Volume 62

Spatial Patterns in Benthic Composition of Nearshore Seascapes and Implications for Scarid Populations and Fisheries in La Parguera, SW Puerto Rico


Authors
Jeffrey, C. F.G,; Clark, R,; Hile, S.D.
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Date: November, 2009


Pages: 36-53


Event: Proceedings of the Sixty -Second Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute


City: Cumaná


Country: Venezuela

Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems comprise of interconnected habitats including mangrove forests, seagrass beds, unconsolidated sediments, and coral reef and hardbottom substrates, all of which provide shelter and sustenance for fishes that form the basis of important fisheries in the Caribbean. Monitoring of such habitats in Southwestern Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2007 revealed complex spatial patterns in benthic composition that often correlated with the distribution and abundance of fishes. Depth and rugosity of substrates correlated positively with coral cover and taxa richness and influenced the abundance and size-class structure of parrotfishes. Measures of benthic composition were also useful in Maxent predictions of potential occurrence and size-class distribution of scarid assemblages. Benthic characterizations provide the basis for identifying species-habitat relationships, increase our understanding of spatial patterns in the distributions of habitats, and illustrate important and crucial linkages for the successful management of coral reef fisheries and other important marine resources.

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