Potential stocks of reef fish-based ecosystem services in the Kuroshio Current region: Their relationship with latitude and biodiversity

The latitudinal decline of species richness is a general spatial pattern of biodiversity, and it applies to marine species as well. Based on a latitudinal gradient of marine species richness, potential stocks of marine ecosystem services are expected to be higher in lower latitudes through increment in biodiversity. However, little is known about the relationships of the marine ecosystem services with latitude and biodiversity. We estimated the latitudinal patterns and relationships with the biodiversity of potential stocks of three major reef fish-based ecosystem services (fisheries production, aquarium fish production, and recreational diving) at ten coral habitats from tropical to temperate zones in the Kuroshio Current region (8°37′N–33°24′N) using field survey data and information from relevant websites and administrative statistics. We found a latitudinal declin from south to north in potential stocks of aquarium fish production and diving in this region, whereas the peaks of fisheries production were found around both tropical and sub-tropical zones. Our results also showed strong positive effects of biodiversity on potential stocks of the three ecosystem services, highlighting the importance of conserving diverse fish species to sustain multiple services at high levels. Broad spatial patterns of the reef fish-based ecosystem services are useful as baselines for future evaluation of their changes. As the effects of climate change on reef fishes are predicted to vary among different latitude zones, our estimates of the ecosystem services infer specific management and economic actions for the respective zones against climate change.     

Human exploitation shapes productivity–biomass relationships on coral reefs

Coral reef fisheries support the livelihoods of millions of people in tropical countries, despite large‐scale depletion of fish biomass. While human adaptability can help to explain the resistance of fisheries to biomass depletion, compensatory ecological mechanisms may also be involved. If this is the case, high productivity should coexist with low biomass under relatively high exploitation. Here we integrate large spatial scale empirical data analysis and a theory‐driven modelling approach to unveil the effects of human exploitation on reef fish productivity–biomass relationships. We show that differences in how productivity and biomass respond to overexploitation can decouple their relationship. As size‐selective exploitation depletes fish biomass, it triggers increased production per unit biomass, averting immediate productivity collapse in both the modelling and the empirical systems. This ‘buffering productivity’ exposes the danger of assuming resource production–biomass equivalence, but may help to explain why some biomass‐depleted fish assemblages still provide ecosystem goods under continued global fishing exploitation.     

Dietary generalism accelerates arrival and persistence of coral‐reef fishes in their novel ranges under climate change

Climate change is redistributing marine and terrestrial species globally. Life‐history traits mediate the ability of species to cope with novel environmental conditions, and can be used to gauge the potential redistribution of taxa facing the challenges of a changing climate. However, it is unclear whether the same traits are important across different stages of range shifts (arrival, population increase, persistence). To test which life‐history traits most mediate the process of range extension, we used a 16‐year dataset of 35 range‐extending coral‐reef fish species and quantified the importance of various traits on the arrival time (earliness) and degree of persistence (prevalence and patchiness) at higher latitudes. We show that traits predisposing species to shift their range more rapidly (large body size, broad latitudinal range, long dispersal duration) did not drive the early stages of redistribution. Instead, we found that as diet breadth increased, the initial arrival and establishment (prevalence and patchiness) of climate migrant species in temperate locations occurred earlier. While the initial incursion of range‐shifting species depends on traits associated with dispersal potential, subsequent establishment hinges more on a species’ ability to exploit novel food resources locally. These results highlight that generalist species that can best adapt to novel food sources might be most successful in a future ocean.     

Genetic composition of a population of natural common bream Abramis brama × roach Rutilus rutilus hybrids and their morphological characteristics in comparison with parent species

Common bream Abramis brama , roach Rutilus rutilus and their hybrids were collected in the Dobczyce Reservoir in southern Poland in 2006–2013 to study whether it is better for a hybrid individual to resemble and compete with one of its parents, or to minimize competition by having a distinctive phenotype. All hybrids were F₁ crosses and originated predominantly (93·2%) from matings between female A. brama and male R. rutilus parents. In morphometric analyses, a newly defined coefficient, L ₃ = 2·5 (body mass) (L _S × body depth)^?1, which enables forms with similar length–depth proportions but different length–mass relationships to be distinguished was used. Morphometric and meristic characteristics of the hybrids were intermediate in comparison with the parental species, with small but significant deviation towards R. rutilus in longitudinal body dimensions (trunk and tail length) and towards A. brama in body cross‐sectional shape (body depth and L ₃ coefficient). This may result in a more R. rutilus like propulsion in hybrids and a more A. brama like ability to manoeuvre.     

Comparative demography of commercially important species of coral grouper,Plectropomus leopardus and P. laevis,from Australia's great barrier reef and Coral Sea marine parks

Understanding the spatial and environmental variation in demographic processes of fisheries target species, such as coral grouper (Genus: Plectropomus), is important for establishing effective management and conservation strategies. Herein we compare the demography of Plectropomus leopardus and P. laevis between Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), which has been subject to sustained and extensive fishing pressure, and the oceanic atolls of Australia's Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP), where there is very limited fishing for reef fishes. Coral grouper length-at-age data from contemporary and historical otolith collections across 9.4 degrees of latitude showed little difference in lifetime growth between GBRMP and CSMP regions. Plectropomus laevis populations in GBRMP reefs had significantly higher rates of total mortality than populations in the CSMP. Mean maximum lengths and mean maximum ages of P. laevis were also smaller in the GBRMP than in the CSMP, even when considering populations sampled within GBRMP no-take marine reserves (NTMRs). Plectropomus leopardus, individuals were on average smaller on fished reefs than NTMRs in the GBRMP, but all other aspects of demography were broadly similar between regions despite the negligible levels of fishing pressure in the CSMP. Similarities between regions in growth profiles and length-at-age comparisons of P. laevis and P. leopardus suggest that the environmental differences between the CSMP and the GBRMP may not have significant impacts on lifetime growth. Our results show that fishing may have influenced the demography of coral grouper on the GBR, particularly for the slower growing and longer lived species, P. laevis.     

Cryptic diversity and diversification processes in three cis-Andean Rhamdia species (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) revealed by DNA barcoding

The wide distribution of the Neotropical freshwater catfish Rhamdia offers an excellent opportunity to investigate the historical processes responsible for modeling South America’s hydrogeological structure. We used sequences from cis-Andean and Mesoamerican Rhamdia species to reconstruct and estimate divergence times among cis-Andean lineages, correlating the results with known geological events. Species delimitation methods based on distance (DNA barcoding and BIN) and coalescence (GMYC) approaches identified nine well-supported lineages from the cis-Andean region from sequences available in the BOLD dataset. The cis-Andean Rhamdia lineages diversification process began in Eocene and represented the split between cis-Andean and Mesoamerican clades. The cis-Andean clade contains two principal groups: Northwest clade (MOTUs from Amazon, Essequibo, Paraguay, and Itapecuru basins) and Southeast clade (Eastern Brazilian shield basins (Paraná, Uruguay, Iguaçu, and São Francisco) plus eastern coastal basins). The diversification of the cis-Andean Rhamdia lineages results from vicariance and geodispersion events, which played a key role in the current intricate distribution pattern of the Rhamdia lineages. The wide geographical distribution and large size of the specimens make it attractive to cultivate in different countries of the Neotropical region. The lineages delimitation minimizes identification mistakes, unintentional crossings by aquaculture, and reduces natural stocks contamination.     

Mechanisms of embryonic drift in the amphidromous goby,Rhinogobius brunneus

Synopsis We tested the reactions of free embryos of the amphidromous goby, Rhinogobius brunneus, to light under both artificial and ambient conditions along streams in which their downstream migration occurs. The embryos showed a positive phototaxis to 500 1ux light but a negative response to light of more than 5000 lux. They were able to swim at 1.54 cm sec^–1 t in still water and showed positive rheotaxis, but their swimming ability was not sufficient to allow active movement in rapids. Ambient natural light conditions varied among locations in relation to local topographical features. The variation in the diel periodicity of their migration could be explained by the interaction between behavioral reactions of embryos and environmental factors along river courses.     

Length-weight relationships of ornamental fish species from Amanã Lake,Amanã Reserve,Amazonas, Brazil

Length-weight relationships (LWRs) were estimated for 16 ornamental fish species from Amanã Lake and nine tributary streams, in Central Brazilian Amazonia. Sampling was carried out bimonthly for a year (2007–2008), using two sets of four gillnets (20 m × 2 m, 2,5; 3,5; 04; 4,5 cm stretch mesh size); trawls were performed with seine nets (35 m × 6 m, 3 mm stretch mesh size); native fish-traps (fyke-net like fish-traps woven from local lianas), and dip nets (0.5 m × 0.5 m stretch mesh size). Measurements were done for standard length (SL – 0.1 cm precision) and total weight (Wt – 0.01 g precision). This study provides information on the length–weight relationships for all sampled species and, in addition, provides new maximum standard lengths for six species.     

Fatty acids of the scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis: effect of light and feeding

In order to investigate nutritional interactions in the symbiotic scleractinian coral-zooxanthella association, fatty acids of the coral Galaxea fascicularis were analysed in two groups of cultured microcolonies. The first group was fed with Artemia sp., while the second group was starved. After an initial 1-month period during which both groups were subjected to the same normal light conditions (constant irradiance of 125 E·cm^-2·s^-1 and 14:10 h light:dark), a light cap was used to cover the aquarium and keep all the microcolonies in permanent darkness for 20 days. During the light phase of the experiment it was shown that the nutritional status lead to large variations in the percentage of saturated, mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Palmitic acid (C16:0) was the most abundant fatty acid in both groups. Important differences between fed and starved microcolonies occurred during the dark phase of the experiment. In the fed group the dark phase was characterized by a significant increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Particularly arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6) became the most important fatty acid followed by docosatrienoic acid (C22:3 n-3). A slight increase in these two fatty acids was also found in the starved group but the bulk of polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly decreased. In this group, palmitic acid remained the most important fatty acid while an increased concentration of cis-vaccenic acid (C18:1 n-7) was found at the end of the experiment. The increased concentration of cis-vaccenic acid might indicate that bacteria serve as a source of energy. While the number of zooxanthellae per milligram of protein and the chlorophyll a to protein ratio strongly decreased in the starved microcolonies immediately after the beginning of the dark period, the decrease in fed microcolonies was delayed for about 10 days. Furthermore, after 20 days of dark incubation the chlorophyll a to protein ratio was the same as measured at the beginning of the dark period. This suggests that in the dark the metabolic requirements of the zooxanthellae are in part met from the animal host through a heterotrophic mode of nutrition.Abbreviations CZ cultured zooxanthellae - FAME fatty acid methylester(s) - FDM fed dark microcolonies - FLM fed light microcolonies - MUFA monounsaturated fatty acid(s) - PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acid(s) - SDM starved dark microcolonies - SFA saturated fatty acids - SLM starved-light microcolonies - SW sea water - TFA total fatty acids