TY - JOUR
T1 - Demographic and reproductive plasticity across the depth distribution of a coral reef fish
AU - Goldstein, Esther D.
AU - D'Alessandro, Evan K.
AU - Sponaugle, Su
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research under award NA11NOS4780045 to the University of Miami. Additional funding was received from the David Rowland Fellowship, the RSMAS Alumni Award, the Women Divers Hall of Fame Graduate Scholarship, the University of Miami Graduate Research Fund, and the Harry D. Vernon Scholarship. E.D.G. was also supported during this work by the University of Miami Fellowship and NOAA NRDA. Sampling was conducted under permit SAL-11-1343C-SR from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and permit FKNMS-2011-125-A3 from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2016.
Copyright:
Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/9/28
Y1 - 2016/9/28
N2 - As humans expand into natural environments, populations of wild organisms may become relegated to marginal habitats at the boundaries of their distributions. In the ocean, mesophotic coral ecosystems (30-150 m) at the depth limit of photosynthetic reefs are hypothesized to act as refuges that are buffered from anthropogenic and natural disturbances, yet the viability and persistence of subpopulations in these peripheral habitats remains poorly understood. To assess the potential for mesophotic reefs to support robust coral reef fish populations, we compared population density and structure, growth, size, and reproductive output of the bicolor damselfish (Stegastes partitus) from shallow (<10 m), deep shelf (20-30 m), and mesophotic reefs (60-70 m) across the Florida Platform. Population densities decreased and size and age distributions shifted toward older and larger individuals in deeper habitats. Otolith-derived ages indicated that S. partitus found on mesophotic reefs reach larger asymptotic sizes and have longer lifespans than fish in shallower habitats. Based on measurements of oocyte area and batch fecundity, mesophotic fish also have higher reproductive investment. These demographic patterns indicate that mesophotic fish populations composed of large, fecund individuals produce high condition larvae and rely on longevity of individuals for population persistence and viability.
AB - As humans expand into natural environments, populations of wild organisms may become relegated to marginal habitats at the boundaries of their distributions. In the ocean, mesophotic coral ecosystems (30-150 m) at the depth limit of photosynthetic reefs are hypothesized to act as refuges that are buffered from anthropogenic and natural disturbances, yet the viability and persistence of subpopulations in these peripheral habitats remains poorly understood. To assess the potential for mesophotic reefs to support robust coral reef fish populations, we compared population density and structure, growth, size, and reproductive output of the bicolor damselfish (Stegastes partitus) from shallow (<10 m), deep shelf (20-30 m), and mesophotic reefs (60-70 m) across the Florida Platform. Population densities decreased and size and age distributions shifted toward older and larger individuals in deeper habitats. Otolith-derived ages indicated that S. partitus found on mesophotic reefs reach larger asymptotic sizes and have longer lifespans than fish in shallower habitats. Based on measurements of oocyte area and batch fecundity, mesophotic fish also have higher reproductive investment. These demographic patterns indicate that mesophotic fish populations composed of large, fecund individuals produce high condition larvae and rely on longevity of individuals for population persistence and viability.
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U2 - 10.1038/srep34077
DO - 10.1038/srep34077
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84989852659
VL - 6
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
SN - 2045-2322
M1 - 34077
ER -