Historical ecology and the conservation of large, hermaphroditic fishes in Pacific Coast kelp forest ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: The intensive commercial exploitation of California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) has become a complex, multimillion-dollar industry. The fishery is of concern because of high harvest levels and potential indirect impacts of sheephead removals on the structure and function of kelp forest ecosystems. California sheephead are protogynous hermaphrodites that, as predators of sea urchins and other invertebrates, are critical components of kelp forest ecosystems in the northeast Pacific. Overfishing can trigger trophic cascades and widespread ecological dysfunction when other urchin predators are also lost from the system. Little is known about the ecology and abundance of sheephead before commercial exploitation. Lack of a historical perspective creates a gap for evaluating fisherie

SUBMITTER: Braje TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5287704 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature