Demographic and reproductive plasticity across the depth distribution of a coral reef fish.
As humans expand into natural environments, populations of wild organisms may become relegated to marginal habitats at the boundaries of their distributions. In the ocean, mesophotic coral ecosystems (30-150 m) at the depth limit of photosynthetic reefs are hypothesized to act as refuges that are buffered from anthropogenic and natural disturbances, yet the viability and persistence of subpopulations in these peripheral habitats remains poorly understood. To assess the potential for mesophotic reefs to support robust coral reef fish populations, we compared population density and structure, growth, size, and reproductive output of the bicolor damselfish (Stegastes partitus) from shallow (<10 m), deep shelf (20-30 m), and mesophotic reefs (60-70 m) across the Florida Platform. Population densities decreased and size and age distributions shifted toward older and larger individuals in deeper habitats. Otolith-derived ages indicated that S. partitus found on mesophotic reefs reach larger asymptotic sizes and have longer lifespans than fish in shallower habitats. Based on measurements of oocyte area and batch fecundity, mesophotic fish also have higher reproductive investment. These demographic patterns indicate that mesophotic fish populations composed of large, fecund individuals produce high condition larvae and rely on longevity of individuals for population persistence and viability.
Department of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
Esther D
ED
Goldstein
Department of Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
Evan K
EK
D'Alessandro
Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR 97365, USA.
Su
S
Sponaugle
Oecologia. 2003 Sep;137(1):76-84
12856204
Science. 2003 Aug 15;301(5635):958-60
12869698
Science. 2007 Dec 14;318(5857):1737-42
18079392
J Anim Ecol. 2009 Mar;78(2):365-75
19007385
Ecology. 2009 Dec;90(12):3478-88
20120815
Oecologia. 1999 Jan;118(1):76-86
20135163
J Evol Biol. 2010 Apr;23(4):724-37
20149026
J Fish Biol. 2009 Feb;74(2):403-17
20735567
Mol Ecol. 2011 Apr;20(8):1647-60
21410573
PLoS One. 2011 May 02;6(5):e16814
21559305
J Anim Ecol. 2014 Jul;83(4):866-75
24252150
Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2015 Feb;90(1):204-13
24673806
Mol Ecol. 2014 Sep;23(17):4226-40
25039722
PLoS One. 2014 Dec 17;9(12):e115493
25517964
Sci Rep. 2015 Jul 21;5:12407
26196243
Oecologia. 1995 Aug;103(3):275-282
28306820
Oecologia. 1986 Aug;70(1):136-139
28311299