Seahorse Hotels: Use of artificial habitats to support populations of the endangered White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei

Simpson, Michael; Coleman, Ross A.; Morris, Rebecca L.; Harasti, David

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104861

Cited by 14 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…This abundance might be explained by the type of low‐complexity habitats in the study area, muddy substrate and water depth (Woodall et al ., 2018). The use of artificial structures as habitat enrichment for seahorses, first observed in 2016, has apparently contributed to seahorse settlement in the deployment area, as also documented in other studies (Correia et al ., 2013; Correia et al ., 2015b; Simpson et al ., 2020). In fact, most of the seahorses of both species were found grasping artificial structures ( e.g., ropes) in the study area.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Field studies of seahorse population density, structure and habitat use in a semi‐closed north‐eastern Mediterranean marine area (Stratoni, North Aegean Sea)

Correia

Paulo

Samara³

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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The present study was carried out in the marine area of Stratoni, Greece, where two seahorse species are present (Hippocampus hippocampus and H. guttulatus). Two surveys were conducted (September 2016, May 2019) to gather information regarding seahorse species' abundance, distribution and habitat characteristics. Four different seahorse natural and artificial habitat types were identified. Results revealed that the abundance of H. hippocampus was relatively high, especially at sites with artificial structures, while the presence of H. guttulatus was rare. Data collected can provide baseline information for future population assessments.

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Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Field studies of seahorse population density, structure and habitat use in a semi‐closed north‐eastern Mediterranean marine area (Stratoni, North Aegean Sea)

Correia

Paulo

Samara³

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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“…The presence of swimming nets may provide seahorses with additional habitat in sites where natural habitat is becoming sparse, potentially resulting in increases in population numbers. Additionally, purpose‐built artificial structures have been found to support relatively abundant populations of seahorses in the absence of natural habitats (Simpson et al, 2020). It is likely that increased seahorse production is occurring on the nets with a net result of increased site‐scale seahorse numbers, with no evidence that seahorses are being attracted away from natural habitat.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A lack of epibiotic growth may explain the relatively large amount of time seahorses take to recruit onto newly installed nets (Clynick, 2008; Harasti et al, 2010), and the lack of established growth on the installed nets may explain the slow recruitment of seahorses onto the nets at Fairlight. The abundance of H. whitei on purpose built ‘Seahorse Hotels’ increased over time after deployment, probably linked to increasing growth of epibiota on the habitats (Simpson et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, some artificial structures and reefs have been associated with observations of increased abundance for important marine species (Charbonnel et al, 2002; Zalmon et al, 2002). Purpose‐built Seahorse Hotels were found to support a relatively large population of H. whitei in an area where natural habitat had declined (Simpson et al, 2020), and the presence of artificial structures has been potentially associated with increases in site‐scale seahorse density in other regions (Claassens, 2016; Correia, Caldwell, et al, 2015). Previous studies have observed that swimming nets are inhabited by relatively large populations of H. whitei and may be useful as replacement habitat in areas where natural habitats are sparse (Clynick, 2008; Harasti et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Swimming nets have positive effects on populations of the endangered White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei

Simpson

Morris

Harasti

et al. 2020

Aquatic Conservation

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Habitat degradation and destruction arising from rapidly increasing urbanization represents one of the most significant threats to biodiversity. Human populations are continuing to increase around coastal regions, and as marine habitats are displaced by artificial structures it is important to understand how marine species may be impacted by these changes in habitat availability. The endangered seahorse Hippocampus whitei has been observed inhabiting protective swimming nets in Sydney Harbour, Sydney, Australia, even in the presence of natural habitats. This study tested whether the presence of a swimming net results in increased seahorse numbers at sites around Sydney Harbour, or whether seahorses are attracted away from natural habitats. Density surveys and mark–recapture population estimates were done at sites with pre‐existing swimming nets and compared to control sites where only natural habitat was present. A manipulative experiment was conducted in which panels of swimming net material were installed at two sites in Sydney Harbour, with comparisons to control sites over a period of 14 months (April 2018 to June 2019) to test whether the installation of swimming nets would affect seahorses on surrounding natural habitat or increase site abundance. The pre‐existing and installed swimming nets were found to support greater densities of H. whitei as well as some increases in site‐scale abundance, with no effects on seahorse density on natural habitats. It is likely that increased seahorse production is occurring on the nets, with no evidence that seahorses are being attracted away from natural habitat; however, effects may vary across survey occasions and sites. Furthermore, swimming nets may serve as a useful replacement habitat in locations where natural habitat has become sparse or absent.

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“…It is thus important to determine if the use of artificial structures as a conservation tool does in fact act as a source of individuals for the larger system. In areas where natural habitats of H. capensis have declined and there is no available Reno mattress habitats, purpose‐built artificial habitats (Correia et al ., 2015b; Simpson et al ., 2020) could be trialled to help promote recovery of this endangered species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history and population dynamics of an endangered seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) within an artificial habitat

Claassens

Harasti

2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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Species-specific life-history information is critical for successful conservation, particularly in establishing an accurate baseline status. Obtaining such information is challenging for most species, but in particular for rare and threatened marine species. To facilitate future conservation of the endangered Knysna seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) this study aimed to determine important life-history information for this species. Visible implant fluorescent elastomer (VIFE) tags were used to mark 78 seahorses within a residential marina estate in the Knysna estuary, South Africa, in February 2018. Using a mark-resight approach, the size and movement patterns of the population and growth rate of seahorses were determined over a 14-month period. The closed population estimate for H. capensis, within Thesen Islands Marina, was estimated to be 134 (118-152 95% C.I.

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Seahorse Hotels: Use of artificial habitats to support populations of the endangered White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei

Cited by 14 publications

References 55 publications

Field studies of seahorse population density, structure and habitat use in a semi‐closed north‐eastern Mediterranean marine area (Stratoni, North Aegean Sea)

Field studies of seahorse population density, structure and habitat use in a semi‐closed north‐eastern Mediterranean marine area (Stratoni, North Aegean Sea)

Swimming nets have positive effects on populations of the endangered White's seahorse Hippocampus whitei

Life history and population dynamics of an endangered seahorse (Hippocampus capensis) within an artificial habitat

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