Marine reserve networks conserve biodiversity by stabilizing communities and maintaining food web structure

Wing, Stephen R.; Jack, Lucy

doi:10.1890/es13-00257.1

Cited by 19 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For example, C. lepidoptera (butterfly perch), a common prey species of large fish, were less likely to be present in reserves in both regions and were less abundant when present in reserves in the Marlborough Sounds. Decreased density of C. lepidoptera was likely associated with increased predation pressure by large fishes inside reserves (Wing and Jack ). In addition to altering predation pressure, it was possible that fishing may have affected interspecific competition for food and space within the reef fish community (Denny et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The inner waters of Fiordland were closed to commercial fishing as a part of the Fiordland Marine Management Act—2005, and further recreational restrictions were put in place for catch of red rock lobsters ( J. edwardsii ) and blue cod ( P. colias ) in the inner fjords (Ministry of Primary Industries ). Here, we group sites as fished or reserve based on whether they are located within a no‐take marine reserve or elsewhere, as fishing effects were still observed between commercial exclusion zones and no‐take marine reserves (Wing and Jack ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Shears and Babcock , ). However, this relationship has not been as extensively studied in southern New Zealand, primarily because of a scarcity of marine reserves, with the exception of studies in Stewart Island and Fiordland, where there is a network of marine reserves (Schiel , Wing and Jack , Wing et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Regional differences in kelp forest interaction chains are influenced by both diffuse and localized stressors

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

On temperate rocky reefs, overexploitation of high‐trophic‐level omnivores can result in the decimation of kelp forest habitats by releasing sea urchin population networks from top‐down control. However, the local dynamics of the resulting trophic cascades are context‐dependent. Here, we investigate the community‐wide patterns associated with both diffuse stressors and localized protection of high‐trophic‐level omnivores in kelp forest ecosystems by comparing communities among marine reserves and fished areas in two contrasting regions in terms of fishing intensity and land‐based stressors, Fiordland and the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. We find higher densities of the potential sea urchin predators, red rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) and banded wrasse (Notolabrus fucicola), in the Fiordland region, and larger effect sizes of fishing on the exploited fish communities in the Marlborough Sounds. Patterns in sea urchin density were consistent with the idea that high‐trophic‐level species, such as large fish and rock lobsters, regulate sea urchin population density, with lower densities of Evechinus chloroticus observed inside marine reserves, in both regions. Nevertheless, densities of E. chloroticus were generally high (>3 m2) in the Marlborough Sounds, likely above a grazing threshold in both fished and reserve sites. The proportion of habitat where sea urchins were absent was 29% in Marlborough Sounds and 90% in Fiordland. Consequently, we observe 49% barren habitat in Fiordland vs. 70%, and a larger effect of fishing on kelp community structure, in the Marlborough Sounds, where fishing effect sizes and land‐based stressors were more severe. We propose that a combination of diffuse stressors including regional overexploitation of important sea urchin predators, sedimentation, and warming of coastal waters likely contributed to regional differences in the responses of trophic interaction chains to localized reductions in fishing within marine reserves. The present study highlights how physiologically stressed and modified kelp forest ecosystems are more susceptible to detrimental phase shifts at a regional spatial scale.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Regional differences in kelp forest interaction chains are influenced by both diffuse and localized stressors

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…One reason for weaker and mixed outcomes in diversity is that not all species increase-and some decline-after reserve establishment (Micheli et al 2004b). As detailed in this section, community-level responses Variability in species diversity Decrease S: (Bates et al 2014) Variability/turnover in community assemblage/structure Lower S: (Fraschetti et al 2013, Mellin et al 2014, Wing & Jack 2013 Occurrence of nuisance species outbreaks Lower S: (McCook et al 2010) Resistance to disturbance Inconsistent or unaffected M: (Selig et al 2012, Worm et al 2006 Recovery rate Inconsistent or lower M: (Graham et al 2011, Worm et al 2006 Invasiveness Unaffected M: (Burfeind et al 2013, Guidetti et al 2014 a Increase can refer to a greater value (and decrease a smaller value) inside compared with outside reserves (more common) or after compared with before reserve establishment, depending on the study. b S, single study; M, meta-analysis, in which the response indicated is the cross-study average response, which might vary among studies.…”

Section: Community Consequences Of Marine Reservesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine reserves can enhance ecological resilience

Barnett

Baskett

2015

Ecology Letters

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Here we review the population, community, and evolutionary consequences of marine reserves. Responses at each level depend on the tendency of fisheries to target larger body sizes and the tendency for greater reserve protection with less movement within and across populations. The primary population response to reserves is survival to greater ages and sizes plus increases in the population size for harvested species, with greater response to reserves that are large relative to species' movement rates. The primary community response to reserves is an increase in total biomass and diversity, with the potential for trophic cascades and altered spatial patterning of metacommunities. The primary evolutionary response to reserves is increased genetic diversity, with the theoretical potential for protection against fisheries-induced evolution and selection for reduced movement. The potential for the combined outcome of these responses to buffer marine populations and communities against temporal environmental heterogeneity has preliminary theoretical and empirical support.

show abstract

“…Further, differences in the complexity and connectivity of food webs can be directly linked to community dynamics and resilience under stress (e.g. Wing & Jack, ). As a corollary, understanding the sources and fate of organic matter within coastal food webs is a vital step towards understanding both ecosystem function and variability in fisheries production within coastal systems (Friedland et al, ; Ware & Thomson, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic matter derived from kelp supports a large proportion of biomass in temperate rocky reef fish communities: Implications for ecosystem‐based management

Udy

Wing

O’Connell-Milne

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. The relative availability of alternative organic matter sources directly influences trophic interactions within ecological communities. As differences in trophic ecology can alter the productivity of communities, understanding spatial variability in trophic structure, and the drivers of variability, is vital for implementing effective ecosystem-based management.2. Bulk stable isotope analysis (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) and mass balance calculations were used to examine patterns in the contribution of organic matter derived from macroalgae to food webs supporting temperate reef fish communities in two contrasting coastal waterways on the South Island of New Zealand: Fiordland and the Marlborough Sounds. Ten fish species common to both regions were compared, with up to 40% less organic matter from macroalgae supporting omnivorous species in the Marlborough Sounds. The largest differences in trophic position were found in those species exploited by fisheries.3. Furthermore, stratified surveys of abundance and species biomass combined with trophic position data were used to calculate regional differences in the contribution of macroalgae to whole fish communities in terms of density of biomass. In Fiordland, over 77% of the biomass of exploited reef fishes was supported by macroalgae, compared with 31% in the Marlborough Sounds. 4. Surveys of macroalgal density and species composition in the two regions indicated that regional differences in trophodynamics may be explained by a lack of macroalgal inputs to the food web in the Marlborough Sounds.5. The findings demonstrate large regional differences in the incorporation of benthic and pelagic sources of organic matter to food webs supporting reef fish communities, highlighting the need for ecosystem-based approaches to management to recognize spatial variability in primary production supporting coastal food webs.

show abstract

Marine reserve networks conserve biodiversity by stabilizing communities and maintaining food web structure

Cited by 19 publications

References 28 publications

Regional differences in kelp forest interaction chains are influenced by both diffuse and localized stressors

Regional differences in kelp forest interaction chains are influenced by both diffuse and localized stressors

Marine reserves can enhance ecological resilience

Organic matter derived from kelp supports a large proportion of biomass in temperate rocky reef fish communities: Implications for ecosystem‐based management

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About