The application of predicted habitat models to investigate the spatial ecology of demersal fish assemblages
Benthic habitats are known to influence the abundance and richness of demersal fish assemblages; however, little is known about how habitat structure and composition influences these distributions at very fine scales. We examined how the benthic environment structures marine fish assemblages using h...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Springer-Verlag
2010
|
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11045 |
| _version_ | 1848747700108918784 |
|---|---|
| author | Moore, Cordelia Harvey, Euan Van Niel, K. |
| author_facet | Moore, Cordelia Harvey, Euan Van Niel, K. |
| author_sort | Moore, Cordelia |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Benthic habitats are known to influence the abundance and richness of demersal fish assemblages; however, little is known about how habitat structure and composition influences these distributions at very fine scales. We examined how the benthic environment structures marine fish assemblages using high-resolution bathymetry and accurate predicted benthic habitat maps. Areas characterised by a mosaic of habitat patches supported the highest richness of demersal fishes. A total of 37.4% of the variation in the distribution of the fish assemblage was attributed to 6 significant variables. Depth explained 23.0% of the variation, with the boulders explaining 12.6% and relief 1.4%. The remaining measures (seawhips, light/exposure and solid reef) provided a small (<1.0%) but significant contribution. Identifying components of the benthic environment important in structuring fish assemblages and understanding how they influence the spatial distribution of marine fishes is imperative for better management of demersal fish populations |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:53:19Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-11045 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:53:19Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| publisher | Springer-Verlag |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-110452017-09-13T14:55:44Z The application of predicted habitat models to investigate the spatial ecology of demersal fish assemblages Moore, Cordelia Harvey, Euan Van Niel, K. Benthic habitats are known to influence the abundance and richness of demersal fish assemblages; however, little is known about how habitat structure and composition influences these distributions at very fine scales. We examined how the benthic environment structures marine fish assemblages using high-resolution bathymetry and accurate predicted benthic habitat maps. Areas characterised by a mosaic of habitat patches supported the highest richness of demersal fishes. A total of 37.4% of the variation in the distribution of the fish assemblage was attributed to 6 significant variables. Depth explained 23.0% of the variation, with the boulders explaining 12.6% and relief 1.4%. The remaining measures (seawhips, light/exposure and solid reef) provided a small (<1.0%) but significant contribution. Identifying components of the benthic environment important in structuring fish assemblages and understanding how they influence the spatial distribution of marine fishes is imperative for better management of demersal fish populations 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11045 10.1007/s00227-010-1531-4 Springer-Verlag restricted |
| spellingShingle | Moore, Cordelia Harvey, Euan Van Niel, K. The application of predicted habitat models to investigate the spatial ecology of demersal fish assemblages |
| title | The application of predicted habitat models to investigate the spatial ecology of demersal fish assemblages |
| title_full | The application of predicted habitat models to investigate the spatial ecology of demersal fish assemblages |
| title_fullStr | The application of predicted habitat models to investigate the spatial ecology of demersal fish assemblages |
| title_full_unstemmed | The application of predicted habitat models to investigate the spatial ecology of demersal fish assemblages |
| title_short | The application of predicted habitat models to investigate the spatial ecology of demersal fish assemblages |
| title_sort | application of predicted habitat models to investigate the spatial ecology of demersal fish assemblages |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11045 |