| 1. |
- Eggertsen, Maria, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
-
Seascape configuration and microhabitat condition shapes parrotfish distribution and function across a coral reef lagoon
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Structural complexity spanning fine to coarse spatial scales can influence the distribution and activity of key organisms within marine ecosystems. The current study shows how both broad-scale (seascape configuration of coral structure) and fine-scale habitat complexity (structural height, number of holes, and macroalgae) can influence the abundance and spatial ecology of reef fishes in a shallow tropical lagoon. Visual surveys, remote underwater video, and field observations were used to quantify habitat characteristics and the abundance, size structure and behavior (rates of herbivory, tortuosity ratios and total distance travelled) of abundant reef fishes. Both seascape configuration and macroalgae influenced patterns of fish abundance and rates of herbivory. However, these relationships varied with fish trophic groups and ontogenetic stages. High levels of hard complexity increased abundance of adult and intermediate-phase parrotfishes, whereas juvenile abundance was positively influenced by the presence of macroalgae, irrespective of the spatial configuration of coral structure in the seascape. Foraging path patterns (directed vs. convoluted) and bite rates of an abundant excavating parrotfish, Chlorurus spilurus, was not influenced by coral structure configuration in the seascape (dense/sparse) or coral structure height (high/low), but the presence of macroalgae increased the bite rates of all juvenile parrotfishes (including C. spilurus). Our results suggest a combination of microhabitat selectivity, fine-scale habitat complexity, and seascape configuration influence reef fish community structure and foraging behaviour, with consequences for the important ecological function of herbivory.
|
|
| 2. |
- Berkström, Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
-
The arrangement of nurseries within a tropical seascape structure fish communities on nearby reefs
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ecosystems are linked by the movement of organisms across habitat boundaries and the arrangement of habitat patches can affect species abundance and composition. In tropical seascapes many coral reef fishes settle in adjacent habitats and undergo ontogenetic migrations to coral reefs as they grow. Few studies have attempted to measure at what distances from nursery habitats these fish migrations (connectivity) cease to exist and how the abundance, biomass and proportion of nursery species change on coral reefs along distance gradients away from nursery areas. The present study examines seascape arrangement, including distances between habitats, and its consequences on connectivity within a tropical seascape in Mozambique using a seascape ecology approach. Fish and habitat surveys were undertaken in 2016/2017 and a thematic habitat map was created in ArcGIS, where cover and distances between habitat patches were calculated. Distance to mangroves, seagrasses and channels were significant for most nursery species and both abundance, biomass and proportion of nursery species were highest in the south of the archipelago, where mangroves were present and decreased with distance to nurseries (mangroves and seagrasses). Some nursery species were absent on reef sites furthest from nursery habitats (80km) and at 8km from seagrass habitats the proportion of nursery/non-nursery species as well as abundance and biomass of seagrass nursery species drastically changed, indicating a threshold distance at which migrations may cease. A similar pattern was found between 3 and 6 km from channels. Threshold distances were found where ontogenetic movement from nurseries to reefs appeared to cease and these distances differed between fish families. Isolation and arrangement of nursery habitats were also found to structure adult fish communities on reefs, highlighting the importance of considering the matrix (sand and deep water) as barriers for fish migration.
|
|
| 3. |
- Eggertsen, Linda, 1981-
(författare)
-
Identification and implications of fish nurseries in tropical and subtropical seascapes
- 2019
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Many species of reef fish reside in specific nursery habitats as juveniles. Seagrass meadows, and mangroves are examples of well-recognized nursery habitats, but only recently canopy-forming seaweeds have been found to provide important habitats for some fish species in the tropics. Availability of nurseries can have effects on the abundance and spatial distribution of adult fish, which is why it is important to recognize key nursery habitats for proper management. Information on reef fish nurseries is largely lacking in the South Western Atlantic (SWA), while information in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) and elsewhere is more extensive. However, more information on the consequences of nursery availability on adult fish populations is needed. This thesis studies nursery habitat use of reef fish on tropical and subtropical reefs in the SWA and in seagrass and reef systems in the WIO. The hypothesis that seagrass and canopy-forming macroalgae meadows function as a nursery habitat for reef fish is tested in the SWA. The aim of this thesis is also to understand distribution patterns of fish arising from the arrangement of the seascape, using a seascape ecology approach, linking patterns to non-reef nursery habitat use (mangroves and seagrass systems). Results showed that spatial and temporal patterns of juvenile reef fish abundance were weak on rocky, subtropical reefs in the SWA (Paper I), while there was a stronger preference for certain habitats on SWA tropical biogenic reefs, especially seaweed beds dominated by Sargassum (Paper II). The widely accepted paradigm that seagrass meadows function as nursery habitats for reef fish was not supported by the results from the study site in the tropical SWA (Paper II). This may be related to habitat availability in the seascape. In the SWA, seagrass meadows are spatially small, fragmented and less complex, compared to in the WIO, where they display high structural complexity and cover large areas. At the WIO study site (Bazaruto Archipelago), the juvenile fish assemblage in the seagrass meadows encompassed a number of reef fish species from a range of trophic groups and families, as well as resident seagrass species (Paper III). Key variables and extent of spatial scales that structure ontogenetic migrations were identified in both seagrass and reef habitats. Fish distribution patterns in the seagrass seascape was strongly influenced by seascape configuration and distance to adjacent habitats, highlighting that not all seagrass meadows are equally productive as nursery habitats. Variables important for distribution patterns of fish were identified, which in most cases were species-specific, and related to life history and functional traits of species. Effects of two small protected areas on the fish assemblage was also linked to geographical placement of reserves in the seascape. Likewise, the adult fish community composition on the reefs was found to be structured by the spatial arrangement of nursery habitats in the seascape, and presence of stretches of sand acting as isolating barriers (Paper IV). Nursery fish species were less abundant on reefs far from nurseries, resulting in differences in community and functional group composition along distance gradients in the seascape. Depending on functional traits of the nursery fish assemblage, seagrass and mangroves can enhance certain ecological functions on reefs. Both community structure and ecosystem functioning may therefore change depending on nursery habitat availability, highlighting the need to adopt a holistic seascape approach in management.
|
|
| 4. |
- Eggertsen, Linda, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
-
Identifying reef fish nursery habitats on subtropical rocky reefs in the Southwestern Atlantic
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Availability of nursery habitats can potentially limit adult populations of reef fish. Suitable nursery habitats are often shallow and located close to shore, and in many cases overlap with anthropogenic stressors and human activities. For proper management of reef fish communities it is therefore important to identify these habitats and minimize conflicts of habitat use in time and space. To identify potential spatial and temporal patterns of nursery habitat use, the reef fish communities on subtropical rocky reefs in the South western Atlantic were surveyed with under water visual census. Surveys were performed in summer and winter months during two years, along a depth gradient on marginal reefs and in seasonal Sargassum macroalgal beds. No clear patterns in total juvenile abundance and distribution were distinguished between seasons, although some families occurred in significantly higher abundances in summer months (Haemulidae and Sparidae). There were large variances in juvenile abundance between the two surveyed summers, with low total abundance in the summer of 2017, which could be linked to weak upwelling in the area and hampered growth of Sargassum. Similar to in other locations globally, climatic events that affect biomass of Sargassum may hence have large effects on fish recruitment also in the South western Atlantic. In general, shallow areas in sheltered bays had higher abundances of juvenile fish, especially when Sargassum was present in these locations. Spatial patterns of acanthurids and labrid scarinae, were more homogenous compared to those of tropical reefs in the South western Atlantic, where Sargassum beds harbor significantly more juveniles than other habitats. We suggest that fish in sub-tropical rocky reef environments in the South western Atlantic have access to less habitat diversity and complex substrate to use as nursery areas, and thus shallow, sheltered and vegetated habitats are critical for many species. Additionally, those habitats are also the most threatened by human uses demanding proper management.
|
|
| 5. |
- Eggertsen, Linda, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
-
Where is the grass greenest? Influence of seascape structure and marine protected areas on fish distribution patterns in a seagrass-dominated landscape
-
Ingår i: Ecography. - 0906-7590 .- 1600-0587.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tropical seagrass beds are critical habitats for many resident- and nursery fish species. While numerous studies have explored factors that structure reef fish assemblages, few have investigated the relative influence of multiple factors at fine- and large spatial scales as well as MPAs on seagrass fish. To understand which are the most important factors structuring fish assemblages in tropical seagrass beds, and how this is related to life history of species, we investigated fish distribution patterns at 20 sites in 13 different seagrass beds across the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique. Using boosted regression tree modelling, we assessed the influence of fine-scale variables (seagrass meadow characteristics) and seascape variables (distance to adjacent habitats) on abundance of four nursery taxa (Lutjanus fulviflamma, Lethrinus spp., Scarus ghobban and Gerres spp.) and two resident species (Pelates quadrilineatus and Leptoscarus vaigiensis). We found that seascape variables were generally more important than seagrass characteristics, and that the influence of different variables was highly taxon-specific. Fish distribution patterns in seagrass-dominated seascapes were related to life history traits of the species; nursery fish taxa were negatively correlated with distance to adult habitats, while resident species occurred in higher abundances far from reefs. Proximity to mangroves was important for taxa that utilised mangroves in addition to seagrass as nurseries. Most seascape variables influenced fish abundances on a large spatial scale (km). The influence of protected areas was taxon-specific, with stronger effects on resident species than on nursery species, with geographical placement shadowing potential effects of protection on fish abundance. Our results indicate that protection efforts in seagrass-dominated seascapes can have varying impacts on fish distribution, depending on the geographical location of the reserve. This highlights the importance of considering seascape arrangement and the ecology of targeted species for conservation and marine spatial planning in seagrass-dominated systems.
|
|
| 6. |
- Eggertsen, Linda, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
-
Where the grass is greenest in seagrass seascapes depends on life history and simple species traits of fish
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. - : Academic Press. - 0272-7714 .- 1096-0015. ; 266
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tropical seagrass meadows are critical habitats for many fish species, yet few studies have investigated the influence of multiple scale-dependent factors and marine protected areas on seagrass fish species of differing life histories. We assessed the influence of fine-scale seagrass meadow characteristics and seascape-scale variables on the abundance of fish in a seagrass-dominated seascape in the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique, particularly examining patterns of nursery- vs. resident species as well as mobile- vs. sedentary species. We found that fish distribution patterns in this seagrass-dominated seascape were dependent on species’ life history characteristics; nursery taxa showed lower abundance in seagrass meadows further from adult reef habitats, while resident species within seagrass meadows occurred in higher abundances far from reefs. For taxa utilizing both mangroves and seagrass meadows as nursery habitat, proximity to mangroves was an important factor. Fish abundances were generally influenced by variables at the seascape scale (km), while sedentary species were predominantly influenced by area variables, and smaller seascapes (<500 m in radius) better explained distribution patterns. The influence of marine protected areas was taxon-specific, with the strongest effects of protection on resident species. Our results indicate that protection efforts in seagrass-dominated seascapes can have varying impacts on fish distribution, depending on the life history of the species present, and the geographical placement of the reserve within the seascape. Further, we suggest that simple species attributes can be utilised to describe generalized abundance patterns of fish in seagrass seascapes.
|
|
| 7. |
- Massei, Karina, et al.
(författare)
-
Analysis of marine diversity and anthropogenic pressures on Seixas coral reef ecosystem (northeastern Brazil)
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 905
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Coral reefs, vital and ecologically significant ecosystems, are among the most jeopardized marine environments in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly along the northeastern coast of Brazil. The persistent lack of effective management and conservation has led to fragmented information on reef use and pressures, hindering the under-standing of these ecosystems' health. Major difficulties and challenges include inadequate data, diverse anthropogenic pressures, and the complex interaction between marine species. This study sought to bridge this knowledge gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of marine diversity and anthropogenic pressures, specifically focusing on Seixas coral reef near Joa similar to o Pessoa city, an area notably impacted by tourism. Utilizing 25 monitoring transects, subdivided into 1 m2 quadrants, the marine diversity was meticulously evaluated through innovative procedures including (a) sedimentological and geochemical field surveys, (b) application of Shannon -Weaver diversity and Simpson dominance indices, (c) cluster analysis, (d) species identification of macroalgae, coral, and fish, and (e) an examination of anthropogenic interactions and pressures on the coral reef. The assessment encompassed three distinct zones: Back Reef, Reef Top, and Fore Reef, and identified a total of 25 species across 15 genera and 10 fish families. The findings revealed the prevalence of brown macroalgae, fish, and coral, with heightened abundance of red macroalgae in the Fore Reef, which also exhibited the greatest diversity (2.816) and dominance (0.894). Original achievements include the identification of specific spatial variations, recognition of the anthropogenic factors leading to ecological changes, and the formulation of evidence-based recommendations. The study concludes that escalating urbanization and burgeoning daily tourist visits to the reef have exacerbated negative impacts on Seixas coral reef's marine ecosystem. These insights underscore the urgent need for strategic planning and resource management to safeguard the reef's biodiversity and ecological integrity.
|
|
