Standing Out in a Big Crowd: High Cultural and Economic Value of Naso unicornis in the Insular Pacific

Taylor, Brett M.

doi:10.3390/fishes4030040

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The bluespine unicornfish Naso unicornis is a coral reef‐associated species preferentially targeted by fishing across the insular Pacific (Hoey & Bellwood, ; Taylor, ). Several studies and formal stock assessments based on inferred life‐history traits have characterized N. unicornis as among the most vulnerable species to overexploitation in multispecies fisheries in the western Pacific (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic plasticity facilitates ecological and economic resilience in a commercially important reef fish

Taylor

Choat

DeMartini

et al. 2019

Journal of Animal Ecology

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1. Variation in life-history characteristics is evident within and across animal populations. Such variation is mediated by environmental gradients and reflects metabolic constraints or trade-offs that enhance reproductive outputs. While generalizations of life-history relationships across species provide a framework for predicting vulnerability to overexploitation, deciphering patterns of intraspecific variation may also enable recognition of peculiar features of populations that facilitate ecological resilience.2. This study combines age-based biological data from geographically disparate populations of bluespine unicornfish (Naso unicornis)-the most commercially valuable reef-associated species in the insular Indo-Pacific-to explore the magnitude and drivers of variation in life span and examine the mechanisms enabling peculiar mortality schedules.3. Longevity and mortality schedules were investigated across eleven locations encompassing a range of latitudes and exploitation levels. The presence of different growth types was examined using back-calculated growth histories from otoliths.Growth-type-dependent mortality (mortality rates associated with particular growth trajectories) was corroborated using population models that incorporated size-dependent competition. 4. We found a threefold geographic variation in life span that was strongly linked to temperature, but not to anthropogenic pressure or ocean productivity. All populations consistently displayed a two-phase mortality schedule, with higher than expected natural mortality rates in earlier stages of post-settlement life.Reconstructed growth histories and population models demonstrated that variable growth types within populations can yield this peculiar biphasic mortality schedule, where fast growers enjoy early reproductive outputs at the expense of greater mortality, and benefits for slow growers derive from extended reproductive outputs over a greater number of annual cycles. This promotes population | 1889Journal of Animal Ecology TAYLOR eT AL.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographic plasticity facilitates ecological and economic resilience in a commercially important reef fish

Taylor

Choat

DeMartini

et al. 2019

Journal of Animal Ecology

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“…In terms of functional groups of herbivorous fishes, overall herbivore biomass decreases with increasing human population density, while SST has opposing effects on detritivores (positive) and browsers (negative) (Heenan et al, 2016), while the proportional biomass of these lower trophic level fishes increases in areas of high irradiance (Heenan et al, 2020). In essence, many of these herbivorous fish are primary targets of fishing in this region (Taylor, 2019), implying that the longer-term persistence of these fish is less likely with additional impact of habitat degradation and loss of reef structure, which makes such fish increasingly vulnerable to predation. A flattening of the S-curve and particularly lowering of LowA would detect such pressures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cumulative trophic curves elucidate tropical coral reef ecosystems

Link,

Pranovi,

Zucchetta

et al. 2024

Front. Mar. Sci.

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There are few generalizable patterns in ecology, with widespread observations and predictability. One possible generalizable pattern is the cumulative trophic theory, which consistently exhibits S-curves of cumulative biomass over trophic level (TL) for over 200 different marine ecosystems. But whether those cumulative biomass patterns persist in some of the more distinct marine ecosystems, coral reefs, is unclear. Coral reefs are unique among marine ecosystems, representing global biodiversity hotspots and providing crucial ecosystem services. They are subject to many pressures, including both global (e.g., climate and ocean changes, warming, acidification) and local (e.g., overexploitation/overfishing, increase in turbidity, bleaching, habitat destruction, invasive species) stressors. The analysis of emergent ecosystem features, such as cumulative biomass S-curves, could represent a useful and new analytical option that can also be implemented for coral reefs. The cumulative biomass approach was applied to 42 U.S. Pacific islands (Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the Pacific Remote Islands Areas, and the Northwestern and Main Hawaiian Islands), using data collected from fish surveys. Results show that coral reef ecosystems do indeed follow the S-curve patterns expected from cumulative trophic theory, which is not trivial for tropical reef systems that tend to be less widely examined and strongly dominated by structuring organisms like corals. The curve parameters results are also consistent with both fish assemblage diversity indexes and the benthic substrate ratio, which suggests this measure could serve as a useful ecosystem indicator to measure the ecological status of reefs. Moreover, the curve shape was consistent with what one would expect for different levels of perturbation, with the areas more densely inhabited showing less pronounced S-curves, in contrast to those observed in low human population density islands. All this is reflected in the curve parameters, particularly inflection point of the TL and steepness, generally showing a negative response to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Cross-archipelago differences have also been detected with the Hawaiian Island chain tending to have lower inflection points for biomass and TL than other regions. Collectively our findings demonstrate the potential application of the cumulative biomass approach to evaluate coral reef ecosystems.

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“…To measure fisheries potential, we assess the productivity of any individual over 7 cm, though a growing body of evidence suggests that many reef fisheries are highly size and species selective (e.g. Morais, Connolly, et al, 2020; Rassweiler et al, 2020; Taylor, 2019). Our approach does not measure harvest nor does it capture the impact that interactions between predation and harvest mortality have on fish size spectra (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small‐scale habitat complexity preserves ecosystem services on coral reefs

Beese

Mumby

Rogers

2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Coral reef habitat quality is declining in many locations because of heatwaves (coral bleaching) and other disturbances. Reef‐building corals provide refuge from predation, so declining complexity restricts the transfer of energy to upper trophic levels. We use a size‐based ecosystem model to test systematically the effects of refuge at specific sizes and the impacts of distributions of refuges that vary in size. Outcomes are assessed in terms of ecosystem service provision. Simulations indicate that refuge sheltering fish between 5 and 10 cm in length enhances fish biomass and fisheries productivity, for example, increasing herbivore biomass by up to 80%. We identify and present a range of refuge profiles that can theoretically improve ecosystem service provision by as much as sixfold. Profiles where refuge availability decreases with increasing fish size consistently outrank other designs. Synthesis and application: These results highlight how critical small‐scale refuge is for coral reefs, and how we might design artificial reefs to maximise service provision.

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Standing Out in a Big Crowd: High Cultural and Economic Value of Naso unicornis in the Insular Pacific

Cited by 9 publications

References 24 publications

Demographic plasticity facilitates ecological and economic resilience in a commercially important reef fish

Demographic plasticity facilitates ecological and economic resilience in a commercially important reef fish

Cumulative trophic curves elucidate tropical coral reef ecosystems

Small‐scale habitat complexity preserves ecosystem services on coral reefs

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