A first quantitative assessment of the ecology of cryptobenthic fishes in the Mediterranean Sea

Kovačić, Marcelo; Patzner, Robert; Schliewen, Ulrich K.

doi:10.1007/s00227-012-2030-6

Cited by 35 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Various underwater visual census (UVC) methods have often been used in ichthyological research, especially on hard littoral bottoms where most widespread methods for the quantitative assessment of fish assemblages, such as capture meth-ods using trawls and other fishing gear, are hard to use (Harmelin-Vivien and Francour 1992, Lipej et al 2003, Soldo and Glavičić 2013. However, it is confirmed that the standard UVC methods can miss a large number of cryptobenthic fish species (Ackerman and Bellwood 2000, Willis 2001, Smith-Vaniz et al 2006, Kovačić et al 2012. A cryptobenthic fish is a species (or a life history stage of a fish species) whose individuals exclusively or predominantly spend their lifetime in cryptobenthic microhabitats, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…A cryptobenthic fish is a species (or a life history stage of a fish species) whose individuals exclusively or predominantly spend their lifetime in cryptobenthic microhabitats, i.e. in the restricted living spaces underneath the bottom surface of the substrate or biocover, with a physical barrier to open spaces (Kovačić et al 2012). To gain a full understanding of how a fish assemblage is composed and structured on hard littoral bottoms, a study of small cryptobenthic and epibenthic species using destructive techniques is required.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To gain a full understanding of how a fish assemblage is composed and structured on hard littoral bottoms, a study of small cryptobenthic and epibenthic species using destructive techniques is required. Quantitative studies on cryptobenthic fish communities are surprisingly rare worldwide and restricted to coastal reefs with depths of mainly 15 to 20 m (Prochazka 1998, Ackerman and Bellwood 2000, 2002, Willis 2001, Depczynski and Bellwood 2003, Smith-Vaniz et al 2006, Beldade et al 2006, Beldade and Gonçavles 2007, Kovačić et al 2012. No quantitative research on cryptobenthic fish has been performed at or below 40 m depth (Kovačić et al 2012), while only recently the methodology for the quantitative research at circalittoral depths was proposed by Glavičić and Kovačić (2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of repeated samplings during SCUBA dives, sampling with Rotenone requires a lot of time, which is usually limited in deeper dives. Therefore, the use of the anaesthetic Quinaldine, following the procedure of Kovačić et al (2012), was chosen for the present study as the most appropriate method with high space and time efficiency.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The aim of the present study was: 1) to continue the studies on unexplored Mediterranean littoral benthic habitats potentially harbouring cryptobenthic fishes, following proposals by Kovačić et al (2012); 2) to provide the first quantitative assessment of cryptobenthic fish species diversity and abundance on hard bottoms below 20 m depth by studying the deep underwater vertical cliffs of the Mediterranean; and 3) to identify the environmental variables that best explain species distribution and abundance patterns in this habitat, and that are therefore expected to shape the cryptobenthic fish community structure in this habitat.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A quantitative assessment of the cryptobenthic fish assemblage at deep littoral cliffs in the Mediterranean

et al. 2016

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Summary:The present study provides the first quantitative assessment of cryptobenthic fish species diversity and abundance on hard bottoms below 20 m depth by examining Mediterranean underwater reefs with deep vertical cliffs. Quantitative sampling was performed at depths down to about 45 m and yielded 220 cryptobenthic and 61 epibenthic individuals belonging to 21 species, showing that the cryptobenthic fishes highly outnumbered the epibenthic individuals. The study highlights the high diversity and abundance of this unexplored part of the benthic fish community. The cryptobenthic fish assemblage was dominated by the family Gobiidae in terms of both biodiversity (>60% of all species) and abundance (>90% of all specimens). Fish species previously considered rare were present and some of them were even numerous in this assemblage. Three out of fourteen recorded habitat variables (depth, rocky cliff surface area vs. the bottom of the cliff area, and the presence of sand as the bottom substrate) were identified as significant for species occurrence. Species were generalist in their choice of shelters since the size and quantity of semi-caves, caves, cavities and even bio-cover type had no significant influence on the species distribution and abundance.Keywords: cryptobenthic fishes; multivariate analysis; benthos; littoral zone; underwater cliffs; scuba diving. Evaluación cuantitativa de la comunidad de peces criptobenónicos en los acantilados profundos del litoral MediterráneoResumen: Este trabajo presenta una primera evaluación cuantitativa de la diversidad y abundancia de los peces criptobentónicos de fondos duros por debajo de 20 m de profundidad, como ejemplo de acantilados litorales sumergidos del Mediterráneo. Se realizó un muestreo a profundidades cercanas a 45 m de profundidad y se obtuvieron 220 individuos criptobentònicos y 61 epibentónicos pertenecientes a 21 especies. El estudio pone de manifiesto la gran diversidad y abundancia de esta fracción inexplorada de la comunidad de peces bentónicos. La familia Gobiidae domina la comunidad de peces criptobentónicos en biodiversidad y abundancia (>60% y >90% del total de especies respectivamente). Se han observado especies de peces de este grupo consideradas raras, incluso algunas son numerosas. Tres de cada 14 variables registradas del hábitat (profundidad, superficie rocosa del acantilado vs fondo del acantilado y presencia de arena en el sustrato del fondo) fueron significativas para la presencia de las especies. En la elección de los refugios las especies fueron generalistas ya que el tamaño y la cantidad de semicuevas, cuevas, cavidades e incluso tipos de cubierta biológica no tienen influencia significativa en la distribución y abundancia de las especies.Palabras clave: peces criptobentónicos; análisis multivariante; bentos; zona litoral; acantilados sumergidos; submarinismo.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A quantitative assessment of the cryptobenthic fish assemblage at deep littoral cliffs in the Mediterranean

et al. 2016

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Lipophrys pholis is larger, grows faster and is in better condition in protected than in unprotected rocky shores

Compaire,

Visintini,

Soriguer

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Intertidal fish are a key component of littoral food webs, contributing to the diets of birds and commercial fish species. Ascertaining their growth and condition can therefore help understand the health status of local communities. Lipophrys pholis is a fish of the rocky intertidal with a wide distribution throughout the North‐eastern Atlantic (NE Atlantic) that has been recommended for use as an indicator in the environmental biomonitoring of marine ecosystems. However, it is unclear yet if this species is sensitive to the reserve effect. In this study, the size, growth and body condition of specimens caught at protected and unprotected rocky shores of two contrasting marine provinces of the NE Atlantic were analysed to address whether L. pholis is sensitive to the reserve effect. L. pholis were larger, grew faster in weight and were in better condition in the protected shores of both provinces. A faster growth rate was observed in the populations of the warmer province. Inshore waters of unprotected sites in the Northern European Seas sampled in this study have recently been incorporated into a protected area. Thus, these results can help assess the success of the marine conservation programme and the time L. pholis needs to improve its population's health at these shores. Regulating access to shores to avoid trampling and harvesting is a protection measure that can help enhance the health and conservation of L. pholis populations.

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Microhabitat partitioning between sympatric intertidal fish species highlights the importance of sediment composition in gravel beach conservation

Wagner

Benac

Pamić

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Gravel beaches in the Mediterranean ecoregion represent an economically important and unique habitat type. Yet, burgeoning tourism, intensive coastal development and artificial nourishment of beaches may jeopardize their ecological communities. To date, species that reside on gravel beaches and the consequences of beach alterations are poorly understood, which hampers the development of a sustainable coastal tourism industry along the region's shorelines. Using a simple collection method based on dredging buckets through the intertidal section of beaches, we quantified the microhabitat association of two sympatric clingfish species in the genus Gouania at seven natural and an artificial gravel beach based on sediment characteristics. We hypothesized that slender (G. pigra) and stout (G. adriatica) morphotypes would partition interstitial niche space based on sediment size, which may affect the vulnerability of the species to changes in gravel beach composition due to coastal development. We detected substantial differences in gravel composition within and among the sampled beaches which suggests scope for microhabitat partitioning in Gouania. Indeed, we found significant relationships between species identity and the presence/absence and abundance of individuals in hauls based on their positioning on PC1. Our results suggest that modifications of gravel beaches through coastal development, including beach nourishment, intensifying coastal erosion, or artificial beach creation, may have detrimental consequences for the two species if sediment types or sizes are altered.We posit that, given the simplicity and efficacy of our sampling method and the sensitivity of Gouania species to prevailing gravel composition, the genus could serve as an important indicator for gravel beach management in the Mediterranean ecoregion.

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A first quantitative assessment of the ecology of cryptobenthic fishes in the Mediterranean Sea

Cited by 35 publications

References 22 publications

A quantitative assessment of the cryptobenthic fish assemblage at deep littoral cliffs in the Mediterranean

A quantitative assessment of the cryptobenthic fish assemblage at deep littoral cliffs in the Mediterranean

Lipophrys pholis is larger, grows faster and is in better condition in protected than in unprotected rocky shores

Microhabitat partitioning between sympatric intertidal fish species highlights the importance of sediment composition in gravel beach conservation

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