Depth and benthic habitat influence shallow and mesophotic predatory fishes on a remote, high-latitude coral reef

Kristy Brown; Jacquomo Monk; Joel Williams; Andrew Carroll; David Harasti; Neville Barrett

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0265067

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Depth and benthic habitat influence shallow and mesophotic predatory fishes on a remote, high-latitude coral reef

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Depth and benthic habitat influence shallow and mesophotic predatory fishes on a remote, high-latitude coral reef

Kristy Brown, Jacquomo Monk, Joel Williams, Andrew Carroll, David Harasti and Neville Barrett

PloS one, Vol.17(3), e0265067

24/03/2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265067

PMID: 35324946

Appears in Recent Faculty of Science and Engineering Publications

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Abstract

Predatory fishes on coral reefs continue to decline globally despite playing key roles in ecosystem functioning. Remote atolls and platform reefs provide potential refugia for predator populations, but quantitative information on their spatial distribution is required to establish accurate baselines for ongoing monitoring and conservation management. Current knowledge of predatory fish populations has been derived from targeted shallow diver-based surveys (<15 m). However, the spatial distribution and extent of predatory fishes on outer mesophotic shelf environments has remained under described. Middleton Reef is a remote, high-latitude, oceanic platform reef that is located within a no-take area in the Lord Howe Marine Park off eastern Australia. Here we used baited remote underwater stereo video to sample predatory fishes across lagoon and outer shelf habitats from depths 0-100 m, extending knowledge on use of mesophotic depths and habitats. Many predatory fish demonstrated clear depth and habitat associations over this depth range. Carcharhinid sharks and Carangid fishes were the most abundant predators sampled on Middleton Reef, with five predatory fishes accounting for over 90% of the predator fish biomass. Notably, Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis) and the protected black rockcod (Epinephelus daemelii) dominated the predator fish assemblage. A higher richness of predator fish species was sampled on reef areas north and south of the lagoon. The more exposed southern aspect of the reef supported a different suite of predator fish across mesophotic habitats relative to the assemblage recorded in the north and lagoonal habitats, a pattern potentially driven by differences in hard coral cover. Biomass of predatory fishes in the more sheltered north habitats was twice that of other areas, predominantly driven by high abundances of Galapagos shark. This work adds to the growing body of literature highlighting the conservation value of isolated oceanic reefs and the need to ensure that lagoon, shallow and mesophotic habitats in these systems are adequately protected, as they support vulnerable ecologically and economically important predator fish assemblages.

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Title: Depth and benthic habitat influence shallow and mesophotic predatory fishes on a remote, high-latitude coral reef
Creators: Kristy Brown - University of Tasmania
Jacquomo Monk - University of Tasmania
Joel Williams - New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
Andrew Carroll - Geoscience Australia
David Harasti - NSW Department of Primary Industries
Neville Barrett - University of Tasmania
Publication Details: PloS one, Vol.17(3), e0265067
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Grant note: This work was funded through the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP) and Parks Australia.
Identifiers: 991013127411502368
Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Depth and benthic habitat influence shallow and mesophotic predatory fishes on a remote, high-latitude coral reef

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