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Marine Sciences Building, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Maria C Rojas
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Marine Sciences Building, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Ryan J Malossi
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Marine Sciences Building, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Joseph R Peters
- Department of Environmental Science & Management, Portland State University, 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Michael R Heithaus
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Marine Sciences Building, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - James W Fourqurean
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Marine Sciences Building, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Deron E Burkepile
- Marine Science Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Marine Sciences Building, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
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17
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LaZerte SE, Otter KA, Slabbekoorn H. Relative effects of ambient noise and habitat openness on signal transfer for chickadee vocalizations in rural and urban green-spaces. BIOACOUSTICS 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2015.1060531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Fowler AM, Macreadie PI, Bishop DP, Booth DJ. Using otolith microchemistry and shape to assess the habitat value of oil structures for reef fish. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 106:103-13. [PMID: 25800861 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Over 7500 oil and gas structures (e.g. oil platforms) are installed in offshore waters worldwide and many will require decommissioning within the next two decades. The decision to remove such structures or turn them into reefs (i.e. 'rigs-to-reefs') hinges on the habitat value they provide, yet this can rarely be determined because the residency of mobile species is difficult to establish. Here, we test a novel solution to this problem for reef fishes; the use of otolith (earstone) properties to identify oil structures of residence. We compare the otolith microchemistry and otolith shape of a site-attached coral reef fish (Pseudanthias rubrizonatus) among four oil structures (depth 82-135 m, separated by 9.7-84.2 km) on Australia's North West Shelf to determine if populations developed distinct otolith properties during their residency. Microchemical signatures obtained from the otolith edge using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) differed among oil structures, driven by elements Sr, Ba and Mn, and to a lesser extent Mg and Fe. A combination of microchemical data from the otolith edge and elliptical Fourier (shape) descriptors allowed allocation of individuals to their 'home' structure with moderate accuracy (overall allocation accuracy: 63.3%, range: 45.5-78.1%), despite lower allocation accuracies for each otolith property in isolation (microchemistry: 47.5%, otolith shape: 45%). Site-specific microchemical signatures were also stable enough through time to distinguish populations during 3 separate time periods, suggesting that residence histories could be recreated by targeting previous growth zones in the otolith. Our results indicate that reef fish can develop unique otolith properties during their residency on oil structures which may be useful for assessing the habitat value of individual structures. The approach outlined here may also be useful for determining the residency of reef fish on artificial reefs, which would assist productivity assessments of these habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Fowler
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, P. O. Box 123, 2007 Broadway, NSW, Australia.
| | - Peter I Macreadie
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, P. O. Box 123, 2007 Broadway, NSW, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre of Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, VIC, Australia
| | - David P Bishop
- Elemental Bio-imaging Facility, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, Australia
| | - David J Booth
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability, School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, P. O. Box 123, 2007 Broadway, NSW, Australia
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Tamburello N, Côté IM. Movement ecology of Indo-Pacific lionfish on Caribbean coral reefs and its implications for invasion dynamics. Biol Invasions 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-014-0822-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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20
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Home-range allometry in coral reef fishes: comparison to other vertebrates, methodological issues and management implications. Oecologia 2014; 177:73-83. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-3152-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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21
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Black A, Draud M, Richter M, Itzkowitz M. Are conspecific and heterospecific opponents assessed similarly? A test in two species of territorial damselfish (Pomacentridae). Behav Processes 2014; 106:107-10. [PMID: 24792817 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2014.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Revised: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Aggression is often a crucial component to interference interspecific competition and yet there are few studies that examine fight behavior when the opponents are different species. To examine conspecific and heterospecific aggression, we used two species of Caribbean damselfish, the dusky (Stegastes adustus) and the longfin (S. diencaeous) with each one serving as the heterospecific opponent to the other species. Our study was confined to whether or not each species measures the body length of the other species as if it were a conspecific intruder. Body length plays an important role in fight outcome in many species of fish and we presumed that both the dusky and the longfin would use it when assessing opponents. Both the dusky and the longfin damselfish were then presented with two individuals that were either greatly different or minimally different in size. When presented with individuals that differed greatly in size, both species spent more time attacking the larger individual, irrespective of species. However, when the size difference was small, the focal dusky and the longfin responded differently; the dusky showed no preference in either conspecific or heterospecific pairs while the longfin continued to show a bias toward the slightly larger individual. Thus, while we were surprised by the species differences, both the dusky and the longfin were internally consistent in how they treated conspecific and heterospecific opponents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Black
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.
| | - Matthew Draud
- Biology Department, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, GA 31419, USA.
| | - M Richter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.
| | - M Itzkowitz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.
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22
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Fish with chips: tracking reef fish movements to evaluate size and connectivity of Caribbean marine protected areas. PLoS One 2014; 9:e96028. [PMID: 24797815 PMCID: PMC4010402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs and associated fish populations have experienced rapid decline in the Caribbean region and marine protected areas (MPAs) have been widely implemented to address this decline. The performance of no-take MPAs (i.e., marine reserves) for protecting and rebuilding fish populations is influenced by the movement of animals within and across their boundaries. Very little is known about Caribbean reef fish movements creating a critical knowledge gap that can impede effective MPA design, performance and evaluation. Using miniature implanted acoustic transmitters and a fixed acoustic receiver array, we address three key questions: How far can reef fish move? Does connectivity exist between adjacent MPAs? Does existing MPA size match the spatial scale of reef fish movements? We show that many reef fishes are capable of traveling far greater distances and in shorter duration than was previously known. Across the Puerto Rican Shelf, more than half of our 163 tagged fish (18 species of 10 families) moved distances greater than 1 km with three fish moving more than 10 km in a single day and a quarter spending time outside of MPAs. We provide direct evidence of ecological connectivity across a network of MPAs, including estimated movements of more than 40 km connecting a nearshore MPA with a shelf-edge spawning aggregation. Most tagged fish showed high fidelity to MPAs, but also spent time outside MPAs, potentially contributing to spillover. Three-quarters of our fish were capable of traveling distances that would take them beyond the protection offered by at least 40–64% of the existing eastern Caribbean MPAs. We recommend that key species movement patterns be used to inform and evaluate MPA functionality and design, particularly size and shape. A re-scaling of our perception of Caribbean reef fish mobility and habitat use is imperative, with important implications for ecology and management effectiveness.
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23
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Gerber LR, Mancha-Cisneros MDM, O'Connor MI, Selig ER. Climate change impacts on connectivity in the ocean: Implications for conservation. Ecosphere 2014. [DOI: 10.1890/es13-00336.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Volpe NL, Hadley AS, Robinson WD, Betts MG. Functional connectivity experiments reflect routine movement behavior of a tropical hummingbird species. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2014; 24:2122-2131. [PMID: 29188685 DOI: 10.1890/13-2168.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Translocation experiments, in which researchers displace animals and then monitor their movements to return home, are commonly used as tools to assess functional connectivity of fragmented landscapes. Such experiments are purported to have important advantages of being time efficient and of standardizing “motivation” to move across individuals. Yet, we lack tests of whether movement behavior of translocated birds reflects natural behavior of unmanipulated birds. We compared the routine movement behavior of a tropical hummingbird, the Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy), to that of experimentally translocated individuals. We tested for differences in site selection patterns during movement at two spatial scales (point and path levels). We also compared movement rates between treatments. Behaviors documented during translocation experiments reflected those observed during routine movements. At the point level, both translocated and non-translocated birds showed similar levels of preference for mature tropical forest. At the path level, step selection functions showed both translocated and non-translocated hummingbirds avoiding movement across non-forested matrix and selecting streams as movement corridors. Movement rates were generally higher during translocation experiments. However, the negative influence of forest cover on movement rates was proportionately similar in translocation and routine movement treatments. We report the first evidence showing that movement behavior of birds during translocation experiments is similar to their natural movement behavior. Therefore, translocation experiments may be reliable tools to address effects of landscape structure on animal movement. We observed consistent selection of landscape elements between translocated and non-translocated birds, indicating that both routine and translocation movement studies lead to similar conclusions regarding the effect of landscape structure and forest composition on functional connectivity. Our observation that hummingbirds avoid non-forest matrix and select riparian corridors also provides a potential mechanism for pollen limitation in fragmented tropical forest.
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25
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Attack intensity by two species of territorial damselfish (Pomacentridae) as estimates of competitive overlap with two species of wrasse (Labridae). J ETHOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-013-0393-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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26
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Huijbers CM, Nagelkerken I, Debrot AO, Jongejans E. Geographic coupling of juvenile and adult habitat shapes spatial population dynamics of a coral reef fish. Ecology 2013; 94:1859-70. [PMID: 24015529 DOI: 10.1890/11-1759.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Marine spatial population dynamics are often addressed with a focus on larval dispersal, without taking into account movement behavior of individuals in later life stages. Processes occurring during demersal life stages may also drive spatial population dynamics if habitat quality is perceived differently by animals belonging to different life stages. In this study, we used a dual approach to understand how stage-structured habitat use and dispersal ability of adults shape the population of a marine fish species. Our study area and focal species provided us with the unique opportunity to study a closed island population. A spatial simulation model was used to estimate dispersal distances along a coral reef that surrounds the island, while contributions of different nursery bays were determined based on otolith stable isotope signatures of adult reef fish. The model showed that adult dispersal away from reef areas near nursery bays is limited. The results further show that different bays contributed unequally to the adult population on the coral reef, with productivity of juveniles in bay nursery habitat determining the degree of mixing among local populations on the reef and with one highly productive area contributing most to the island's reef fish population. The contribution of the coral reef as a nursery habitat was minimal, even though it had a much larger surface area. These findings indicate that the geographic distribution of nursery areas and their productivity are important drivers for the spatial distribution patterns of adults on coral reefs. We suggest that limited dispersal of adults on reefs can lead to a source-sink structure in the adult stage, where reefs close to nurseries replenish more isolated reef areas. Understanding these spatial population dynamics of the demersal phase of marine animals is of major importance for the design and placement of marine reserves, as nursery areas contribute differently to maintain adult populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal M Huijbers
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Department of Animal Ecology and Ecophysiology, Mail Box 31, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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27
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Koeck B, Alós J, Caro A, Neveu R, Crec'hriou R, Saragoni G, Lenfant P. Contrasting fish behavior in artificial seascapes with implications for resources conservation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69303. [PMID: 23935978 PMCID: PMC3728332 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial reefs are used by many fisheries managers as a tool to mitigate the impact of fisheries on coastal fish communities by providing new habitat for many exploited fish species. However, the comparison between the behavior of wild fish inhabiting either natural or artificial habitats has received less attention. Thus the spatio-temporal patterns of fish that establish their home range in one habitat or the other and their consequences of intra-population differentiation on life-history remain largely unexplored. We hypothesize that individuals with a preferred habitat (i.e. natural vs. artificial) can behave differently in terms of habitat use, with important consequences on population dynamics (e.g. life-history, mortality, and reproductive success). Therefore, using biotelemetry, 98 white seabream (Diplodus sargus) inhabiting either artificial or natural habitats were tagged and their behavior was monitored for up to eight months. Most white seabreams were highly resident either on natural or artificial reefs, with a preference for the shallow artificial reef subsets. Connectivity between artificial and natural reefs was limited for resident individuals due to great inter-habitat distances. The temporal behavioral patterns of white seabreams differed between artificial and natural reefs. Artificial-reef resident fish had a predominantly nocturnal diel pattern, whereas natural-reef resident fish showed a diurnal diel pattern. Differences in diel behavioral patterns of white seabream inhabiting artificial and natural reefs could be the expression of realized individual specialization resulting from differences in habitat configuration and resource availability between these two habitats. Artificial reefs have the potential to modify not only seascape connectivity but also the individual behavioral patterns of fishes. Future management plans of coastal areas and fisheries resources, including artificial reef implementation, should therefore consider the potential effect of habitat modification on fish behavior, which could have key implications on fish dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Koeck
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, CEntre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France.
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28
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Little K, Draud M, Itzkowitz M. Interspecific aggression in two highly similarStegastesdamselfish. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2012.745451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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29
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Sherratt JA. Generation of periodic travelling waves in cyclic populations by hostile boundaries. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2012.0756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many recent datasets on cyclic populations reveal spatial patterns with the form of periodic travelling waves (wavetrains). Mathematical modelling has identified a number of potential causes of this spatial organization, one of which is a hostile habitat boundary. In this paper, the author investigates the member of the periodic travelling wave family selected by such a boundary in models of reaction–diffusion type. Using a predator–prey model as a case study, the author presents numerical evidence that the wave generated by a hostile (zero-Dirichlet) boundary condition is the same as that generated by fixing the population densities at their coexistence steady-state levels. The author then presents analysis showing that the two waves are the same, in general, for oscillatory reaction–diffusion models with scalar diffusion close to Hopf bifurcation. This calculation yields a general formula for the amplitude, speed and wavelength of these waves. By combining this formula with established results on periodic travelling wave stability, the author presents a division of parameter space into regions in which a hostile boundary will generate periodic travelling waves, spatio-temporal disorder or a mixture of the two.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A. Sherratt
- Department of Mathematics and Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
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30
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Baguette M, Blanchet S, Legrand D, Stevens VM, Turlure C. Individual dispersal, landscape connectivity and ecological networks. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2012; 88:310-26. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 385] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 10/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Blanchet
- USR CNRS 2936; Station d'Ecologie Expérimentale du CNRS à Moulis; 2 route du CNRS; F-09200; Saint Girons; France
| | - Delphine Legrand
- USR CNRS 2936; Station d'Ecologie Expérimentale du CNRS à Moulis; 2 route du CNRS; F-09200; Saint Girons; France
| | - Virginie M. Stevens
- USR CNRS 2936; Station d'Ecologie Expérimentale du CNRS à Moulis; 2 route du CNRS; F-09200; Saint Girons; France
| | - Camille Turlure
- F.R.S.-FNRS; Universite Catholique de Louvain, Earth and Life Institute, Biodiversity Research Centre; Croix du Sud 4; B-1348; Louvain-la-Neuve; Belgium
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31
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Abstract
Tropical marine ecosystems are under mounting anthropogenic pressure from overfishing and habitat destruction, leading to declines in their structure and function on a global scale. Although maintaining connectivity among habitats within a seascape is necessary for preserving population resistance and resilience, quantifying movements of individuals within seascapes remains challenging. Traditional methods of identifying and valuing potential coral reef fish nursery habitats are indirect, often relying on visual surveys of abundance and correlations of size and biomass among habitats. We used compound-specific stable isotope analyses to determine movement patterns of commercially important fish populations within a coral reef seascape. This approach allowed us to quantify the relative contributions of individuals from inshore nurseries to reef populations and identify migration corridors among important habitats. Our results provided direct measurements of remarkable migrations by juvenile snapper of over 30 km, between nurseries and reefs. We also found significant plasticity in juvenile nursery residency. Although a majority of individuals on coastal reefs had used seagrass nurseries as juveniles, many adults on oceanic reefs had settled directly into reef habitats. Moreover, seascape configuration played a critical but heretofore unrecognized role in determining connectivity among habitats. Finally, our approach provides key quantitative data necessary to estimate the value of distinctive habitats to ecosystem services provided by seascapes.
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32
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Turgeon K, Kramer DL. Compensatory immigration depends on adjacent population size and habitat quality but not on landscape connectivity. J Anim Ecol 2012; 81:1161-1170. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2012.01990.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Fowler AM, Booth DJ. Evidence of sustained populations of a small reef fish on artificial structures. Does depth affect production on artificial reefs? JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2012; 80:613-629. [PMID: 22380556 DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.03201.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The length frequencies and age structures of resident Pseudanthias rubrizonatus (n = 407), a small protogynous serranid, were measured at four isolated artificial structures on the continental shelf of north-western Australia between June and August 2008, to determine whether these structures supported full (complete size and age-structured) populations of this species. The artificial structures were located in depths between 82 and 135 m, and growth rates of juveniles and adults, and body condition of adults, were compared among structures to determine the effect of depth on potential production. All life-history stages, including recently settled juveniles, females and terminal males, of P. rubrizonatus were caught, ranging in standard length (L(s)) from 16·9 to 96·5 mm. Presumed ages estimated from whole and sectioned otoliths ranged between 22 days and 5 years, and parameter ±s.e. estimates of the von Bertalanffy growth model were L(∞) = 152 ± 34 mm, k = 0·15(±0·05) and t(0) = -1·15(±0·15). Estimated annual growth rates were similar between shallow and deep artificial structures; however, otolith lengths and recent growth of juveniles differed among individual structures, irrespective of depth. The artificial structures therefore sustained full populations of P. rubrizonatus, from recently settled juveniles through to adults; however, confirmation of the maximum age attainable for the species is required from natural populations. Depth placement of artificial reefs may not affect the production of fish species with naturally wide depth ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Fowler
- Fish Ecology Laboratory, School of the Environment, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
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