Fish assemblages on estuarine artificial reefs: natural rocky-reef mimics or discrete assemblages?

ABSTRACT: If the primary goal of artificial reef construction is the creation of additional reef habitat that is comparable to adjacent natural rocky-reef, then performance should be evaluated using simultaneous comparisons with adjacent natural habitats. Using baited remote underwater video (BRUV) fish assemblages on purpose-built estuarine artificial reefs and adjacent natural rocky-reef and sand-flat were assessed 18 months post-deployment in three south-east Australian estuaries. Fish abundance, species richness and diversity were found to be greater on the artificial reefs than on either naturally occurring reef or sand-flat in all estuaries. Comparisons within each estuary identified significant differences in the species composition between the artificial and natural rocky-reefs. The artifici

SUBMITTER: Folpp H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3670866 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature