Seagrass corridors and tidal state modify how fish use habitats on intertidal coral reef flats

Jean P Davis; Kylie A Pitt; Andrew D Olds; Alastair R Harborne; Rod M Connolly

doi:10.3354/meps12311

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Seagrass corridors and tidal state modify how fish use habitats on intertidal coral reef flats

Journal article

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Seagrass corridors and tidal state modify how fish use habitats on intertidal coral reef flats

Jean P Davis, Kylie A Pitt, Andrew D Olds, Alastair R Harborne and Rod M Connolly

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol.581, pp.135-147

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12311

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Abstract

habitat corridor

predation refuge

underwater video

mangrove

Identifying pathways that animals use to move among ecosystems has become a focus for improving conservation planning. The function of habitat corridors in facilitating animal movement among terrestrial ecosystems is well established. By contrast, the role of habitat corridors for the movement of marine animals is poorly understood. We used underwater video cameras to evaluate the effects of seagrass corridors and water depth on fish abundance, and the arrival of prey and predatory species on intertidal coral reef flats in eastern Australia. Cameras were placed in intertidal seagrass and unvegetated habitats during incoming tides and recorded fish that moved across these habitats. We found some evidence that fish were more abundant over intertidal seagrass, particularly garfish Hyporhamphus regularis ardelio, striped barracuda Sphyraena obtusata and striped grunter Pelates sexlineatus, but most species did not appear to use the intertidal seagrass as a corridor. Prey fish were generally more abundant at shallower water depths, whereas predators were more common in deeper water, but many species were present over intertidal flats throughout the incoming tide. Our findings show that the movement of fishes across intertidal flats is dynamic, and depends on the species of interest, the composition of intertidal seascapes and tidal condition. Understanding how biotic and abiotic factors interact to influence fish movement and shape patterns in habitat use is a critical challenge for conservation planning in shallow coral reef seascapes.

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Title: Seagrass corridors and tidal state modify how fish use habitats on intertidal coral reef flats
Authors: Jean P Davis (Author) - Griffith University
Kylie A Pitt (Author) - Griffith University
Andrew D Olds (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Alastair R Harborne (Author) - University of Florida
Rod M Connolly (Author) - Griffith University
Publication details: Marine Ecology Progress Series, Vol.581, pp.135-147
Publisher: Inter-Research
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.3354/meps12311
ISSN: 0171-8630
Grants: The effects of sea-level rise on the feeding ecology of coral-reef fishes in shallow water, and the implications for reef-flat food webs, DE120102459, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450526502621
Output Type: Journal article

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

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