Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mediterranean Shallow Coastal Fish Communities along a Gradient of Marine Protection
The importance of habitat factors in designing marine reserves and evaluating their performance over time has been regularly documented. Over three biennial sampling periods, we examined the effects of vegetated coverage and habitat diversity (i.e., patchiness) on fish density, community composition...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1537 |
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| author | Anthony R. Marshak Just Cebrian Kenneth L. Heck Crystal L. Hightower Andrea M. Kroetz Aaron Macy Shanna Madsen Trey Spearman José-Luis Sánchez-Lizaso |
| author_facet | Anthony R. Marshak Just Cebrian Kenneth L. Heck Crystal L. Hightower Andrea M. Kroetz Aaron Macy Shanna Madsen Trey Spearman José-Luis Sánchez-Lizaso |
| author_sort | Anthony R. Marshak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The importance of habitat factors in designing marine reserves and evaluating their performance over time has been regularly documented. Over three biennial sampling periods, we examined the effects of vegetated coverage and habitat diversity (i.e., patchiness) on fish density, community composition, and species-specific patterns along a gradient of protection from harvest in the shallow Spanish southern Mediterranean, including portions of the <i>Tabarca</i> marine reserve. With the exception of two herbivores (<i>Sarpa salpa</i> and <i>Symphodus tinca</i>), vegetated cover did not significantly affect fish densities, while habitat diversity was an influential factor across all three sampling periods. Overall, fish density was more positively associated with more continuous vegetated or unvegetated habitats, and was greatest in areas of highest protection (<i>Tabarca</i> II <i>– Isla Nao</i> site). These patterns were usually observed for four abundant fish species (<i>Boops boops</i>, <i>Chromis chromis</i>, <i>Oblada melanura</i>, and <i>S. salpa</i>). Fish community composition was distinct in the most protected portion of the Tabarca reserve, where it was also most stable. Our findings align with previous investigations of the <i>Tabarca</i> reserve and its surrounding areas, and demonstrate its continued effectiveness in conserving fish biomass and habitat. Together with effective management, marine reserves can facilitate greater species abundance, more stable biological communities, and resilient ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:32:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-72c7d730c2fd4f02baa6b038e39a72b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:32:42Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-72c7d730c2fd4f02baa6b038e39a72b82023-11-20T02:01:39ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-05-01126153710.3390/w12061537Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mediterranean Shallow Coastal Fish Communities along a Gradient of Marine ProtectionAnthony R. Marshak0Just Cebrian1Kenneth L. Heck2Crystal L. Hightower3Andrea M. Kroetz4Aaron Macy5Shanna Madsen6Trey Spearman7José-Luis Sánchez-Lizaso8Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USADepartment of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, SpainThe importance of habitat factors in designing marine reserves and evaluating their performance over time has been regularly documented. Over three biennial sampling periods, we examined the effects of vegetated coverage and habitat diversity (i.e., patchiness) on fish density, community composition, and species-specific patterns along a gradient of protection from harvest in the shallow Spanish southern Mediterranean, including portions of the <i>Tabarca</i> marine reserve. With the exception of two herbivores (<i>Sarpa salpa</i> and <i>Symphodus tinca</i>), vegetated cover did not significantly affect fish densities, while habitat diversity was an influential factor across all three sampling periods. Overall, fish density was more positively associated with more continuous vegetated or unvegetated habitats, and was greatest in areas of highest protection (<i>Tabarca</i> II <i>– Isla Nao</i> site). These patterns were usually observed for four abundant fish species (<i>Boops boops</i>, <i>Chromis chromis</i>, <i>Oblada melanura</i>, and <i>S. salpa</i>). Fish community composition was distinct in the most protected portion of the Tabarca reserve, where it was also most stable. Our findings align with previous investigations of the <i>Tabarca</i> reserve and its surrounding areas, and demonstrate its continued effectiveness in conserving fish biomass and habitat. Together with effective management, marine reserves can facilitate greater species abundance, more stable biological communities, and resilient ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1537demersal fish communitieshabitat continuityhabitat diversitymarine reservesMediterraneanspatial management |
| spellingShingle | Anthony R. Marshak Just Cebrian Kenneth L. Heck Crystal L. Hightower Andrea M. Kroetz Aaron Macy Shanna Madsen Trey Spearman José-Luis Sánchez-Lizaso Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mediterranean Shallow Coastal Fish Communities along a Gradient of Marine Protection Water demersal fish communities habitat continuity habitat diversity marine reserves Mediterranean spatial management |
| title | Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mediterranean Shallow Coastal Fish Communities along a Gradient of Marine Protection |
| title_full | Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mediterranean Shallow Coastal Fish Communities along a Gradient of Marine Protection |
| title_fullStr | Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mediterranean Shallow Coastal Fish Communities along a Gradient of Marine Protection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mediterranean Shallow Coastal Fish Communities along a Gradient of Marine Protection |
| title_short | Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mediterranean Shallow Coastal Fish Communities along a Gradient of Marine Protection |
| title_sort | spatiotemporal dynamics of mediterranean shallow coastal fish communities along a gradient of marine protection |
| topic | demersal fish communities habitat continuity habitat diversity marine reserves Mediterranean spatial management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1537 |
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