Loading...
Publication
Temporal variation of rocky intertidal resident fish assemblages – patterns and possible mechanisms with a note on sampling protocols
| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210.17 KB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
In this paper we review the temporal patterns of variation of rocky intertidal resident fish assemblages and
discuss possible mechanisms that may explain these patterns. These assemblages tend to be highly resilient
and stable on an inter-annual basis, but tend to undergo marked seasonal fluctuations, as different species
recruit and reach different phases of their life cycles. Larval supply is usually not a limiting factor suggesting
that post-recruitment deterministic mechanisms exert a strong influence on assemblage organization. At
methodological level, it is argued that traditional destructive sampling techniques should be avoided
whenever possible. It is proposed that a deeper understanding of these assemblages requires more detailed
information on intraspecific interactions between members of each constituent species, and information on
the interactions between limited numbers of species for which mutually influences are particularly strong. It
is argued that size, topography and biotic cover of a pool may provide a limited number of favourable sites
for fishes of a given species and class size so that intraspecific competition, and possibly predation of the
individuals less able to get access to best sites, may explain to a considerable extent the inter-annual stability
and resilience of these assemblages.
Description
Keywords
Fish communities Resilience Rocky intertidal fish Stability Temporal variation
Citation
Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 14, 239-250