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Depth and benthic habitat influence shallow and mesophotic predatory fishes on a remote, high-latitude coral reef
Citation
Brown, K and Monk, J and Williams, J and Carroll, A and Harasti, D and Barrett, N, Depth and benthic habitat influence shallow and mesophotic predatory fishes on a remote, high-latitude coral reef, PLoS ONE, 17, (3) Article e0265067. ISSN 1932-6203 (2022) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2022 Brown et al. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
DOI: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0265067
Abstract
Predatory fishes on coral reefs continue to decline globally despite playing key roles in ecosystem
functioning. Remote atolls and platform reefs provide potential refugia for predator
populations, but quantitative information on their spatial distribution is required to establish
accurate baselines for ongoing monitoring and conservation management. Current knowledge
of predatory fish populations has been derived from targeted shallow diver-based surveys
(<15 m). However, the spatial distribution and extent of predatory fishes on outer
mesophotic shelf environments has remained under described. Middleton Reef is a remote,
high-latitude, oceanic platform reef that is located within a no-take area in the Lord Howe
Marine Park off eastern Australia. Here we used baited remote underwater stereo video to
sample predatory fishes across lagoon and outer shelf habitats from depths 0–100 m,
extending knowledge on use of mesophotic depths and habitats. Many predatory fish demonstrated
clear depth and habitat associations over this depth range. Carcharhinid sharks
and Carangid fishes were the most abundant predators sampled on Middleton Reef, with
five predatory fishes accounting for over 90% of the predator fish biomass. Notably, Galapagos
shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) and the protected black rockcod (Epinephelus daemelii)
dominated the predator fish assemblage. A higher richness of predator fish species
was sampled on reef areas north and south of the lagoon. The more exposed southern
aspect of the reef supported a different suite of predator fish across mesophotic habitats relative
to the assemblage recorded in the north and lagoonal habitats, a pattern potentially
driven by differences in hard coral cover. Biomass of predatory fishes in the more sheltered
north habitats was twice that of other areas, predominantly driven by high abundances of
Galapagos shark. This work adds to the growing body of literature highlighting the conservation
value of isolated oceanic reefs and the need to ensure that lagoon, shallow and mesophotic
habitats in these systems are adequately protected, as they support vulnerable
ecologically and economically important predator fish assemblages.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Elizabeth Middleton Reef, Lord Howe, coral, fish, black cod, Galapagos shark, BRUV, biodiversity |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Marine systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Rehabilitation or conservation of marine environments |
| UTAS Author: | Brown, K (Ms Kristy Brown) |
| UTAS Author: | Monk, J (Dr Jacquomo Monk) |
| UTAS Author: | Williams, J (Dr Joel Williams) |
| UTAS Author: | Barrett, N (Associate Professor Neville Barrett) |
| ID Code: | 149409 |
| Year Published: | 2022 |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2022-03-29 |
| Last Modified: | 2022-10-19 |
| Downloads: | 10 View Download Statistics |
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