A framework to assess the health of rocky reefs linking geomorphology, community assemblage, and fish biomass

Aburto‐Oropeza, Octavio; Ezcurra, Exequiel; Moxley, Jerry; Sánchez-Rodríguez, Alexandra; Mascareñas‐Osorio, Ismael; Sánchez-Ortíz, Carlos; Erisman, Brad; Ricketts, Taylor H.

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.12.006

Cited by 34 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Anthropogenic factors associated with climate change, pollution and invasive species have all been research targets for understanding marine disease dynamics (Harvell et al 2002(Harvell et al , 2004. However, ecosystem health as a whole can be encompassed by a range of categories, from anthropogenic disturbances to ecological factors such as species richness and diversity as well as disease (Lafferty and Gerber 2002;McCallum et al 2005;Aburto-Oropeza et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untangling the effects of size, habitat and invertebrate biodiversity on parasite prevalence in the Caribbean spiny lobster

2019

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The spiny lobster Panulirus argus is an important benthic mesopredator and a major fishing resource across the Wider Caribbean region. This species is host to the pathogenic virus PaV1 and metacercariae of Cymatocarpus solearis, a digenean trematode whose first intermediate host remains unknown. Previous studies found that the probability of infection with PaV1 was higher in juvenile lobsters and in densely vegetated habitats (suggesting that marine vegetation can be an environmental reservoir for PaV1), whereas the probability of infection with C. solearis was higher for larger lobsters and in poorly vegetated habitats. To increase insight into the role of habitat and body size in the ecology of lobster diseases, the presence of both C. solearis and PaV1 in P. argus was investigated across three contrasting zones in Bahía de la Ascensión, Mexico (19°35′27″N, 87°38′06″W): reef, lagoon and shallow habitat. Additionally, habitat complexity, cover of benthic components, and macroinvertebrate biodiversity were characterized in each zone. Consistent with previous studies, probability of infection with PaV1 (both at a clinical and infective level) decreased with increasing lobster size and was highest in the seagrass-rich lagoon, supporting the idea that marine vegetation could be an environmental reservoir for PaV1. In contrast, the probability of infection with C. solearis increased significantly with lobster size but did not vary with zone, suggesting no relationship with benthic substrate type. However, based on results of macroinvertebrate diversity, the gastropods Cerithium litteratum and Tegula fasciata are put forward as potential candidates for the first intermediate hosts of C. solearis.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untangling the effects of size, habitat and invertebrate biodiversity on parasite prevalence in the Caribbean spiny lobster

2019

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“…This information indicates that the status of the reef fish communities in the Gulf of California may not be pristine, but it remains in good condition as no stage of the trophic pyramid seems to be completely depleted in abundance. Nevertheless, as there is evidence of a decrease in trophic level of the catch in specific areas of the gulf (Sala et al, 2004) and of low condition in fished reefs (Aburto-Oropeza et al, 2015), continuous monitoring of these areas is necessary to support further positive or negative changes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Latitudinal variation in structure and function of conspicuous reef fish assemblages along the western Gulf of California

Melo

Reyes‐Bonilla²,

Ramírez‐Ortiz

et al. 2018

Rev.Mex.Biodiv.

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“…We took advantage of the monitoring program that has been undertaken over the reefs within the CPNP during the months of August and September since 2000 36 , 97 – 99 . Under this program, UVC surveys using SCUBA are conducted using the standard methods for visual belt transects 100 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydroacoustics as a tool to examine the effects of Marine Protected Areas and habitat type on marine fish communities

Egerton

Johnson

Turner

et al. 2018

Sci Rep

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Hydroacoustic technologies are widely used in fisheries research but few studies have used them to examine the effects of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). We evaluate the efficacy of hydroacoustics to examine the effects of closure to fishing and habitat type on fish populations in the Cabo Pulmo National Park (CPNP), Mexico, and compare these methods to Underwater Visual Censuses (UVC). Fish density, biomass and size were all significantly higher inside the CPNP (299%, 144% and 52% respectively) than outside in non-MPA control areas. These values were much higher when only accounting for the reefs within the CPNP (4715%, 6970% and 97% respectively) highlighting the importance of both habitat complexity and protection from fishing for fish populations. Acoustic estimates of fish biomass over reef-specific sites did not differ significantly from those estimated using UVC data, although acoustic densities were less due to higher numbers of small fish recorded by UVC. There is thus considerable merit in nesting UVC surveys, also providing species information, within hydroacoustic surveys. This study is a valuable starting point in demonstrating the utility of hydroacoustics to assess the effects of coastal MPAs on fish populations, something that has been underutilised in MPA design, formation and management.

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A framework to assess the health of rocky reefs linking geomorphology, community assemblage, and fish biomass

Cited by 34 publications

References 59 publications

Untangling the effects of size, habitat and invertebrate biodiversity on parasite prevalence in the Caribbean spiny lobster

Untangling the effects of size, habitat and invertebrate biodiversity on parasite prevalence in the Caribbean spiny lobster

Latitudinal variation in structure and function of conspicuous reef fish assemblages along the western Gulf of California

Hydroacoustics as a tool to examine the effects of Marine Protected Areas and habitat type on marine fish communities

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