Tropical rhodolith beds are a major and belittled reef fish habitat

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 11(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 12, 2021

Abstract Understanding habitat-level variation in community structure provides an informed basis for natural resources’ management. Reef fishes are a major component of tropical marine biodiversity, but their abundance and distribution poorly assessed beyond conventional SCUBA diving depths. Based on baited-video survey fish assemblages Southwestern Atlantic’s most biodiverse region we show that species composition responded mainly to the two hard-bottom megahabitats (reefs rhodolith beds) amount light reaching bottom. Both encompassed typical reef but, unexpectedly, richness beds reefs was equivalent. The dissimilar biomass trophic indicates these systems function based contrasting energy pathways, such as much lower herbivory recorded latter. Rhodolith beds, dominant benthic megahabitat Atlantic shelf, play underrated role habitats, it is critical they considered conservation planning.

Язык: Английский

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Impacts of Desalination Brine Discharge on Benthic Ecosystems

Environmental Science & Technology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 58(13), С. 5631 - 5645

Опубликована: Март 22, 2024

Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination facilities produce freshwater and, at the same time, discharge hypersaline brine that often includes various chemical additives such as antiscalants and coagulants. This dense can sink to sea bottom creep over seabed, reaching up 5 km from point. Previous reviews have discussed effects of SWRO on marine ecosystems, yet little attention has been paid impacts benthic habitats. review comprehensibly discusses fauna flora. We previous studies indicated a suite by organisms, including bacteria, seagrasses, polychaetes, corals. The within mixing zones range impaired activities morphological deformations changes in community composition. Recent modeling work demonstrated could spread beyond zone, for several tens kilometers impair nutrient fluxes sediment water column. also provide possible perspective brine's impact biogeochemical process zone subsurface. Desalination infiltrate into sandy around area due gravity currents. Accumulation associated additives, polyphosphonate-based ferric-based coagulants porewater, may change redox hence, processes sediments. With demand drinking escalating worldwide, volumes are predicted triple during current century. Future efforts should focus development operation viable technologies minimize discharged environments, along with environmentally friendly additives. However, application these be partly subsidized governmental stakeholders safeguard coastal ecosystems facilities.

Язык: Английский

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Coral-seeding devices with fish-exclusion features reduce mortality on the Great Barrier Reef

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Июнь 10, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Marine reserves, fisheries ban, and 20 years of positive change in a coral reef ecosystem

Conservation Biology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 35(5), С. 1473 - 1483

Опубликована: Апрель 28, 2021

Abstract By 2004, Belize was exhibiting classic fishing down of the food web. Groupers (Serranidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae) were scarce fisheries turned to parrotfishes (Scarinae), leading a 41% decline in their biomass. Several policies enacted 2009–2010, including moratorium on parrotfish new marine park with no‐take areas. Using 20‐year time series reef fish benthos, we evaluated impact these approximately 10 years after implementation. Establishment Southwater Caye Marine Reserve led recovery snapper at 2 out 3 sites, but there no evidence outside reserve. Snapper populations an older reserve continued increase, implying that least 9 is required for recovery. Despite concerns over feasibility banning harvest once it has become dominant fin fishery, returned exceeded biomass levels prior fishery. The majority changes involved increase density; species composition adult body size generally exhibited little change. Recovery occurred equally well reserves areas open other forms fishing, strong compliance. Temporal trends grazing intensity strongly negatively associated cover macroalgae, which by 2018 had fallen lowest observed since measurements began 1998. Coral remained resilient exhibit periods net disturbance. We found harvesting feasible appears help constrain can otherwise impede coral resilience.

Язык: Английский

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Geo‐ecological functions provided by coral reef fishes vary among regions and impact reef carbonate cycling regimes

Ecosphere, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 13(12)

Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2022

Abstract Coral reef fishes perform essential and well‐documented ecological functions on reefs, but also contribute important geo‐ecological functions, which influence carbonate cycling regimes. These include framework modification (through bioerosion breakage), the production, reworking, transport of reefal sediments. To explore how these vary across reefs regions, we compiled a dataset available taxa‐specific function rates applied to fish census data from sites in Pacific Ocean (PO), Indian (IO), Greater Caribbean (GC), each region displaying gradient biomass. The highest overall occur at biomass PO (Kingman Reef) IO (Chagos Archipelago), where dominates sediment generation (up 7 kg m −2 year −1 ). At lowest sites, are driven mainly by breakage lower (~2 Sediment reworking high all (~1–5 ) higher than other low sites. Geo‐ecological generally GC despite total being comparable to, or even exceeding, some with ~1 dominant function. site‐level differences partly reflect biomass, assemblage size structure species identity critical, few families (and species) underpinning regulating “health” fish‐driven regime. Reefs modification, production define one end this spectrum, while little new is produced dominates. While additional species‐level rate urgently needed better constrain rates, transitions align ideas about progressive shutdown regimes ecologically perturbed implications for reef‐building, shoreline supply, carbon nutrient cycling.

Язык: Английский

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A functional perspective on the meaning of the term ‘herbivore’: patterns versus processes in coral reef fishes

Coral Reefs, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 43(2), С. 219 - 232

Опубликована: Апрель 3, 2023

Abstract Herbivorous fishes are a key functional group in coral reef ecosystems and have been the focus of vast body research. While substantial progress has made research, challenges persist, especially respect to quantifying patterns versus processes. Despite this challenge being recognised over 40 years ago. To help clarify such challenges, work towards solutions, perspective we explore how definition ‘herbivorous fishes’ precludes an easy translation between herbivore abundance process herbivory. Indeed, if herbivorous defined as, fish which diet is predominantly based on plant material , then encompasses diverse suite all remove primary producers varying extents markedly different impacts functioning. Given situation, our approaches directly herbivory reefs progressed. We highlight lessons learnt from macroalgal assays could be applied direct quantification algal turfs epilithic matrix (EAM); community that invariably difficult with quantify. Nevertheless, given reefs, their relative importance dynamics, widespread process-based assessment EAM represents avenue for expanding future Recognising difficulty translating herbivory, enhanced will necessary comprehensively quantify Anthropocene reefs.

Язык: Английский

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Vertical eDNA distribution of cold‐water fishes in response to environmental variables in stratified lake

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(3)

Опубликована: Март 1, 2024

Abstract In summer, the survival zones of cold‐water species are predicted to narrow by both increasing water temperatures from surface and expanding hypoxic lake bottom. To examine how abundance fishes changes along environmental gradients, we assessed vertical DNA (eDNA) distributions three salmonid which may have different temperature tolerances during stratification turnover periods using quantitative PCR (qPCR). addition, examined on distribution diverse fish fauna an eDNA metabarcoding assay. The results suggested that kokanee salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka ) were abundant in deep, cold waters. On other hand, rainbow trout O. mykiss distributed uniformly throughout column, suggesting they high water‐temperature tolerance compared with salmon. concentrations masu masou below detection limit (i.e., <10 copies μL −1 at all stations depths hence could not be quantified stratification. Together finding prey also constrained vertically species‐specific ways, our suggest climate change will result substantial thus affect their populations interactions.

Язык: Английский

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Significance of fish–sponge interactions in coral reef ecosystems

Coral Reefs, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 41(4), С. 1285 - 1308

Опубликована: Апрель 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.

Язык: Английский

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Critical Review and Conceptual and Quantitative Models for the Transfer and Depuration of Ciguatoxins in Fishes

Toxins, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 13(8), С. 515 - 515

Опубликована: Июль 23, 2021

We review and develop conceptual models for the bio-transfer of ciguatoxins in food chains Platypus Bay Great Barrier Reef on east coast Australia. is unique repeatedly producing ciguateric fishes Australia, with produced by benthic dinoflagellates (Gambierdiscus spp.) growing epiphytically free-living, macroalgae. The Gambierdiscus are consumed invertebrates living within macroalgae, which preyed upon small carnivorous fishes, then Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson). hypothesise that and/or Fukuyoa species turf algae main source entering marine to cause ciguatera Reef. abundance surgeonfish feed may act as a feedback mechanism controlling flow through this chain. If hypothesis broadly applicable, reduction herbivory from overharvesting herbivores could lead increases concentrating remaining, smaller population herbivores. Modelling dilution somatic growth coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) revealed not significantly reduce toxicity fish flesh, except young fast-growing or legal-sized contaminated low levels ciguatoxins. along Australia can depurate ciguatoxins, it most likely half-life ≤1-year. Our aid management research globally.

Язык: Английский

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Climate impacts alter fisheries productivity and turnover on coral reefs

Coral Reefs, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 41(4), С. 921 - 935

Опубликована: Май 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.

Язык: Английский

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