New South Wales rocky reefs are under threat

Marine and Freshwater Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 74(2), P. 95 - 98

Published: Jan. 18, 2023

Rocky reefs of New South Wales (NSW) are characterised by a mosaic habitats, including kelp forest and urchin-grazed barrens. These habitats support diversity dependent species. Decades research have demonstrated that kelps form extensive forests with distinctive fish invertebrate faunas the ‘barrens’ boulder habitat provides shelter other resources for commercial fishes, charismatic fishes invertebrates; barrens not deserts! The feeding activities herbivorous invertebrates, particularly black sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) determine presence habitat. Some invertebrates survive only in urchins food many predatory fishes. NSW has been highly stable decades is critical reef-based organisms. Because climate change, Tasmanian waters warmed as result C. rodgersii larvae dispersed southward from NSW. Importantly, situation regarding Tasmania differs established pattern this needs to be recognised approach management species two states. Urchins should appreciated important determiners removal them whatever purpose would managed carefully.

Language: Английский

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Long‐Term Mobility of a Harvested, Rocky‐Reef Gastropod

Fisheries Management and Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 11, 2025

ABSTRACT Stocks of Turbo militaris (Turbinidae) are under increasing harvesting pressure, but management is currently hampered by data deficiency. Management decisions for rocky‐reef gastropod fisheries should consider long‐term species mobility, yet this often poorly understood. Therefore, mark‐recapture was used to evaluate annual displacement and upshore‐to‐downshore movement T. in Eastern Australia. Tags were glued onto 676 snails, their positions georeferenced recapture surveys conducted after 6 12 months. Overall, 25% tagged snails recaptured. Snails moved an average 20–21 m year −1 at subtropical sites 34–44 temperate sites. Movement non‐directional, limited mixing unrelated animal size. neither sedentary nor site‐attached, small large move similarly. Our findings suggest a capacity adults repopulate other tidal zones, thus recreational could impact intertidal snails.

Language: Английский

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Spatial, environmental and trophic niche partitioning by seabirds in a climate change hotspot

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 26, 2025

Abstract For similar species to co‐occur in places where resources are limited, they need adopt strategies that partition reduce competition. Our understanding of the mechanisms behind resource partitioning among sympatric marine predators is evolving, but we lack a clear how environmental change impacting these dynamics. We investigated spatial and trophic three seabirds with contrasting biological characteristics: greater crested terns Thalasseus bergii (efficient flyer, limited diver, preference for high quality forage fish), little penguins Eudyptula minor (flightless, efficient fish) silver gulls Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae diver generalist diet). interannual variability relation climate hotspot influenced by warm intensifying East Australian Current (EAC). Sampling was conducted from 2012 2014 during austral summer breeding season at Montague Island, Australia. Daily seabird movements were monitored using GPS trackers feather tissues collected processed stable isotope analysis (δ 15 N δ 13 C). Generalised Linear Mixed Models used assess changes oceanographic conditions space use each species. Schoener's D Bayesian mixing models respectively investigate levels yearly inter‐specific niche overlaps. Crested less likely be observed warm, saline EAC waters had smaller foraging areas on days when more than 30% available habitat classified as origin. All preferred low sea surface temperature (<0.5°C). Terns occupied levels, having larger isotopic spaces dominant study area. Gulls lowest level, widest As intensifies along southeast coast Australia under change, interspecific competition may increase, greatest impacts like have relatively restricted ranges. This suggests species‐specific traits behavioural plasticity should accounted predicting effects

Language: Английский

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Seabird assemblages are linked to the major western boundary current off eastern Australia

Progress In Oceanography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 223, P. 103215 - 103215

Published: March 4, 2024

Identifying species assemblages helps understand the relationship between organisms and their environment. Assemblages can be used to predict biological changes caused by environmental perturbations, are thus essential surrogates monitor biodiversity. In this study, identify describe seabird assemblages, we 15 at-sea ship-based survey data sets collected over 37°of latitude off eastern Australia, from 2016 2021. We fitted seasonal Region of Common Profile (RCP) mixture models, for two types (presence-absence abundance). RCP groups defined as regions where probability encountering a particular profile is constant within regions, but different amongst them. These also vary according covariates, which in our case included oceanographic, climatic, physiographic parameters. Results were based on 142,646 seabirds recorded 80 species, including albatrosses, petrels, prions, shearwaters, boobies, terns, among other taxa. All models suggested macro-scale ('northern' 'southern'), except autumn presence-absence model that identified three groups. The results consistently show biogeographic transition at ∼34°S, near East Australian Current (EAC) separates continental slope. Sea surface temperatures or sea salinities selected all final further indicating close water masses. both types, abundance, resulted similar spatial patterns. clearly east coast suggesting persistence these macro scales. Given ongoing poleward intensification EAC experiencing, projected continue next century, its importance influencing distributions seabirds, methods applied study could replicated assess possible how they affected changing conditions.

Language: Английский

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A systematic review on the anthropogenic stressors on sessile benthic mesophotic reef communities: implications for temperate reef management in Australia

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Dec. 13, 2023

Temperate rocky reefs are complex habitats that support high levels of biodiversity and productivity. However, the sessile benthic communities attached to these vulnerable climate change local human impacts due their limited capacity rapidly avoid unfavourable environments. In southeastern Australia, latitude face increasing threats from rapid warming, surpassing global average. Existing management efforts for rely heavily on research tropical coral ecosystems shallow temperate algal-dominated reefs, where sufficient data allows reliable predictions future state systems. Recent evidence seabed mapping programs indicates mesophotic (~30-150 m depth) equally or more extensive than systems in waters. They provide novel ecosystem functions could potentially act as refuges some components water extend across depth strata. despite importance, very little is known about faced by non-algal organisms either many parts world, including Australia. This review examined current knowledge regarding direct impact physical disturbances, such extreme weather events, ocean warming destructive fishing practices, general. We then used this infer likely drivers found Australia’s were less be impacted fishing, anchoring lost gears compared northern hemisphere lower population density. Instead, we identified present pulsed events severe storms major conclusion based lack supporting existence literature potential implications predicted increases wind-wave energy extending into depths. Drawing observations globally, changes distribution growth forms, size diversity sponges may useful indicators heat stress disturbances

Language: Английский

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Impacts of climate change on mangrove subsistence fisheries: a global review

Marine Life Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(4), P. 610 - 630

Published: June 5, 2024

Abstract Climate change will impact coastal ecosystems, threatening subsistence fisheries including those in mangrove forests. Despite their global contributions and roles nutrition cultural identity, are poorly studied. Here, we offer a foundation for improving the management of to deal with impending effects climate change. This multidisciplinary review—drawing on organismal biology, ecology, fisheries, social science—focuses impacts relevant ecosystems: heat waves, low-category, high-category typhoons. First, provide an overview mangroves, harvestable stocks (fish, crustaceans, molluscs), fishers, offering understanding how they may be affected by environmental variables; i.e., shifts temperature, salinity, oxygen, flooding, sediments. Then, examine potential indicating scope changes. By combining above information, develop simple model that forecasts number “fishing-days” lost fishers due over next decade (between 11 21 days per year fisher). indicates which aspects have greatest fishers. We found typhoons had more than turn greater low-category typhoons). Finally, recognising gaps our knowledge understanding, recommendations approaches future work improve predictions.

Language: Английский

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Exploring Long-Term Trends in Dolphinfish Coryphaena Hippurus Distribution on the East Coast of Australia and Melanesia

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Changes in ocean characteristics can cause shifts the geographical range of marine species as animals are forced to acclimate or move maintain position suitable conditions. Dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus a highly migratory epipelagic species, whose temporal and spatial movements have been linked changes characteristics. Climate change is causing rapid these characteristics, so it critical understand how future attributes might affect pelagic fish distributions. We Investigated net latitudinal capture records over time response variation on east coast Australia Melanesia. Which identified poleward captures occurred were seasonal occurring particularly during austral summer autumn months. The largest dolphinfish captured spring locations with more negative sea level anomalies, west geostrophic currents, greater surface current velocity, lower concentrations primary productivity chlorophyll-a waters between 500 – 2200 m depth. There was restricted thermal smaller (18 24°C) broader larger (13 33°C). effects climate likely contributing towards distribution shift Australia. Incorporating oceanographic variables into adaptation for help guide establishment sustainable fishing regulations, recreational fisheries enhancement programs management ensure long-term sustainability that may offset pressure off threatened species.

Language: Английский

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