Fishes: Biodiversity

Pyle, Richard L.; Kosaki, Randall K.; Pinheiro, Hudson T.; Rocha, Luiz A.; Whitton, Robert K.; Copus, Joshua M.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-92735-0_40

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 103 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This suggests that the Azores mesophotic kelp stands are inhabited by broad‐ranging non‐specialist species (see Pyle et al. (2019) for a review of mesophotic fish biodiversity patterns).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Range Extension of Mesophotic Kelps (Ochrophyta: Laminariales and Tilopteridales) in the Central North Atlantic: Opportunities for Marine Forest Research and Conservation

Tempera

Milla-Figueras

Sinde-Mano

et al. 2021

Journal of Phycology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Kelp was first recorded for the remote warm‐temperate Azores archipelago (central North Atlantic) in 1971, when a few Laminaria specimens were collected on the Formigas Bank at depths beyond conventional SCUBA diving reach. A shortage of technical means and projects targeting mesophotic environments has since kept this offshore marine protected area as the single known kelp occurrence site. Here, we present new kelp records collected on previously unexplored mesophotic reefs using remote imaging systems, open‐ and closed‐circuit SCUBA diving, and fisheries bycatch information. The new data extend the known distribution range of kelp in the Azores 350 km to the west and 25 km to the southwest, henceforth including several island shelves in the eastern and central Azores. In addition to the previously recorded Laminaria ochroleuca, kelp specimens with a morphology akin to Phyllariopsis brevipes subsp. brevipes are also reported. For the first time, seabed imagery is used to document the depth‐wise diversity of the Azores kelp beds and their associated biota. Our findings emphasize the poor knowledge that persists in regard to Macaronesia’s mesophotic environments located beyond conventional SCUBA diving limits. The new on‐shelf kelp occurrences add conservation value to coastal areas and should facilitate island‐based research. However, their greater proximity to land‐based impacts and exposure to climate change also raise management needs.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Range Extension of Mesophotic Kelps (Ochrophyta: Laminariales and Tilopteridales) in the Central North Atlantic: Opportunities for Marine Forest Research and Conservation

Tempera

Milla-Figueras

Sinde-Mano

et al. 2021

Journal of Phycology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This, coupled with difficulties and expense in accessing MEs, has hampered the ability to address global biodiversity questions. Based on the current rate of discovery (Pomponi et al 2019;Pyle et al 2019;Spalding et al 2019), there is a high proportion of biodiversity to be found in MEs, and more knowledge of community structure across vertical and horizontal scales is needed (Q5 and Q6). Research focus is often on more charismatic species such as corals and fishes.…”

Section: Theme 3: Biodiversity and Community Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the difficulty of scaling such assessments across a large number of species, detailed assessments of refuge potential and vertical and horizontal connectivity should be prioritized for species that are ecologically and/or economically important. Horizontal connectivity between MEs in different regions represents a further topic of interest (Q13), in particular how such connectivity may differ from patterns observed for shallow reefs across the same regions (Pyle et al 2019). Although horizontal connectivity is often assessed to contrast patterns of inferred vertical connectivity, we recommend that further studies consider horizontal connectivity more explicitly, as it is an important aspect in determining the resilience of MEs.…”

Section: Theme 5: Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Questions for Research and Conservation of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems and Temperate Mesophotic Ecosystems

Turner

Andradi-Brown

Gori

et al. 2019

Coral Reefs of the World

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) and temperate mesophotic ecosystems (TMEs) have received increasing research attention during the last decade as many new and improved methods and technologies have become more accessible to explore deeper parts of the ocean. However, large voids in knowledge remain in our scientific understanding, limiting our ability to make scientifically based decisions for conservation and management of these ecosystems. Here, we present a list of key research and con-servation questions to enhance progress in the field. Questions were generated following an initial open call to MCE and TME experts, representing a range of career levels, interests, organizations (including academia, governmental, and nongovernmental), and geographic locations. Questions were refined and grouped into eight broad themes: (1) Distribution, (2) Environmental and Physical Processes, (3) Biodiversity and Community Structure, (4) Ecological Processes, (5) Connectivity, (6) Physiology, (7) Threats, and (8) Management and Policy.

show abstract

“…The trends described in this study pertain to the upper mesophotic region of Hawai'i (30-50 m), yet mesophotic reefs in Hawai'i and around the world extend to depths of 100 m or greater (Kahng and Maragos 2006;Loya et al 2016). It is unclear whether deeper mesophotic reefs undergo similar herbivore constraints as the upper mesophotic constraints described herein, or the lower temperatures (Pyle et al 2019) and differing algal species composition (Spalding et al 2019) of mid to lower mesophotic reefs may act in concert with the indirect effects of predation to further constrain herbivorous fish distributions. Additionally, the vast majority of predictive models for coral-algal-herbivore interactions do not include the role depth may play in limiting herbivore abundance (Mumby and Hastings 2007;Brokovich et al 2010a;Adam et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Non-consumptive predator effects constrain herbivorous fish distribution and abundance at upper mesophotic depths (30-50 m).

Kane

Spalding

Tissot

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Herbivorous fishes play integral roles in preventing macroalgae from displacing corals, yet appear to decline with depth despite the presence of coral-dominated habitats to >80 m. We investigated the relationship between herbivorous fish and a suite of bottom-up and top-down parameters (algal turf, macroalgal and coral cover, nutritional quality and palatability, temperature, light, and predator density) along a depth gradient from 3-50 m. Fishes were not food-limited as upper mesophotic algae had similar nutritional content, assemblages, and appeared highly palatable from algal choice experiments. In-situ temperature recordings suggest temperature was not a limiting factor. Multivariate redundancy analyses reveal the combination of increased habitat patchiness and reduced light levels best explain distributions with depth. These results suggest reductions in herbivorous fish populations across shallow to upper mesophotic depths are likely the result of non-consumptive predator effects and behavioral choices rather than abiotic constraints or resource limitation.

show abstract

Fishes: Biodiversity

Cited by 18 publications

References 103 publications

Range Extension of Mesophotic Kelps (Ochrophyta: Laminariales and Tilopteridales) in the Central North Atlantic: Opportunities for Marine Forest Research and Conservation

Range Extension of Mesophotic Kelps (Ochrophyta: Laminariales and Tilopteridales) in the Central North Atlantic: Opportunities for Marine Forest Research and Conservation

Key Questions for Research and Conservation of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems and Temperate Mesophotic Ecosystems

Non-consumptive predator effects constrain herbivorous fish distribution and abundance at upper mesophotic depths (30-50 m).

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About