Marine reserve site selection along the Abel Tasman National Park coast, New Zealand: Consideration of subtidal rocky communities

Abstract

ABSTRACT1. At present, marine reserves do not represent the full range of community types throughout New Zealand.2. To assist with the placement of a marine reserve along the Abel Tasman National Park coast (northern South Island), dominant subtidal laminarian and fucoid algae, echinoids and herbivorous molluscs were quantitatively investigated. Results from 100 quadrats collected from 19 random transects at six selected sites showed that algae and grazer assemblages varied between granite and limestone substrata.3. Granite had a high percentage cover of crustose coralline algae (mean 82%-9O%), a sublittoral fringe of brown macroalgae and no Ecklonia radiata or red foliose algae. Limestone sites were distinguished by a relatively low percentage cover of coralline algae (mean 13%) and high cover of foliose red algae and E. radiata (2%-36% cover and 0.2-13.9 stipes m-2, respectively).4. On limestone, molluscs Turbo smaragdus and Cookia sulcata, and the echinoid Evechinus chloroticus were larger than those on granite. On limestone sites with little macroalgae, herbivore size was intermediate. Grazers were more abundant on granite than limestone (mean 34.6 m-2, and 10.8 m-2 respectively).5. Differences in herbivore composition were recorded between granite substrata, while both algal and herbivore composition varied between limestone sites. 6. We suggest that a variety of environmental factors including substratum influence algal and herbivore assemblages along the Abel Tasman coast. 7.It is recommended that selection of a marine reserve site or sites along the coast of Abel Tasman National Park recognizes differences in community structure both between and within limestone and granite substrata.

Effects of marine reserve protection on spiny lobster (Jasus edwardsii) abundance and size at Tonga Island Marine Reserve, New Zealand

“…It has been a marine reserve since November 1993, covers 1835 ha, and extends 10.5 km alongshore and 1852 m offshore (1 nautical mile) (Department of Conservation, 2001b). The subtidal environment has been described in Davidson and Chadderton (1994). Briefly, the reef comprises granite boulders up to 5 m high, which provide extremely high rugosity and the reef slopes to meet muddy sand at depths of about 12-15 m in most areas.…”

“…The creation of numerous marine reserves throughout New Zealand has offered the opportunity to investigate the populations of many species in unharvested situations (Creese and Cole, 1995;Department of Conservation, 2001a). Few published studies from marine reserves in more southern areas exist (but see Davidson and Chadderton, 1994;Cole et al, 2000;Davidson, 2001) despite there being six reserves in the South Island (Creese and Cole, 1995;Department of Conservation, 2001a). Comparisons of reserve effects among areas for the same species are rare (but see Edgar and Barrett, 1999;Kelly et al, 2000).…”

Effects of sea urchin(Evechinus chloroticus)grazing in Dusky Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand

“…Twenty-four years later, Davidson & Chadderton (1994) reported the persistence of this pattern at Kaiteriteri, and its presence more widely from granite shorelines of the Abel Tasman coastline. However, on the neighbouring limestone shorelines, with the same Evechinus densities (but lower numbers of herbivorous gastropods), the rocky reef was covered in a mixed algal community dominated by Ecklonia and foliose red algae.…”

Associations of benthic fauna with different rock types, and evidence of changing effects during succession

“…Associations between specific species assemblages and rock types occur in many marine habitats at scales that encompass different geographical locations (Davidson & Chadderton 1994, Bavestrello et al 2000, Guidetti et al 2004, Green et al 2012, Liversage & Benkendorff 2013. Similar associations may occur in these South Australian reefs, in which case we would expect that assemblages on control boulders in siltstone and limestone reefs would be significantly different.…”

“…However, evidence for an effect of rock type on benthic species is sparse. Some studies have found associations between biotic structure and rock type at scales encompassing different geographical locations (Vermeij 1971, Raimondi 1988, Davidson & Chadderton 1994, Holmes et al 1997, Bavestrello et al 2000, Guidetti & Cattaneo-Vietti 2002, Schiaparelli et al 2003, Guidetti et al 2004, Herbert & Hawkins 2006, Green et al 2012). The associations found at this scale, however, have rarely been confirmed at the boulder scale (e.g.…”