Spatial and temporal variation in assemblages of Lutjanidae, Lethrinidae and associated fish species among mid-continental shelf reefs in the central Great Barrier Reef

Authors

Stephen J. Newman, Department of Fisheries, Western AustraliaFollow
David McB. Williams, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-15-2001

Journal Title

Marine & Freshwater Research

ISSN

Print: 1323-1650 Electronic: 1448-6059

Keywords

Demersal reef fish, Snappers, Emperors, Visual census, Fish traps

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Behavior and Ethology | Biodiversity | Environmental Monitoring | Marine Biology | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Population Biology | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Abstract

Visual censuses were used to survey shallow-water assemblages of the Lutjanidae and Lethrinidae among three mid-continental shelf reefs, and fish traps were used to survey deeper water assemblages below diveable depths. Significant differences were found in visual censuses of the Lutjanidae and Lethrinidae among reefs. Trap catches of the Lutjanidae and Lethrinidae varied more between depths and diel sampling periods than among reefs or over time. Lutjanus carponotatus, L. fulviflamma and Lethrinus miniatus were more abundant in shallow trap sets, whereas Lutjanus adetii, L. russelli, L. sebae, L. vitta, Gymnocranius audleyi, Lethrinus sp.2 and Abalistes stellaris were more abundant in deeper sets. Additionally, Lutjanus adetii, L. fulviflamma, L. quinquelineatus, L. russelli, L. sebae, L. vitta and Lethrinus miniatus were more abundant at night, whereas Lethrinus sp. 2, Abalistes stellaris and Plectropomus leopardus were more abundant during the day. The absence of significant temporal variation in the observed spatial patterns both among reefs and between depths indicates that these patterns may persist through time. The use of both visual censuses and fish traps to assess reef fish assemblages may provide an objective way of repeatedly censusing reefs for monitoring purposes, especially where differences among reefs and regions are important.

Recommended Citation

Newman Stephen J. Williams David McB. (2001) Spatial and temporal variation in assemblages of Lutjanidae, Lethrinidae and associated fish species among mid-continental shelf reefs in the central Great Barrier Reef. Marine and Freshwater Research 52, 843-851. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF99131