Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mediterranean Shallow Coastal Fish Communities Along a Gradient of Marine Protection

• Main Authors: Anthony R. Marshak, Just Cebrian, Kenneth L. Heck, Crystal L. Hightower, Andrea M. Kroetz, Aaron M. Macy, Shanna Madsen, Trey Madsen Spearman, José-Luis Sánchez-Lizaso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
• Series: Water
• Subjects: demersal fish communities; habitat continuity; habitat diversity; marine reserves; Mediterranean; spatial management
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/6/1537

The importance of habitat factors in designing marine reserves and evaluating their performance over time has been regularly documented. Over three biennial sampling periods, we examined the effects of vegetated coverage and habitat diversity (i.e., patchiness) on fish density, community composition, and species-specific patterns along a gradient of protection from harvest in the shallow Spanish southern Mediterranean, including portions of the <i>Tabarca </i>marine reserve. With the exception of two herbivores (<i>Sarpa salpa</i> and <i>Symphodus tinca</i>), vegetated cover did not significantly affect fish densities, while habitat diversity was an influential factor across all three sampling periods. Overall, fish density was more positively associated with more continuous vegetated or unvegetated habitats, and was greatest in areas of highest protection (<i>Tabarca </i>II<i> – Isla Nao </i>site). These patterns were usually observed for four abundant fish species (<i>Boops boops</i>, <i>Chromis chromis</i>, <i>Oblada melanura</i>, and <i>S. salpa</i>). Fish community composition was distinct in the most protected portion of the Tabarca reserve, where it was also most stable. Our findings align with previous investigations of the <i>Tabarca </i>reserve and its surrounding areas, and demonstrate its continued effectiveness in conserving fish biomass and habitat. Together with effective management, marine reserves can facilitate greater species abundance, more stable biological communities, and resilient ecosystems.