Coral reef fish assemblages exhibit signs of depletion in two protected areas from the eastern of Los Canarreos archipelago (Cuba, Caribbean Sea)

PeerJ

article

Zenaida María Navarro-Martínez¹  Maickel Armenteros²  Leonardo Espinosa³  Patricia González-Díaz¹  Amy Apprill⁴ 

[1] Centro de Investigaciones Marinas, Universidad de La Habana;Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México;Empresa Nacional para la Protección de la Flora y la Fauna;Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

关键词: Cayo Campos-Cayo Rosario;    Cayo Largo;    Functional composition;    Stereo-DOV;    Diversity;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.14229

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Understanding the impact of marine protected areas on the distribution and composition of fishes is key to the protection and management of coral reef ecosystems, and especially for fish-based activities such as SCUBA diving and recreational fishing. The aim of this research is to compare the ichthyofauna structure in three areas in the eastern part of Los Canarreos archipelago in Cuba with different management schemes: Cayo Campos-Cayo Rosario Fauna Refuge (CCCR), Cayo Largo Ecological Reserve (CL) and non-protected area (nMPA), and considering habitat differences and depth variation. A total of 131 video transects were conducted using diver operated stereo-video (stereo-DOV) in November, 2015 in backreef and forereef along the CCCR, CL and the adjacent nMPA. We recorded 84 species and 27 functional groups suggesting high complementarity of functions. Several multispecies schools were observed along surveys, which explain the biomass peaks in some sites, mainly for Lutjanidae, Haemulidae and Carangidae. A concerning issue was the bare representation of critical functional groups and threatened species. The effect of sites nested within habitats was significant and the most important driver structuring fish assemblages, while MPA condition was not evident. Favorable habitat features (habitat heterogeneity and surrounding coastal ecosystems) are likely enhancing fish assemblages and counteracting the effects of pouching derived from insufficient management. We recommend immediate actions within a strategy of precautionary management including, but not limited to, the appointment of staff for the administration of CL, frequent monitoring and effective enforcement.

【 授权许可】

CC BY