Contrasting effects of mangroves and armoured shorelines on fish assemblages in tropical estuarine seascapes

Christopher J Henderson; Ben Gilby; Thomas Schlacher; Rod M Connolly; Marcus Sheaves; Nicole Flint; Hayden P Borland; Andrew D Olds

doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsz007

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Contrasting effects of mangroves and armoured shorelines on fish assemblages in tropical estuarine seascapes

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Contrasting effects of mangroves and armoured shorelines on fish assemblages in tropical estuarine seascapes

Christopher J Henderson, Ben Gilby, Thomas Schlacher, Rod M Connolly, Marcus Sheaves, Nicole Flint, Hayden P Borland and Andrew D Olds

ICES Journal of Marine Science, Vol.76(4), pp.1052-1061

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsz007

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Abstract

biodiversity

fish community

seascape

tropical estuaries

urbanization

Coastal seascapes are composed of a diversity of habitats that are linked in space and time by the movement of organisms. The context and configuration of coastal ecosystems shapes many important properties of animal assemblages, but potential seascape effects of natural and artificial habitats on nearby habitats are typically considered in isolation. We test whether, and how, the seascape context of natural and urban habitats modified fish assemblages across estuaries. Fish were sampled with underwater videos in five habitat types (mangroves, rock bars, log snags, unvegetated sediments, armoured shorelines) in 17 estuaries in eastern Australia. Different habitats supported distinct fish assemblages, but the spatial context of mangroves and armoured shorelines had pervasive ecological effects that extended across entire estuaries. In most estuarine habitats, fish diversity and abundance was greatest when they were in close proximity of mangroves, and decreased due to the proximity of armoured shorelines. Many cities are centred on estuaries, and urban expansion is often associated with the fragmentation of mangrove forests. Our findings emphasize that these transformations of urban estuarine landscapes are likely to propagate to broader ecological impacts detectable in multiple habitats beyond mangrove forests.

Details

Title: Contrasting effects of mangroves and armoured shorelines on fish assemblages in tropical estuarine seascapes
Authors: Christopher J Henderson (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science and Engineering - Legacy
Ben Gilby (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science and Engineering - Legacy
Thomas Schlacher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science and Engineering - Legacy
Rod M Connolly (Author) - Griffith University
Marcus Sheaves (Author) - James Cook University
Nicole Flint (Author) - Central Queensland University
Hayden P Borland (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science and Engineering - Legacy
Andrew D Olds (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science and Engineering - Legacy
Publication details: ICES Journal of Marine Science, Vol.76(4), pp.1052-1061
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date published: 2019
DOI: 10.1093/icesjms/fsz007
ISSN: 1054-3139
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451220602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries; Marine & Freshwater Biology; Oceanography

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