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The effect of the Jessica grounding on Galápagos reef fish communities adjacent to the wreck site
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 14:17 authored by Graham EdgarGraham Edgar, Marshall, PA, Mooney, PThe grounding of the oil tanker Jessica off San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos, resulted in generally elevated rather than depressed densities of fishes adjacent to the wreck site 15 weeks post spill. Species richness of fishes declined along transects out from the wreck; however, patterns were inconsistent for different depth strata, with the most clearly defined decline evident for the intermediate 5-7 m depth stratum. Fish species attracted to the immediate wreck site, most notably the surgeonfish Prionurus laticlavius, the damselfish Microspathodon dorsalis and the angelfish Holacanthus passer, were considered to be responding either to the heterogeneity provided by the wreck structure or elevated densities of macroalgae. The fish community at the wreck site lay outside the range of variation for other sites investigated in the region; however, contrary to predictions of grounding impacts, the fish assemblage immediately adjacent to the wreckage showed greater faunal similarity to reference sites than did fish assemblage at 60-90 m distance from the grounding. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
History
Publication title
Marine Pollution BulletinVolume
47Issue
7-8Pagination
296-302ISSN
0025-326XDepartment/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Pergamon-Elsevier Science LtdPlace of publication
Oxford, EnglandRepository Status
- Restricted