The functional roles of surgeonfishes on coral reefs: past, present and future

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 32(2), P. 387 - 439

Published: Jan. 9, 2022

Language: Английский

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Meta-analysis reveals weak associations between reef fishes and corals

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(4), P. 676 - 685

Published: Feb. 19, 2024

Language: Английский

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Coral cover a stronger driver of reef fish trophic biomass than fishing

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 31(1)

Published: Aug. 31, 2020

Abstract An influential paradigm in coral reef ecology is that fishing causes trophic cascades through fish assemblages, resulting reduced herbivory and thus benthic phase shifts from to algal dominance. Few long‐term field tests exist of how affects the structure such changes affect benthos. Alternatively, change itself may drive assemblages. Reef cover were quantified almost annually 1983 2014 at two small Philippine islands (Apo, Sumilon). At each island a No‐Take Marine Reserve (NTMR) site open subsistence monitored. Thirteen groups identified. Large planktivores often accounted for >50% assemblage biomass. Significant NTMR effects detected total biomass, but only 2 13 components: generalist large predators planktivores. Fishing‐induced biomass these components had no effect on live hard (HC) cover. In contrast, HC affected 11 significantly. Positive associations with predators, piscivores, obligate feeders, planktivores, Negative foragers, detritivores, excavators, scrapers, sand feeders. These most clear when environmental disturbances (e.g., bleaching, typhoons) cover, quickly (1–2 yr), recovered, slowly (5–10 yr). As changed, changed. Benthic assemblages distinct all sites outset, remaining so 31 yr, despite differences pressure disturbance history. alone explained ~30% variability structure, whereas 24%. Furthermore, more strongly than fishing. Management reefs must include measures maintain habitats, not just reduce by NTMRs.

Language: Английский

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Emergent patterns of reef fish diversity correlate with coral assemblage shifts along the Great Barrier Reef

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Jan. 13, 2025

Abstract Escalating climate and anthropogenic disturbances draw into question how stable large-scale patterns in biological diversity are the Anthropocene. Here, we analyse of reef fish have changed from 1995 to 2022 by examining local species dissimilarity along a large latitudinal gradient Great Barrier Reef what extent this correlates with changes coral cover composition. We find that richness followed expected pattern (i.e., greater toward lower latitudes), yet has undergone significant change across space time. declines at latitudes recent periods but high variability higher latitudes. turnover continuously increased over time all did not show evidence return. Altered characterised heterogeneous trophic groups gradient. Shifts composition correlate more strongly than fluctuations cover. Our findings provide insight which classic macroecological maintained Anthropocene, ultimately questioning whether these decoupling their original underlying drivers.

Language: Английский

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Seabird diversity and biomass enhance cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1974)

Published: May 11, 2022

Mobile consumers are key vectors of cross-ecosystem nutrients, yet have experienced population declines which threaten their ability to fill this role. Despite importance and vulnerability, there is little information on how consumer biodiversity, in addition biomass, influences the magnitude nutrient subsidies. Here, we show that both biomass diversity seabirds enhanced provisioning nutrients across tropical islands coral reefs, but relative influence varied systems. Seabird was particularly important for terrestrial near-shore subsidies enhancing fish while seabird associated with further offshore. The positive effects were likely driven by high functional complementarity among species traits related storage provisioning. However, introduced rats non-native vegetation reduced diversity, having a stronger effect diversity. Accordingly, restoration flows provided will be most successful when stressors removed, thus protecting Recognizing mobile underlying drivers, necessary step conserving these ecosystem functions they provide.

Language: Английский

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Defining multi-scale surface roughness of a coral reef using a high-resolution LiDAR digital elevation model

Geomorphology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 439, P. 108852 - 108852

Published: July 26, 2023

A decline in coral reef surface roughness may indicate that a ecosystem is approaching functional collapse. This because underpins many critical metrics, such as, live cover and high fish biomass. Yet, we understand very little about how changes at scales due to the limited spatial extents of ecological surveys. Here, investigate across multiple on high-resolution Light Detection Ranging (LiDAR) derived digital elevation model (DEM, 0.25 m cells). We found complex features dominated regions with (e.g., spur groove systems slope) increased average geomorphic zones are otherwise flat featureless lagoonal patch reefs sandy deep lagoon). Each zone had unique signature values usually expressed over finer and, conversely, lower observed broader scales. allocated each into one four equivalent habitats (REHs 1–4) share similar properties but not necessarily geographically contiguous regions. These results identify fine scale important for providing systems, as fore-reef slope respectively. They also suggest morphodynamic processes operating influence physical structure ecosystems. The quantification becoming increasingly wider availability (<1 m) hyper (<0.1 resolution DEMs. Our approach findings here can be used provide greater textural information common aid future management research efforts, monitoring response environmental change restoration adaptation programs.

Language: Английский

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Revisiting the paradigm of shark‐driven trophic cascades in coral reef ecosystems

Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 102(4)

Published: Feb. 10, 2021

Abstract Global overfishing of higher‐level predators has caused cascading effects to lower trophic levels in many marine ecosystems. On coral reefs, which support highly diverse food webs, the degree top‐down cascades can occur remains equivocal. Using extensive survey data from reefs across relatively unfished northern Great Barrier Reef (nGBR), we quantified role reef sharks structuring fish assemblages. a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, explored interactions between shark abundance and teleost mesopredator prey functional group density biomass, while explicitly accounting for potentially confounding influence environmental variation sites. Although fourfold difference was observed our sites, this had no impact on either or biomass mesopredators prey, providing evidence lack nGBR systems. Instead, groups, including sharks, responded positively drivers. We found be associated with habitat complexity. In turn, physical processes such as wave exposure current velocity were both correlated well multiple reflecting how changes energetic conditions availability, modification affect distribution. The diversity species within webs their associations bottom‐up drivers likely buffers against GBR guilds when assemblages are depleted, been demonstrated other complex

Language: Английский

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Significance of fish–sponge interactions in coral reef ecosystems

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 41(4), P. 1285 - 1308

Published: April 24, 2022

Abstract Sponges (Porifera) are a key component of many coral reef ecosystems. In some biogeographic regions, they considered the dominant benthic fauna and have capacity to fulfil similar roles reef-building scleractinians. Certainly, sponges predominate at depth, below critical thresholds most species. The biological physical attributes these biogenic communities contribute essential resources for reef-associated fishes. However, while fish–sponge interactions been widely documented, there is no global synthesis literature on interrelationships from perspective fish ecology. Here we evaluate relationships, including role in providing food shelter fishes, influence fishes sponge distribution abundance possible outcomes climate change interactions. To date, 16 families shown associate with 56 different genera, using them as either source ( n = 17) or 50), although methodologies latter currently lack consistency. We demonstrate that more comprehensive understanding has garnered tropical Atlantic reefs, which resulted strong bias. While it evident areas Caribbean shaping sponges, not yet known whether this conclusion applies Indo-Pacific. With increasing stresses such bleaching events impacting ecosystems, further work needed can functional those previously provided by Similarly, determining expansion will compensate negative effects degradation, their decline, vital.

Language: Английский

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Habitat and Marine Reserve Status Drive Reef Fish Biomass and Functional Diversity in the Largest South Atlantic Coral Reef System (Abrolhos, Brazil)

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: May 19, 2022

The effects of fishing have been documented across coral reefs worldwide. No-take marine reserves do not only act as a conservation tool but also allow an opportunity to study impacts fishing, by acting control sites. In addition, well-planned and well-managed no-take (NTRs) provide benefits that are essential biodiversity ecosystem-based management. Abrolhos Marine National Park, off the tropical Brazilian coast, protects part largest reef system in South Atlantic. To investigate on fish richness, abundance, biomass, functional diversity assemblage, we compared sites two protection levels considering variation habitats (Fringing Reefs—Protected; Pinnacles Coastal Reefs—Open Access), using Baited Remote Underwater Stereo-Video systems (stereo-BRUVs). We adjusted generalized additive mixed models assemblage characteristics with environmental variables, such topographic complexity (mean relief variation), visibility, benthic cover percentage. Inside NTRs, found higher total biomass fishery target species carnivores, specifically for Carcharhinidae (sharks) Epinephelidae (groupers) families, indicating direct fisheries these groups. contrast, ecological parameters non-target were positively correlated habitat characteristics, including mean variance relief. Moreover, was within demonstrating even distribution entities. presence large mobile predators overall carnivores inside NTR indicate effect exclusion. Our results point value NTRs achieve suggest importance remote sampling methods assess predators.

Language: Английский

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Climate impacts alter fisheries productivity and turnover on coral reefs

Coral Reefs, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 41(4), P. 921 - 935

Published: May 13, 2022

Abstract Alteration of benthic reef habitat after coral bleaching and mortality induces changes in fish assemblages, with implications for fisheries. Our understanding climate impacts to fisheries is largely based on abundance biomass. The rates at which biomass produced replenished (productivity turnover) are also important sustaining fisheries, yet the responses these metrics following unknown. Here, we examine productivity turnover mass events Seychelles, reefs that were recovering coral-dominated habitats those shifted macroalgae-dominated regimes. Productivity assemblages increased all reefs, particularly fished resulting levels similar protected 19 years bleaching. Herbivore-detritivores, such as scraping excavating parrotfish, appeared drive production through reefs. regime-shifted remained stable 1994 areas, increases observed Large browser (particularly reefs), combined invertivores, maintained post-bleaching macroalgal For diet groups, net was generally higher than suggesting more readily Reef structural complexity a positive predictor groups. These findings indicate strongly influenced by recovery trajectories, demonstrates importance herbivore invertivore species small-scale inshore climatic disturbances.

Language: Английский

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