scholarly journals Seascape Configuration and Fine-Scale Habitat Complexity Shape Parrotfish Distribution and Function across a Coral Reef Lagoon

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 391
Author(s):  
Maria Eggertsen ◽  
Dinorah H Chacin ◽  
Joshua van Lier ◽  
Linda Eggertsen ◽  
Christopher J Fulton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Intermediate Phase ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Structure Height

Structural complexity spanning fine to broad spatial scales can influence the distribution and activity of key organisms within marine ecosystems. However, the relative importance of hard (e.g., corals) and/or soft (e.g., macroalgae) structural complexity for marine organisms is often unclear. This study shows how both broad-scale (seascape configuration of coral structure) and fine-scale habitat complexity (structure height, number of holes, and presence of macroalgae) can influence the abundance and spatial ecology of reef fish. Underwater visual census of fish, surveys of habitats, remote underwater videos, and behavioral observations by following individual fish were used to quantify fine-scale habitat characteristics (e.g., complexity, coral structure height, macroalgae presence) and the abundance, size structure, and behavior (rates of herbivory, tortuosity ratios and total distance travelled) of abundant parrotfish. Both seascape configuration and macroalgae influenced the patterns of fish abundance and rates of herbivory. However, these relationships varied with trophic groups and ontogenetic stages. Abundance of adult and intermediate-phase parrotfishes was positively influenced by densely aggregated coral structures, whereas juvenile abundance was positively influenced by the presence of macroalgae. Foraging path and bite rates of an abundant parrotfish, Chlorurus spilurus, were not influenced by coral structure configuration or height, but the presence of macroalgae increased the bite rates of all juvenile parrotfish. Our results suggest that a combination of seascape configuration, fine-scale habitat complexity, and microhabitat selectivity influence reef fish community structure and foraging behavior, thus altering herbivory. However, these relationships can differ among functional groups of fish and life-history stages. Information on these fish–habitat interactions is critical for identifying habitats that facilitate ecological functions and ensures the successful management and conservation of essential habitats.

Juvenile production variation in salmonids: population dynamics, habitat, and the role of spatial relationships

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (S1) ◽  
pp. 191-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F Kocik ◽  
C Paola Ferreri
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
River System ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Life History Stage ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Juvenile Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Spatial Positioning

Anadromous Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) exhibit a complex life history that requires the use of habitats that span several different temporal and spatial scales. While fisheries scientists have investigated the various elements of habitat and how they affect Atlantic salmon growth and survival, these studies typically focus on requisite requirements for a single life history stage. Current advances in our understanding of salmonid populations in lotic systems indicates that ignoring the spatial positioning of different habitats and dispersal capabilities of fish between them may affect estimates of habitat quality and production of juvenile Atlantic salmon. Using the concepts of juxtaposition and interspersion, we hypothesize that discrete functional habitat units (FHU) occur within river systems and that the spatial structure of FHU affects fish production. We present a method to delineate FHU using habitat maps, fish ecology, and spatial habitat characteristics. Utilizing a simulation model, we illustrate how modeling FHU structure of spawning and rearing habitat in a river system can improve our understanding of juvenile Atlantic salmon production dynamics. The FHU concept allows a flexible approach to more comprehensive analyses of the impacts of habitat alterations, seasonal habitat shifts, and spatial ecology of salmonids at various scales.

scholarly journals Using no-take marine reserves as a tool for evaluating rocky-reef fish resources in the western Mediterranean

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 578-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josep Coll ◽  
Antoni Garcia-Rubies ◽  
Gabriel Morey ◽  
Olga Reñones ◽  
Diego Álvarez-Berastegui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Marine Reserves ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Fish Resources ◽  
Rocky Reef Fish

Abstract Coll, J., Garcia-Rubies, A., Morey, G., Reñones, O., Álvarez-Berastegui, D., Navarro, O., and Grau, A. M. 2013. Using no-take marine reserves as a tool for evaluating rocky-reef fish resources in the western Mediterranean). - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 578–590. The use of MPAs to recover fish stocks in littoral areas of the western Mediterranean has made it possible to obtain time dataseries on the biomass evolution over the last decade. The biomass of six fully protected MPAs increased between two- and threefold over a period of five years. After this time the biomass remained stable. This pattern allowed us to adjust logistic curves between the biomass and protection time, and to estimate the carrying capacity (K) of each site. In the present study we investigate the relationships between carrying capacity (K) and habitat characteristics at each protected site. The relationships between habitat/environmental variables and K are analysed by applying generalized linear models. Environmental descriptors showing major effects on biomass are related to depth, exposure, rugosity, and offshore slope at different spatial scales. Comparison of observed and predicted values using the model for exploited sites in the Balearic Islands made it possible to determine their conservation status. This empirical approach to the relationships between environmental factors and fish assemblage biomass could constitute a very useful tool when traditional fishery management based on catch and effort data from the artisanal and recreational fleets is difficult to apply.

Faunal relationships with seagrass habitat structure: a case study using shrimp from the Indo-Pacific

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard K. F. Unsworth ◽  
Sammy De Grave ◽  
Jamaluddin Jompa ◽  
David J. Smith ◽  
James J. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Assemblage Structure ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Seagrass Habitat ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Shrimp Abundance

Caridean shrimp were used as a model group to investigate the effects of seagrass floral habitat complexity on Indo-Pacific fauna. Relationships between shrimp and seagrass habitat characteristics were explored using both multivariate and multiple linear regression modelling approaches. Epifaunal shrimp assemblages were sampled in the Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia. Seagrass habitat complexity had a significant positive impact on shrimp abundance (F3,59 = 17.51, P < 0.001) and species richness (F3,59 = 10.88, P < 0.001), while significantly altering shrimp assemblage structure (ANOSIM global R = 0.397, P < 0.001). In contrast to studies from other bioregions and faunal groups, species diversity and evenness were inversely related to habitat complexity. Changes in shrimp abundance, diversity and assemblage structure with habitat complexity are considered to reflect changes in individual species habitat specialisation. High complexity habitats were dominated by habitat specialists, whereas low complexity seagrass had higher numbers of habitat generalists. Generalist species may be more adapted to the reduced food availability and increased predatory pressures associated with reduced habitat complexity. Although similar patterns were observed at all sites, inter-site differences in shrimp abundance were observed. This indicates that although the present study demonstrates the importance of small-scale changes in seagrass habitat complexity to faunal assemblages, other factors related to larger spatial-scales are also important.

scholarly journals Repeated surveying over 6 years reveals that fine-scale habitat variables are key to tropical mountain ant assemblage composition and functional diversity

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mulalo M. Muluvhahothe ◽  
Grant S. Joseph ◽  
Colleen L. Seymour ◽  
Thinandavha C. Munyai ◽  
Stefan H. Foord
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
High Altitude ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Composition Analysis ◽  
Fine Scale

AbstractHigh-altitude-adapted ectotherms can escape competition from dominant species by tolerating low temperatures at cooler elevations, but climate change is eroding such advantages. Studies evaluating broad-scale impacts of global change for high-altitude organisms often overlook the mitigating role of biotic factors. Yet, at fine spatial-scales, vegetation-associated microclimates provide refuges from climatic extremes. Using one of the largest standardised data sets collected to date, we tested how ant species composition and functional diversity (i.e., the range and value of species traits found within assemblages) respond to large-scale abiotic factors (altitude, aspect), and fine-scale factors (vegetation, soil structure) along an elevational gradient in tropical Africa. Altitude emerged as the principal factor explaining species composition. Analysis of nestedness and turnover components of beta diversity indicated that ant assemblages are specific to each elevation, so species are not filtered out but replaced with new species as elevation increases. Similarity of assemblages over time (assessed using beta decay) did not change significantly at low and mid elevations but declined at the highest elevations. Assemblages also differed between northern and southern mountain aspects, although at highest elevations, composition was restricted to a set of species found on both aspects. Functional diversity was not explained by large scale variables like elevation, but by factors associated with elevation that operate at fine scales (i.e., temperature and habitat structure). Our findings highlight the significance of fine-scale variables in predicting organisms’ responses to changing temperature, offering management possibilities that might dilute climate change impacts, and caution when predicting assemblage responses using climate models, alone.

scholarly journals Imaging spectroscopy links aspen genotype with below-ground processes at landscape scales

2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1643) ◽  
pp. 20130194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Madritch ◽  
Clayton C. Kingdon ◽  
Aditya Singh ◽  
Karen E. Mock ◽  
Richard L. Lindroth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Imaging Spectroscopy ◽  
Spectral Signature ◽  
Spectral Variation ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Landscape Scales ◽  
Spectrometer Data

Fine-scale biodiversity is increasingly recognized as important to ecosystem-level processes. Remote sensing technologies have great potential to estimate both biodiversity and ecosystem function over large spatial scales. Here, we demonstrate the capacity of imaging spectroscopy to discriminate among genotypes of Populus tremuloides (trembling aspen), one of the most genetically diverse and widespread forest species in North America. We combine imaging spectroscopy (AVIRIS) data with genetic, phytochemical, microbial and biogeochemical data to determine how intraspecific plant genetic variation influences below-ground processes at landscape scales. We demonstrate that both canopy chemistry and below-ground processes vary over large spatial scales (continental) according to aspen genotype. Imaging spectrometer data distinguish aspen genotypes through variation in canopy spectral signature. In addition, foliar spectral variation correlates well with variation in canopy chemistry, especially condensed tannins. Variation in aspen canopy chemistry, in turn, is correlated with variation in below-ground processes. Variation in spectra also correlates well with variation in soil traits. These findings indicate that forest tree species can create spatial mosaics of ecosystem functioning across large spatial scales and that these patterns can be quantified via remote sensing techniques. Moreover, they demonstrate the utility of using optical properties as proxies for fine-scale measurements of biodiversity over large spatial scales.

Scale-dependent relationships between benthic habitat characteristics and abundances of blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra (Leach)

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 1227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth M. A. Strain ◽  
Craig R. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Red Algae ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Benthic Habitat ◽  
Sessile Invertebrates ◽  
Haliotis Rubra ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Biotic Characteristics

Habitat characteristics can influence marine herbivore densities at a range of spatial scales. We examined the relationship between benthic habitat characteristics and adult blacklip abalone (Haliotis rubra) densities across local scales (0.0625–16 m2), at 2 depths, 4 sites and 2 locations, in Tasmania, Australia. Biotic characteristics that were highly correlated with abalone densities included cover of non-calcareous encrusting red algae (NERA), non-geniculate coralline algae (NCA), a matrix of filamentous algae and sediment, sessile invertebrates, and foliose red algae. The precision of relationships varied with spatial scale. At smaller scales (0.0625–0.25 m2), there was a positive relationship between NERA and ERA, and negative relationships between sediment matrix, sessile invertebrates and abalone densities. At the largest scale (16 m2), there was a positive relationship between NERA and abalone densities. Thus, for some biotic characteristics, the relationship between NERA and abalone densities may be scalable. There was very little variability between depths and sites; however, the optimal spatial scale differed between locations. Our results suggest a dynamic interplay between the behavioural responses of H. rubra to microhabitat and/or to abalone maintaining NERA free of algae, sediment, and sessile invertebrates. This approach could be used to describe the relationship between habitat characteristics and species densities at the optimal spatial scales.

scholarly journals Body size, reef area and temperature predict global reef-fish species richness across spatial scales

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Barneche ◽  
E. L. Rezende ◽  
V. Parravicini ◽  
E. Maire ◽  
G. J. Edgar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Reef Area ◽  
Reef Fish Species

Fine-Scale Habitat Characteristics Related to Occupancy of the Yosemite Toad,Anaxyrus canorus

Copeia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina T. Liang ◽  
Robert L. Grasso ◽  
Julie J. Nelson-Paul ◽  
Kim E. Vincent ◽  
Amy J. Lind
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Yosemite Toad ◽  
Anaxyrus Canorus
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