Seagrass Posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishes
Abstract Although seagrass meadows form a relatively homogenous habitat, escarpments, which form three‐dimensional structures and originate from the erosion of seagrass peat, can provide important habitat for reef fishes. Here, we compare fish assemblages and habitat structural complexity among seag...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4599 |
| _version_ | 1797219418051182592 |
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| author | Oscar Serrano Karina Inostroza Glenn A. Hyndes Alan M. Friedlander Eduard Serrano Caitlin Rae Enric Ballesteros |
| author_facet | Oscar Serrano Karina Inostroza Glenn A. Hyndes Alan M. Friedlander Eduard Serrano Caitlin Rae Enric Ballesteros |
| author_sort | Oscar Serrano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Although seagrass meadows form a relatively homogenous habitat, escarpments, which form three‐dimensional structures and originate from the erosion of seagrass peat, can provide important habitat for reef fishes. Here, we compare fish assemblages and habitat structural complexity among seagrass Posidonia australis escarpments and canopies, as well as limestone reef habitats, to understand the role of seagrass escarpments as reef fish habitat in Shark Bay, Western Australia. The total number of fish species, fish biomass, and top predator biomass were significantly higher in seagrass escarpments and reef habitats than in seagrass canopies due to lower habitat structural complexity and thus becoming suitable habitats for predators and prey in the latter. Both seagrass escarpment and reef habitats host similar assemblages of top predators and carnivorous fishes, such as Epinephelus coioides, Microcanthus strigatus, and Choerodon schoenleinii, that were absent in seagrass canopies. Seagrass escarpments provide an alternative habitat for reef fishes comparable to rocky reefs, which are limited in Shark Bay. Caves and ledges within the escarpments support 13.4 Mg of fish and 3.6 Mg of top predator species of commercial interest within the Shark Bay World Heritage Site. Additional research is needed to further understand the ecological importance of seagrass escarpments in enhancing fish biomass and biodiversity, as reproduction grounds or refuge from predators, and to investigate the role of meadow edges in ecosystem function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:34:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8efae63e52245cdaaac4a3e016ecefa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:33:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8efae63e52245cdaaac4a3e016ecefa2024-04-07T23:33:20ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252023-06-01146n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.4599Seagrass Posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishesOscar Serrano0Karina Inostroza1Glenn A. Hyndes2Alan M. Friedlander3Eduard Serrano4Caitlin Rae5Enric Ballesteros6Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes‐Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB‐CSIC) Blanes SpainBIOSFERA, Associació d'Educació Ambiental L'Hospitalet de Llobregat SpainSchool of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University Joondalup Western Australia AustraliaPristine Seas, National Geographic Society Washington DC USACentre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes‐Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB‐CSIC) Blanes SpainSchool of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University Joondalup Western Australia AustraliaCentre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes‐Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CEAB‐CSIC) Blanes SpainAbstract Although seagrass meadows form a relatively homogenous habitat, escarpments, which form three‐dimensional structures and originate from the erosion of seagrass peat, can provide important habitat for reef fishes. Here, we compare fish assemblages and habitat structural complexity among seagrass Posidonia australis escarpments and canopies, as well as limestone reef habitats, to understand the role of seagrass escarpments as reef fish habitat in Shark Bay, Western Australia. The total number of fish species, fish biomass, and top predator biomass were significantly higher in seagrass escarpments and reef habitats than in seagrass canopies due to lower habitat structural complexity and thus becoming suitable habitats for predators and prey in the latter. Both seagrass escarpment and reef habitats host similar assemblages of top predators and carnivorous fishes, such as Epinephelus coioides, Microcanthus strigatus, and Choerodon schoenleinii, that were absent in seagrass canopies. Seagrass escarpments provide an alternative habitat for reef fishes comparable to rocky reefs, which are limited in Shark Bay. Caves and ledges within the escarpments support 13.4 Mg of fish and 3.6 Mg of top predator species of commercial interest within the Shark Bay World Heritage Site. Additional research is needed to further understand the ecological importance of seagrass escarpments in enhancing fish biomass and biodiversity, as reproduction grounds or refuge from predators, and to investigate the role of meadow edges in ecosystem function.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4599Australiabiodiversitybiomassescarpmentfish ecologyPosidonia |
| spellingShingle | Oscar Serrano Karina Inostroza Glenn A. Hyndes Alan M. Friedlander Eduard Serrano Caitlin Rae Enric Ballesteros Seagrass Posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishes Ecosphere Australia biodiversity biomass escarpment fish ecology Posidonia |
| title | Seagrass Posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishes |
| title_full | Seagrass Posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishes |
| title_fullStr | Seagrass Posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seagrass Posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishes |
| title_short | Seagrass Posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishes |
| title_sort | seagrass posidonia escarpments support high diversity and biomass of rocky reef fishes |
| topic | Australia biodiversity biomass escarpment fish ecology Posidonia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4599 |
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