Disentangling drivers of the abundance of coral reef fishes in the Western Indian Ocean.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Understanding the drivers of the structure of coral reef fish assemblages is vital for their future conservation. Quantifying the separate roles of natural drivers from the increasing influence of anthropogenic factors, such as fishing and climate change, is a key component of this understanding. It follows that the intrinsic role of historical biogeographical and geomorphological factors must be accounted for when trying to understand the effects of contemporary disturbances such as fishing.

Location

Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania, Western Indian Ocean (WIO).

Methods

We modeled patterns in the density and biomass of an assemblage of reef-associated fish species from 11 families, and their association with 16 biophysical variables.

Results

Can

SUBMITTER: Samoilys MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6468081 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature