Feng-shui under the sea: Optimal microhabitat for coral trout recruits
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The preferable microhabitats for coral trout recruits and the application of this preferred region (recruitment hotspots) for marine reserves
Feng-shui under the sea: Optimal microhabitat for coral trout recruits
- 1. ¡®Feng-Shui¡¯ Under The Sea optimal microhabitat for coral trout recruits Coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) is one of the important recreational/commercial fishery species in coral reefs. Identifying and locating the optimal microhabitat for coral trout recruits and the microhabitat (recruitment hotspots) could potentially increase the efficacy of marine reserves. AIMS: To (i) characterize the preferred microhabitat, (ii) examine the finding and (iii) test the efficacy of Microhabitat Selection of Coral Trout marine reserves with hotspots. (Experimental Manipulation) Duo-Microhabitat Preference of Coral Live coral Live Coral Dead Coral 60 Rubble Rubble Trout (Field Survey) n= 25 Macro-algae Dead coral Macro Algae Sand 40 Recruits (<15cmTL) 50 a a a Subadult (15-35cmTL) ab a Occupancy (%) Adult (>35cmTL) a 30 40 a Occupancy (%) ab 30 20 ab b 20 bc bc 10 10 c 0 b c Corymbose Tubular MacroAlgae Corymbose Tubular MacroAlgae 0 Acropora Acropora Acropora Acropora Arborescent Dead branch Rubble Arborescent Dead branch Day 0 Day 1 Day 2 Acropora coral Loose substrata /sand Acropora coral Consolidated substrata Live coral (Acropora) and dead coral are both favoured microhabitats for coral trout recruits. However, from field Corymbose and arborescent Acropora on observations, only live Acropora with sandy substratum (aka the loose substrata (sand) are the favoured beach house) had higher prey availability? habitat for coral trout recruits ? :Prey availability was compared among live & dead coral on loose & solid substrata. (aka ¡°Beach house¡± hypothesis?) Journal article is in review. ?:Beach house hypothesis firstly was proposed by authors at Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference 2009 to illustrate the importance of sand substratum in habitat choice Recruitment Hotspots (Good Feng- Shui) for Coral Trout at Great Keppels ? Q: Could these recruitment hotspots improve ? the efficacy of marine reserves for sustainable Australia fisheries? Short answer: NORTH KEPPEL IS. Queensland 1-5 6-10 YES!!¡ì (42), but¡ Bad Feng-shui 11-20 Many factors simultaneously influence the efficacy of 21-50 Area with abundant 51- ¡°beach houses¡± Good Feng-shui marine reserves, further studies with multifactorial design MIAL IS. MIDDLE IS. are needed. Recruitment hotspots are consistent GREAT KEPPEL IS. ¡ì : Reserves with recruitment hotspots show a 3-4 times higher numbers in subadult and adult than other reserves without hotspots. Journal article is in prepare. with places that have more specific HALFWAY IS. duo-microhabitat (aka beach house) 0.80.4 0 0.8 1.6 2.4 3.2 HUMPY IS. Take Home Message during 2008 & 2009 Recruitment hotpots (with beach house) Kilometers Abundance of coral trout recruits shown above was collected from 2009. Size of each circle represents the numbers collected are critical for local population of coral trout. SCAN ME!! Possible damage on recruitment hotspots Authors: Colin Wen*, M. Pratchett, G. Almany, G. Jones might lead to population decline. Colin is doing his PhD in marine biology (JCU). He is keen to become an underwater ¡°Feng-Shui master¡± to identify the optimal/favoured microhabitat for fishery important species. Ultimately these information could be used to achieve sustainable coral reefs Design of marine reserves should incorporate fisheries. Data presented in this poster is from his thesis and publication. Updated personal information and publication can be accessed from QR code (left). recruitment hotpots