Deciphering Preferences for Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fish, Using Systematic and Functional Grouping
Global degradation of coral reefs is reflected in the destruction of shelters in various environments and threatens the stability of marine ecosystems. Artificial shelters offer an alternative, but their design could be more challenging due to limited knowledge regarding desired inhabitants’ shelter...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/1/186 |
| _version_ | 1797343263172067328 |
|---|---|
| author | Tamar Shabi Yaron Ziv Reuven Yosef Nadav Shashar |
| author_facet | Tamar Shabi Yaron Ziv Reuven Yosef Nadav Shashar |
| author_sort | Tamar Shabi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global degradation of coral reefs is reflected in the destruction of shelters in various environments and threatens the stability of marine ecosystems. Artificial shelters offer an alternative, but their design could be more challenging due to limited knowledge regarding desired inhabitants’ shelter characteristics and preferences. Investigating these preferences is resource-intensive, particularly regarding small shelters that mimic natural reef conditions. Furthermore, for statistical analysis in small shelters, fish abundance may need to be higher. We propose a method to characterize the species-specific shelter preferences using low-volume data. During a study conducted from January 2021 to April 2022, round clay artificial shelters (RAS) were deployed on an abandoned oil pier to examine a coral reef fish community. We recorded 92 species from 30 families and grouped them into systematic (families) and functional (dietary group) classes. Grouping enabled us to examine each group’s preference, while crossing these group preferences revealed species-specific preferences, which matched field observations. This approach proved effective in profiling the shelter preferences of 17 species while having limited resources. These profiles may later allow the establishment of ecological-oriented artificial reefs. Moreover, this method can be applied to other applications using other shelter designs, sizes, and research sites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:45:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6138825fd6b844c7b4f8dcdb9d64573f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:45:14Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-6138825fd6b844c7b4f8dcdb9d64573f2024-01-26T17:17:52ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122024-01-0112118610.3390/jmse12010186Deciphering Preferences for Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fish, Using Systematic and Functional GroupingTamar Shabi0Yaron Ziv1Reuven Yosef2Nadav Shashar3Marine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Eilat Campus, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, IsraelFaculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, IsraelMarine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Eilat Campus, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, IsraelMarine Biology and Biotechnology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Eilat Campus, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, IsraelGlobal degradation of coral reefs is reflected in the destruction of shelters in various environments and threatens the stability of marine ecosystems. Artificial shelters offer an alternative, but their design could be more challenging due to limited knowledge regarding desired inhabitants’ shelter characteristics and preferences. Investigating these preferences is resource-intensive, particularly regarding small shelters that mimic natural reef conditions. Furthermore, for statistical analysis in small shelters, fish abundance may need to be higher. We propose a method to characterize the species-specific shelter preferences using low-volume data. During a study conducted from January 2021 to April 2022, round clay artificial shelters (RAS) were deployed on an abandoned oil pier to examine a coral reef fish community. We recorded 92 species from 30 families and grouped them into systematic (families) and functional (dietary group) classes. Grouping enabled us to examine each group’s preference, while crossing these group preferences revealed species-specific preferences, which matched field observations. This approach proved effective in profiling the shelter preferences of 17 species while having limited resources. These profiles may later allow the establishment of ecological-oriented artificial reefs. Moreover, this method can be applied to other applications using other shelter designs, sizes, and research sites.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/1/186artificial reefsrestorationshelter characteristicRed Seashelter design |
| spellingShingle | Tamar Shabi Yaron Ziv Reuven Yosef Nadav Shashar Deciphering Preferences for Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fish, Using Systematic and Functional Grouping Journal of Marine Science and Engineering artificial reefs restoration shelter characteristic Red Sea shelter design |
| title | Deciphering Preferences for Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fish, Using Systematic and Functional Grouping |
| title_full | Deciphering Preferences for Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fish, Using Systematic and Functional Grouping |
| title_fullStr | Deciphering Preferences for Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fish, Using Systematic and Functional Grouping |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deciphering Preferences for Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fish, Using Systematic and Functional Grouping |
| title_short | Deciphering Preferences for Shelter Volume and Distribution by Coral Reef Fish, Using Systematic and Functional Grouping |
| title_sort | deciphering preferences for shelter volume and distribution by coral reef fish using systematic and functional grouping |
| topic | artificial reefs restoration shelter characteristic Red Sea shelter design |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/1/186 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tamarshabi decipheringpreferencesforsheltervolumeanddistributionbycoralreeffishusingsystematicandfunctionalgrouping AT yaronziv decipheringpreferencesforsheltervolumeanddistributionbycoralreeffishusingsystematicandfunctionalgrouping AT reuvenyosef decipheringpreferencesforsheltervolumeanddistributionbycoralreeffishusingsystematicandfunctionalgrouping AT nadavshashar decipheringpreferencesforsheltervolumeanddistributionbycoralreeffishusingsystematicandfunctionalgrouping |