scholarly journals Spatial patterns of the structure of reef fish assemblages at a pristine atoll in the central Pacific

2010 ◽  
Vol 410 ◽  
pp. 219-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Friedlander ◽  
SA Sandin ◽  
EE DeMartini ◽  
E Sala
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Central Pacific

scholarly journals Shifting reef fish assemblages along a depth gradient in Pohnpei, Micronesia

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard R. Coleman ◽  
Joshua M. Copus ◽  
Daniel M. Coffey ◽  
Robert K. Whitton ◽  
Brian W. Bowen
Keyword(s):  
Transition Zone ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Depth Gradient ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Federated States Of Micronesia ◽  
Transition Zones ◽  
Shallow Habitat ◽  
Deep Habitat ◽  
Steep Slopes

Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) continue to be understudied, especially in island locations spread across the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Pohnpei is the largest island in the Federated States of Micronesia, with a well-developed barrier reef, and steep slopes that descend to more than 1,000 m. Here we conducted visual surveys along a depth gradient of 0 to 60 m in addition to video surveys that extend to 130 m, with 72 belt transects and 12 roving surveys using closed-circuit rebreathers, to test for changes in reef fish composition from shallow to mesophotic depths. We observed 304 fish species across 47 families with the majority confined to shallow habitat. Taxonomic and trophic positions at 30 m showed similar compositions when compared against all other depths. However, assemblages were comprised of a distinct shallow (<30 m) and deep (>30 m) group, suggesting 30 m as a transition zone between these communities. Shallow specialists had a high probability of being herbivores and deep specialists had a higher probability of being planktivores. Acanthuridae (surgeonfishes), Holocentridae (soldierfishes), and Labridae (wrasses) were associated primarily with shallow habitat, while Pomacentridae (damselfishes) and Serranidae (groupers) were associated with deep habitat. Four species may indicate Central Pacific mesophotic habitat:Chromis circumaurea, Luzonichthys seaver, Odontanthias borbonius,and an undescribed slopefish (Symphysanodon sp.). This study supports the 30 m depth profile as a transition zone between shallow and mesophotic ecosystems (consistent with accepted definitions of MCEs), with evidence of multiple transition zones below 30 m. Disturbances restricted to either region are not likely to immediately impact the other and both ecosystems should be considered separately in management of reefs near human population centers.

scholarly journals Long-term monitoring of coral reef fish assemblages in the Western central pacific

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel Heenan ◽  
Ivor D. Williams ◽  
Tomoko Acoba ◽  
Annette DesRochers ◽  
Randall K. Kosaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Central Pacific ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring

Spatial assemblage structure of shallow-water reef fish in Southwest Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 649 ◽  
pp. 125-140
Author(s):  
DS Goldsworthy ◽  
BJ Saunders ◽  
JRC Parker ◽  
ES Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Reef Fish Assemblage ◽  
Reef Type ◽  
Present Distribution ◽  
Southwest Australia

Bioregional categorisation of the Australian marine environment is essential to conserve and manage entire ecosystems, including the biota and associated habitats. It is important that these regions are optimally positioned to effectively plan for the protection of distinct assemblages. Recent climatic variation and changes to the marine environment in Southwest Australia (SWA) have resulted in shifts in species ranges and changes to the composition of marine assemblages. The goal of this study was to determine if the current bioregionalisation of SWA accurately represents the present distribution of shallow-water reef fishes across 2000 km of its subtropical and temperate coastline. Data was collected in 2015 using diver-operated underwater stereo-video surveys from 7 regions between Port Gregory (north of Geraldton) to the east of Esperance. This study indicated that (1) the shallow-water reef fish of SWA formed 4 distinct assemblages along the coast: one Midwestern, one Central and 2 Southern Assemblages; (2) differences between these fish assemblages were primarily driven by sea surface temperature, Ecklonia radiata cover, non-E. radiata (canopy) cover, understorey algae cover, reef type and reef height; and (3) each of the 4 assemblages were characterised by a high number of short-range Australian and Western Australian endemic species. The findings from this study suggest that 4, rather than the existing 3 bioregions would more effectively capture the shallow-water reef fish assemblage patterns, with boundaries having shifted southwards likely associated with ocean warming.

STABILITY OF CORAL REEF FISH ASSEMBLAGES IMPACTED BY NUCLEAR TESTS

Ecology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 2578-2585 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Planes ◽  
R. Galzin ◽  
J-P. Bablet ◽  
P. F. Sale
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Nuclear Tests

A comparison of temperate reef fish assemblages recorded by three underwater stereo-video techniques

2005 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianne L. Watson ◽  
Euan S. Harvey ◽  
Marti J. Anderson ◽  
Gary A. Kendrick
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Temperate Reef ◽  
Stereo Video ◽  
Temperate Reef Fish

scholarly journals Coral settlement and recruitment responses to reef fish foraging and trait diversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cher F Y Chow ◽  
Caitlin Bolton ◽  
Nader Boutros ◽  
Viviana Brambilla ◽  
Luisa Fontoura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Coral Recruitment ◽  
Coral Settlement ◽  
Trait Divergence ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Recruitment Success ◽  
Trait Diversity

The process of coral recruitment is crucial to the healthy functioning of coral reef ecosystems, as well as recovery following disturbances. Fishes are key modulators of this process by feeding on algae and other benthic taxa that compete with corals for benthic space. However, foraging strategies within reef fish assemblages are highly diverse and the effect of foraging diversity on coral recruitment success remains poorly understood. Here, we test how the foraging traits of reef fishes affect coral settlement and juvenile success at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Using a multi-model inference approach incorporating six metrics of fish assemblage foraging diversity (foraging rates, trait richness, trait evenness, trait divergence, herbivore abundance, and benthic invertivore abundance), we found that herbivore abundance had positive effects on both coral settlement and recruitment success. However, foraging trait diversity had a negative effect on coral settlement but not on recruitment. Coral settlement was higher at sites with less trait diverse fish assemblages, specifically in trait divergence and richness. Moreover, these two trait diversity metrics were stronger predictors of coral settlement success compared to herbivore abundance. Our findings provide evidence that impacts mediated by fish foraging on coral juveniles can potentially be harmful during settlement, but the space-clearing effect overall remains advantageous. We show here that the variation of fish biodiversity across reefs can be a partial driver to spatially uneven patterns of coral recruitment and reef recovery.

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