TY - JOUR
T1 - Microhabitat selectivity underpins regional indicators of fish abundance and replenishment
AU - Fulton, Christopher J.
AU - Noble, Mae N.
AU - Radford, Ben
AU - Gallen, Christopher
AU - Harasti, David
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/11/1
Y1 - 2016/11/1
N2 - Species with specialized resource use can display strong spatial heterogeneity in abundance according to the availability of their preferred habitats. If these preferences shift with ontogeny, then a wide range of habitats may need to be protected in order to support both adult populations and their replenishment. We explored whether microhabitat selectivity interacts with habitat availability to provide an effective suite of indicators for regional fish abundance and replenishment, using offshore rocky reefs in south-eastern Australia as a case study. We examined generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) in a full subsets approach to infer the best predictors for adult and juvenile fish density in four diverse families (Labridae, Odacidae, Pomacentridae, Serranidae), based on rapid underwater visual surveys across transects (∼500 m2), wave exposures (0.3-1 km), and sites (0.3-48 km). We then examined whether these regional fish-habitat models aligned with the microhabitat electivity of individuals (at scale of <1 m2). Microhabitat selection by reef fishes at the local scale underpinned the most effective habitat indicators for regional heterogeneity in fish abundance, and pointed to critical nursery habitats that support hotspots of juvenile recruitment. Strong species-habitat relationships, such as these, can be combined with broad-scale habitat mapping to assess the potential carrying capacity of focal areas, spatial management zone placements, and nursery habitats that warrant special protection. A number of emerging threats to these key habitat types indicates an urgent need for habitat-based protection and monitoring as a key part of holistic marine ecosystem conservation and management.
AB - Species with specialized resource use can display strong spatial heterogeneity in abundance according to the availability of their preferred habitats. If these preferences shift with ontogeny, then a wide range of habitats may need to be protected in order to support both adult populations and their replenishment. We explored whether microhabitat selectivity interacts with habitat availability to provide an effective suite of indicators for regional fish abundance and replenishment, using offshore rocky reefs in south-eastern Australia as a case study. We examined generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) in a full subsets approach to infer the best predictors for adult and juvenile fish density in four diverse families (Labridae, Odacidae, Pomacentridae, Serranidae), based on rapid underwater visual surveys across transects (∼500 m2), wave exposures (0.3-1 km), and sites (0.3-48 km). We then examined whether these regional fish-habitat models aligned with the microhabitat electivity of individuals (at scale of <1 m2). Microhabitat selection by reef fishes at the local scale underpinned the most effective habitat indicators for regional heterogeneity in fish abundance, and pointed to critical nursery habitats that support hotspots of juvenile recruitment. Strong species-habitat relationships, such as these, can be combined with broad-scale habitat mapping to assess the potential carrying capacity of focal areas, spatial management zone placements, and nursery habitats that warrant special protection. A number of emerging threats to these key habitat types indicates an urgent need for habitat-based protection and monitoring as a key part of holistic marine ecosystem conservation and management.
KW - Conservation
KW - Fisheries
KW - Habitat-based management
KW - Nursery
KW - Recruitment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84975889734&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.06.032
DO - 10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.06.032
M3 - Article
SN - 1470-160X
VL - 70
SP - 222
EP - 231
JO - Ecological Indicators
JF - Ecological Indicators
ER -