Multiple-biomarkers show the importance of blue carbon to commercially important fishery species

Gorman, Daniel; Beale, David J.; Crosswell, Joseph R.; Stephenson, Sarah; Shah, Rohan; Hillyer, Katie E.; Steven, Andrew D. L.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163162

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 63 publications

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“…BCEs are often characterized by elevated habitat complexity which provide suitable quality habitat for prey species that rely upon these for refuge as well as foraging resources for prey themselves (Laegdsgaard and Johnson, 2001;Powter and Gladstone, 2008;Knip et al, 2010). In tropical ecosystems, the carbon inputs from all three BCEs were shown to link to the diet of multiple commercially-relevant species (Gorman et al, 2023). Seagrass meadows, for example, support 20% of the world's largest 25 fisheries (Unsworth et al, 2019), highlighting their value as foraging grounds for larger predators like sharks due to high biomass and diversity of prey.…”

Section: Foragingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blue carbon ecosystems and shark behaviour: an overview of key relationships, network interactions, climate impacts, and future research needs

Dixon,

Gallagher

2023

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Climate change is threatening marine ecosystems and the distribution of species which rely on them. Due to their capacity to sequester vast amounts of carbon, blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs; seagrass, mangroves, salt marshes, kelp forests) are becoming increasingly recognized as key nature-based solutions to climate change. Sharks are mobile species that can exert strong control of food webs and are also key to conservation efforts. BCEs are known to support shark life histories, but the drivers of these relationships remain poorly understood. Here, we highlight two key behavioural pathways directly linking BCEs and sharks (foraging and reproductive activities) and explore the influence of climate on them. Our evaluation of the literature suggested that the physical attributes of the blue carbon plant tissue itself serves as the key link between sharks and BCEs, facilitating high rates of prey biodiversity and a platform for reproductive behaviours. We revealed that shark body size likely has an influence on the nature of these relationships, and that climate may be a modulator of key interactions. We also use basic network theory to explore how ecological information flows throughout BCEs, with sharks as a prominent actor. We identify ways in which future studies can fill knowledge gaps; namely, a focus on smaller endemic species, and empirical assessments between sharks and organic carbon stocks. Maintaining the integrity of these relationships should preserve blue natural capital: BCEs’ capacity to sequester carbon, support local biodiversity, and the role of sharks in preserving resilience.

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Section: Foragingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blue carbon ecosystems and shark behaviour: an overview of key relationships, network interactions, climate impacts, and future research needs

Dixon,

Gallagher

2023

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Suspended Particulate Organic Matter Supports Mesopredatory Fish Across a Tropical Seascape

Moustaka,

Bassett,

Beltran

et al. 2024

Ecosystems

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Understanding the sources of primary production supporting marine food webs is important for conserving critical habitats. However, the importance of allochthonous versus autochthonous production is often unclear. We identify the sources of primary production supporting three species of predatory fish (Lutjanus carponotatus, Lutjanus fulviflamma, and Lethrinus punctulatus) in the Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia. The proportions of mangrove, seagrass, macroalgae, and suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) assimilated by fish of different life-history stages and from different habitats were determined using stable isotopes and Bayesian mixing models. While contributions of sources varied among species and habitats, we found that SPOM was an important energetic resource for both adults and juveniles of all three fish species. Juvenile L. carponotatus and L. punctulatus inhabiting macroalgal habitats assimilated more seagrass- and macroalgae-derived material than fish from coral or mangrove habitats, while reliance on mangrove carbon was generally limited overall. Assimilation of macrophyte-derived material decreased throughout ontogeny for L. carponotatus, while L. fulviflamma relied on a combination of SPOM and seagrass into adulthood. The contribution of macroalgae and SPOM to the diets of juvenile L. punctulatus and L. carponotatus from macroalgal habitats varied spatially but was unrelated to seascape configuration, habitat quality, or hydrodynamic conditions. While mixing models suggested a modest degree of trophic connectivity, cross-habitat trophic subsidies provided by macrophytes play a minor role in supporting the studied fish of either life-history stage. Instead, microalgal production predominantly fuels the productivity of predatory fish in this turbid, macrotidal system.

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Measuring fisheries outcomes from coastal wetland restoration: a review and meta‐analysis

Bugnot,

Gorman,

Steven

et al. 2024

Restoration Ecology

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Coastal wetlands, including saltmarshes, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows, can support fisheries by providing habitat and exporting food and nutrients to adjacent or distant ecosystems. However, there is insufficient understanding about the extent to which wetland restoration can benefit fishery species. Here, we report qualitative and quantitative reviews of literature to evaluate the approaches used to measure or estimate fisheries outcomes of coastal wetland restoration and test for the effects of restoration on fisheries outcomes. Most studies focused on saltmarshes and mangroves, with fewer studies focussing on seagrasses. We found that effects of wetland restoration on fish populations have mainly been assessed for species that reside in coastal wetlands for at least part of their life cycle, while few studies have tested effects on fish populations via trophic subsidies. Moreover, few studies have directly assessed the effects of restoration on fisheries production. Instead, most studies have measured abundances of individual species at restored sites and compared those to undisturbed and/or disturbed areas. Restored areas contained similar fish densities to undisturbed or disturbed areas; but few studies compared restored areas to both undisturbed and disturbed areas at the same time. Overall, we did not find consistent and robust evidence for fisheries outcomes from wetland restoration projects because (1) there were not many studies, (2) the studies reported substantial variability in outcomes, and (3) the density of fish measured at a restoration site is not an accurate measure of the total fisheries benefit as adult fishes do not always reside in the restored habitat.

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Multiple-biomarkers show the importance of blue carbon to commercially important fishery species

Cited by 3 publications

References 63 publications

Blue carbon ecosystems and shark behaviour: an overview of key relationships, network interactions, climate impacts, and future research needs

Blue carbon ecosystems and shark behaviour: an overview of key relationships, network interactions, climate impacts, and future research needs

Suspended Particulate Organic Matter Supports Mesopredatory Fish Across a Tropical Seascape

Measuring fisheries outcomes from coastal wetland restoration: a review and meta‐analysis

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