Direct versus indirect effects of wave exposure as a structuring force on temperate cryptobenthic fish assemblages

Santin, Selvaggia; Willis, Trevor J.

doi:10.1007/s00227-006-0586-8

Cited by 29 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…data). Direct and indirect influence of wave exposure on blennies has been reported in other areas (La Mesa & Vacchi 2005, Santin & Willis 2007 and on a breakwater near these study sites (Pizzolon et al, 2008), with a general tendency for higher abundance and richness on more exposed sites (La Mesa & Vacchi 2005, Pizzolon et al 2008). We did not find any difference in richness and abundance between our sites, nonetheless the observed differences in species composition may reflect species preferences.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

“…Among the Mediterranean intertidal fishes, Blenniidae is the most speciose family, being represented by 16 species mainly occupying shallow coastal rocky substrates (Patzner 1985, Illich & Kotrschal 1990, La Mesa & Vacchi 2005, Orlando-Bonaca & Lipej 2007, Santin & Willis 2007, Froese & Pauly 2008, Pizzolon et al 2008. Blennies are benthic fish, often showing markedly strict depth preferences (Gibson 1972, Patzner 1985, Illich & Kotrschal 1990, Zander et al 1999, Faria & Almada 2006, Orlando-Bonaca & Lipej 2007, with intertidal species presenting morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations to this environment (Laming et al 1982, Gonçalves & Almada 1998, Sayer 2005.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intertidal and subtidal blennies: assessment of their habitat through individual and nest distribution

Duci¹,

Giacomello²,

Chimento³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Resident and transitory intertidal fish species are expected to differ in their utilization of space in the intertidal zone. Here we assessed fish zonation patterns on 2 rocky shores of the northwestern Adriatic Sea (where tides can range up to 1.5 m) using blennies as study species and distribution of both individuals and nests as methodological tools. Of the 12 species observed, 5 were found exclusively in the intertidal zone: Aidablennius sphynx, Coryphoblennius galerita, Lipophrys adriaticus, L. canevae and L. dalmatinus. Two species, Parablennius rouxi and P. tentacularis, were found only in the subtidal zone, whilst P. gattorugine, P. incognitus, P. sanguinolentus, P. zvonimiri and Salaria pavo were observed in both environments. Nest distribution mirrored individual distribution, strongly indicating that some blenny species can be considered true intertidal residents, spending the main part of their lives in this area. Intertidal and subtidal species showed different patterns of space utilization. Indeed, the former nested higher in the vertical distribution than the average depth at which individuals were recorded, and the latter, despite visiting the intertidal area at high tide, always nested below the minimum water line. These results show that, contrary to theoretical predictions, intertidal-resident fish may fully exploit intertidal habitats, for foraging and for reproduction, occupying even the sectors most distal from the subtidal zone, i.e. the most variable in terms of physical conditions. Moreover, nest distribution was found to be an effective measure of residence and thus a useful referent to evaluate space use in intertidal fish.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intertidal and subtidal blennies: assessment of their habitat through individual and nest distribution

Duci¹,

Giacomello²,

Chimento³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…In turbulent flow, reef fish spend a relatively large amount of time in flow energy refuges (Johansen et al 2007(Johansen et al , 2008. Others have examined the influences of wave motion on the swimming modes of fish assemblages , the composition of reef fish assemblages (Friedlander et al 2003, Fulton and Bellwood 2004, the zonation of prey species attributed to the negative effects of wave energy on benthic predators, especially sea stars, crabs, and spiny lobsters (Leonard et al 1998, Robles et al 2001, and the simultaneous direct (displacement) and indirect effects (habitat structuring) of wave exposure on the distribution and abundance of cryptobenthic reef fishes (Santin and Willis 2007). Here we provide the first quantitative estimates of the direct effects of velocity on individual performance of a prey species, while simultaneously estimating the concurrent indirect effects of waves and turbulence as forces that reduce predator abundance and feeding activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrodynamics influence coral performance through simultaneous direct and indirect effects

Lenihan

Hench

Holbrook

et al. 2015

Ecology

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Abstract. Hydrodynamic conditions can influence the distribution and abundance of aquatic species in many ways, including directly through disturbance and resource delivery, and indirectly by altering environmental cues and species interactions. In coral reef ecosystems, corallivory is an important top-down control of coral populations, while water motion can enhance coral performance via autotrophic and/or heterotrophic pathways. Using a large-scale field assay in Mo'orea, French Polynesia, we measured the extent to which the growth of a branching acroporid coral is influenced by hydrodynamics that deliver nutrients and food to corals but also impede corallivory. We explored two hydrodynamic properties that characterized our study system, mean current velocity and current velocity fluctuation (a measure of waves and turbulence). In treatments where predators were excluded, coral skeletal growth was positively related to mean current velocity, whereas no effect of velocity fluctuations was detected. In the presence of predators, growth was positively related to velocity fluctuations, but no relationship with mean velocity was detected. The major effect of velocity fluctuations was to reduce the attack rate of corallivores by lowering both their per capita bite rate and local density. Corals thus benefited directly from increased currents, probably through enhanced autotrophy and/or heterotrophy, and indirectly from velocity fluctuations through reduced corallivory. Our data indicate that for the coral and locale we examined, the indirect hydrodynamic effect on coral performance via reduction in corallivory was substantial, increasing daily growth rate by 4%. Hydrodynamic enhancement of acroporid coral growth via simultaneous direct and indirect effects can be important for the persistence of coral reefs as well as their recovery following disturbance.

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“…This indicates that the intertidal fish assemblage was comprised of a defined subset of subtidal species. The observed site differences in both subtidal and intertidal fish assemblages in Utría may be a consequence of the degree of wave exposure of the sites, as well as a function of small-scale differences in habitat (Santin & Willis 2007). Wave exposure has been suggested to be a major factor shaping the structure of fish communities (Fulton et al 2005), and although it was not measured in this study, is likely to affect the fish community structure of rocky and coral reef areas of the region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Tidal influences on fish distributions on tropical eastern Pacific rocky shores (Colombia)

Castellanos‐Galindo¹,

Krumme²,

Willis³

2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Direct versus indirect effects of wave exposure as a structuring force on temperate cryptobenthic fish assemblages

Cited by 29 publications

References 54 publications

Intertidal and subtidal blennies: assessment of their habitat through individual and nest distribution

Intertidal and subtidal blennies: assessment of their habitat through individual and nest distribution

Hydrodynamics influence coral performance through simultaneous direct and indirect effects

Tidal influences on fish distributions on tropical eastern Pacific rocky shores (Colombia)

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