An analysis of rocky coastal eastern Mediterranean fish assemblages and a comparison with an adjacent small artificial reef

Diamant, A.; Tuvia, A.Ben; Baranes, Avi; Golani, Daniel

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(86)90245-5

Cited by 39 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…These have ranged from documenting changes in fish assemblages around artificial reefs using the surrounding habitats as controls (e.g. Diamant et al 1986, Bortone et al 1988, Santos & Monteiro 1998, Heise & Bortone 1999, Freitas & Petere 2001 to comparing fish assemblages on reefs with different profiles, volumes, numbers of holes or streamers (e.g. Molles 1978, Beets 1989, Gorham & Alevizon 1989, Borntrager & Farrell 1992, Hixon & Beets 1993, Caley & St John 1996, Kellison & Sedberry 1998, Rilov & Benayahu 2002.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of habitat complexity on Caribbean marine fish assemblages

Gratwicke¹,

Speight²

2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

213

139

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Sets of artificial reefs were replicated in 5 bays off Tortola in the British Virgin Islands to investigate the effects of habitat complexity on fish assemblages. Increasing percentage hard substrate and the number of small reef holes increased fish abundance on reefs. The observed number of species (S obs ) occurring on each reef increased with increasing rugosity, variety of growth forms, percentage hard substrate, and variety of refuge hole sizes. A rarefied or abundance-corrected species richness measure (S rare ) was calculated to take the varying fish abundances into account. After this correction, rugosity was the only variable that significantly increased fish species-richness. Experimental reefs of different height (20 and 60 cm) did not have significantly different fish abundance or species richness. The presence of long-spined sea urchins Diadema antillarum increased S obs and total fish abundance on artificial rock-reefs and in seagrass beds, but the effect was most pronounced in seagrass beds where shelter was a strongly limiting factor. These results indicate that complex habitats or animals such as D. antillarum that provide shelter to fish are essential for maintaining fish biodiversity at local scales. The most important aspects of complexity are rugosity, hard substrate and small refuge holes. Artificial reefs may be used to mitigate habitat damage in impacted areas, and if management objectives are to increase local fish abundance and species richness, the reefs should provide a stable substrate where this is unavailable, have a rugose surface with many small refuge holes, and have a variety of growth forms.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of habitat complexity on Caribbean marine fish assemblages

Gratwicke¹,

Speight²

2005

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

213

139

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“…It is well established that fish will reliably flock to structure of many forms, ranging from artificial reefs and other fish attraction devices to floating algae (Orth et al, 1984;Holbrook and Schmitt, 1984;Robertson and Lenanton, 1984;Walsh, 1985;Diamant et al, 1986;Jara and Cespedes, 1994;Basset, 1994;Brandon et al, 1994;West et al, 1994). Thus, it may be that the aerial roots, tree trunks and overhanging branches of mangrove forests actively attract fish independent of the secondary effects of structure such as reduced predation and increased food availability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why do juvenile fish utilise mangrove habitats?

Laegdsgaard

Johnson

2001

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

472

298

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Three hypotheses to discern the strong positive association between juvenile fish and mangrove habitat were tested with field and laboratory experiments. Artificial mangrove structure in the field attracted slightly more juvenile fish than areas without structure. Artificial structure left to accumulate fouling algae attracted four-times the total number of juvenile fish than areas without structure or areas with clean structure. Community composition of fish attracted to structure with fouling algae was different when compared with areas with no structure or clean structure; five species were attracted by structure with fouling algae whilst two species were associated with structure regardless of fouling algae. Algae were linked to increased food availability and it is suggested that this is an important selection criteria for some species. Other species were apparently attracted to structure for different reasons, and provision of shelter appears to be important. Predation pressure influenced habitat choice in small juvenile fish in laboratory experiments. In the absence of predators, small juveniles of four out of five species avoided shelter but when predators were introduced all species actively sought shelter. Large fish were apparently less vulnerable to predators and did not seek shelter when predators were added to their tank. Feeding rate was increased in the mangrove habitat for small and medium-sized fish compared with seagrass beds and mudflats indicating increased food availability or foraging efficiency within this habitat. Larger fish fed more effectively on the mudflats with an increased feeding rate in this habitat compared with adjacent habitats. The most important aspect of the mangrove habitat for small juvenile fish is the complex structure that provides maximum food availability and minimises the incidence of predation. As fish grow a shift in habitat from mangroves to mudflat is a response to changes in diet, foraging efficiency and vulnerability to predators.

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“…BOMBACE (1989) andBOMBACE et al (1994) suggested that in the Adriatic Sea, the decrease in winter species richness is due to migration into deeper water. This phenomenon is documented for groupers along the Israeli coast as well (DIAMANT et al, 1986;GOLANI and DAROM, 1999;ARONOV and GOREN, 2003). It may account for the winter decline in grouper numbers (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…They are thus not targeted by spearfishermen. Consequently, they have been able to establish themselves as dominant Levantine cave and AR dwellers in recent decades (GOLANI and BEN-TUVIA, 1985;DIAMANT et al, 1986;SPANIER et al, 1989;SPANIER and GALIL, 1991;SPANIER, 2000a,b;BARICHE et al, 2004;GOREN and GALIL, 2005). So far as diurnal species are concerned, however, the most frequent protagonists of the assemblage were wrasses and damselfish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%