The Distribution of Herbivorous Coral Reef Fishes within Fore-reef Habitats: the Role of Depth, Light and Rugosity

Nemeth, Michael; Appeldoorn, Richard S.

doi:10.18475/cjos.v45i2.a11

Cited by 32 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Friedlander et al 2003, Beger & Possingham 2008, De Raedemaecker et al 2010, Krajewski & Floeter 2011 ever, it also shows that the species' trophic ecology shapes such relationships differently. In agreement with other studies, carnivores and planktivores respond positively to bathymetry (Fried lander & Parrish 1998, Bertoncini et al 2010, Krajewski & Floeter 2011, whereas herbivores and omnivores are also more abundant in shallow and intermediate depths (Friedlander & Parrish 1998, Nemeth & Appeldoorn 2009). Distance to sediment influences the distribution of all trophic guilds, with increasing or highest predictive abundances (or po tential presence) in proximity to soft bottom (ap prox imately 10 m distance to sediment; Figs.…”

Section: Environmental Predictors That Influence the Distribution Of supporting

confidence: 92%

“…Patzner & Santos 1993, Harmelin-Vivien et al 2001, Bertoncini et al 2010) and other areas (e.g. Nemeth & Appeldoorn 2009, Krajewski & Floeter 2011, Richards et al 2012, and indicate that carnivorous species (Coris julis, Labrus bergylta, Serranus atricauda, Sphyraena viridensis) have higher predictive abundances for deeper habitats, whereas herbivorous species (Sarpa salpa, Sparisoma cretense) prefer shallow or intermediate depths. Planktivores responded positively to increasing depth in Hawaii (Friedlander & Parrish 1998), which was also observed for the planktivorous Pagellus spp.…”

Section: Depth-related Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Predictors for habitat complexity, in particular, are known to influence fish assemblages both in temperate (Charbonnel et al 2002, De Raedemaecker et al 2010, Monk et al 2011) and tropical reefs (e.g. Friedlander & Parrish 1998, Nemeth & Appeldoorn 2009, Pittman et al 2009) and, consequently, such variables were calculated in ArcGIS. Despite their apparent importance all were excluded during data exploration because of their correlation with slope.…”

Section: Gam Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depth is a proxy for other environmental variables such as light penetration (Nemeth & Appeldoorn 2009), which influences the distribution and species composition of algae in the Azores (Neto 2001, Tempera 2008. This, in turn, affects spatial and bathymetric patterns for herbivores (Ruitton et al 2000) and species such as Abudefduf luridus and Symphodus caeruleus which use algae for nest building (Porteiro et al 1996, Azevedo et al 1999.…”

Section: Depth-related Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Predictive habitat modelling of reef fishes with contrasting trophic ecologies

Schmiing¹,

Afonso²,

Tempera³

et al. 2013

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The success of marine spatial management and, in particular, the zonation of marine protected areas (MPAs), largely depends on the good understanding of species' distribution and habitat preferences. Yet, detailed knowledge of fish abundance is often reduced to a few sampled locations and a reliable prediction of this information across broader geographical areas is of major relevance. Generalised additive models (GAMs) were used to describe species− environment relationships and identify environmental parameters that determine the abundance or presence−absence of 11 reef fishes with contrasting life histories in shallow habitats of the Azores islands, Northeast Atlantic. Predictive models were mapped and visualised in a geographic information system (GIS) and areas with potential single or multi-species habitat hotspots were identified. Schooling, pelagic species typically required presence−absence models, whereas abundance models performed well for benthic species. Depth and distance to sediment significantly described the distribution for nearly all species, whereas the influence of exposure to swell or currents and slope of the seafloor depended on their trophic ecology. Potential presence of single species was widespread across the study area but much reduced for multiple species. There were no habitats shared by high abundances of all species in a given trophic group, and areas shared by minimal abundances were smaller than expected. Potential habitat hotspots should be considered as priority sites for conservation, but were only partially included in the existing MPA network. These findings highlight the potential of this methodology to support scientifically sound conservation planning, including but not restricted to fragmented and constrained habitats, such as those of oceanic archipelagos.

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Section: Environmental Predictors That Influence the Distribution Of supporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Depth-related Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gam Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Depth-related Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Predictive habitat modelling of reef fishes with contrasting trophic ecologies

Schmiing¹,

Afonso²,

Tempera³

et al. 2013

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is likely, however, that the distribution of herbivorous reef fishes is fundamentally linked to the productivity of their algal diet and associated detritus McCook 1999, Russ 2003), which is related in part to water clarity and its effect on the penetration of sunlight through the water column (Klumpp and McKinnon 1989). Water clarity has been positively associated with the abundance and diversity of herbivorous reef fishes (Williams and Hatcher 1983, Russ 2003, Mallela et al 2007, Nemeth and Appeldoorn 2009 and may be a useful indicator of coral reef health in general (De'ath and Fabricius 2010). While low water clarity may occur naturally in some situations, it commonly signals detrimental anthropogenic influences such as sediment runoff from cleared land and excessive nutrient inputs that enhance algal growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial variation in the functional characteristics of herbivorous fish communities and the resilience of coral reefs

Cheal

Emslie

MacNeil

et al. 2013

Ecological Applications

114

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Abstract. Many ecosystems face degradation unless factors that underpin their resilience can be effectively managed. In tropical reef ecosystems, grazing by herbivorous fishes can prevent coral-macroalgal phase shifts that commonly signal loss of resilience. However, knowledge of grazing characteristics that most promote resilience is typically experimental, localized, and sparse, which limits broad management applications. Applying sound ecological theory to broad-scale data may provide an alternative basis for ecosystem management. We explore the idea that resilience is positively related to the diversity within and among functional groups of organisms. Specifically, we infer the relative vulnerability of different subregions of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) to phase shifts based on functional characteristics of the local herbivorous fish communities. Reef slopes on 92 reefs set in three zones of the continental shelf in eight latitudinal sectors of the GBR were surveyed on multiple occasions between 1995 and 2009. Spatial variation in fish community structure was high and driven primarily by shelf position. Measures of functional diversity, functional redundancy, and abundance were generally higher offshore and lower inshore. Two turbid inshore subregions were considered most vulnerable based on very low measures of herbivore function, and this was supported by the occurrence of phase shifts within one of three subregions. Eleven reefs that resisted phase shifts after major coral mortality included some with very low measures of herbivore function. The fact that phase shifts did not necessarily occur when large herbivores were scarce indicates that other environmental factors compensated to preserve resilience. Estimates of vulnerability based solely on herbivore function may thus prove conservative, but caution is appropriate, since compensatory factors are largely unknown and could be eroded unwittingly by anthropogenic stresses. Our data suggest that managing the threat of phase shifts in coral reef ecosystems successfully will require spatially explicit strategies that consider both the functional characteristics of local herbivore communities and environmental factors that may raise or lower resilience thresholds. A strong positive correlation between water clarity and the species richness and abundance of herbivorous fishes suggests that management of water quality is of generic importance to ensure the ecosystem services of this important group of herbivores.

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