ORCID Profile
0000-0002-7600-410X
Current Organisation
James Cook University
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-08-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-12-2018
DOI: 10.1111/JFB.13848
Abstract: The variability in reef-fish species assemblages was examined at three geographic locations in the Philippines (Apo, Abra and Patn), each showing varying levels of disturbances (low to high) at two depths, shallow-water reef (SWR 8-20 m) and the upper mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCE 30-35 m). Fish species assemblages varied among locations and between depths. Differences in fish assemblages among locations corresponded to the variability in benthic assemblages and levels of disturbances, wherein locations with higher coral cover and less disturbances had the highest fish species richness, abundance and biomass. Variation in fish assemblages between depths was also associated with changes in benthic assemblages and possibly inaccessibility to local fishing techniques. Fish species richness decreased with depth in all locations, but biomass increased only in the MCEs of Apo and Abra, which is a similar pattern exhibited in many MCEs. Our results suggest that despite location differences, depth had a relatively consistent influence on fish species assemblages, particularly in locations exposed to low and intermediate disturbance. Under high disturbance, MCEs exhibit similar vulnerability to SWRs.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.MARENVRES.2019.104772
Abstract: Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have received increasing attention in recent years in recognition of their unique bio ersity and also their potential importance as refuges from disturbance events. However, knowledge of the composition of MCEs and how they vary in space is lacking in many regions, particularly the Coral Triangle bio ersity hotspot. Here, we compared the benthic components and coral genera composition between shallow-water reefs (SWRs, 8-13 m depth) and upper MCEs (30-40 m) in four locations in the Philippines that are exposed to differing environmental conditions. Coral cover, abundance, and generic ersity were lower in MCEs than SWRs at three of the four locations. Benthic composition and coral generic composition also varied significantly among locations for both shallow and deep sites. Differences in benthic composition among sites was due primarily to variation in hard corals, macroalgae, sand and silt, while variation in coral assemblage was due to differences in abundance of encrusting Porites, branching Acropora, branching Seriatopora. Our results showed that the composition of MCE communities varied significantly from adjacent shallow reefs, but also among MCEs in differing geographic locations. Furthermore, our results suggest disturbances affecting shallow-water reefs, particularly sedimentation, also negatively impact MCEs, and that depth therefore provides no potential refuge from these disturbances. We recommend that conservation of MCEs consider spatial variability in community composition among sites, and urge further research to better understand the spatial variation in the composition of MCE communities in the Philippines.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1111/REC.13091
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-09-2019
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 25-06-2019
DOI: 10.1017/S0025315419000456
Abstract: The South China Sea (SCS) is a bio ersity hotspot, however, most bio ersity surveys in the region are confined to shallow water reefs. Here, we studied the benthic habitat and fish assemblages in the upper mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs 30–40 m) and SWRs (8–22 m) at three geographic locations (Luzon Strait Palawan and the Kalayaan Group of Islands) in the eastern SCS (also called the West Philippine Sea) using er-based survey methods. Mean coral genera and fish species richness ranged from 17–25 (per 25 m 2 ) and 11–17 (per 250 m 2 ) in MCEs, respectively although none of these were novel genera/species. Coral and fish assemblages were structured more strongly by location than by depth. Location differences were associated with the variability in benthic composition, wherein locations with higher hard coral cover had higher coral genera richness and abundance. Locations with higher algae and sand cover had higher ersity and density of fish herbivores and benthic invertivores. Fishing efforts may also have contributed to among-location differences as the highly exploited location had the lowest fish biomass. The low variation between depths may be attributed to the similar benthic composition at each location, the interconnectivity between depths due to hydrological conditions, fish motility, and the common fishing gears used in the Philippines that can likely extend beyond SWRs. Results imply that local-scale factors and anthropogenic disturbances probably d en across-depth structuring in coral genera and fish species assemblages.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2020
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 29-12-2022
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-2388376/V1
Abstract: Climate change is perhaps the greatest threat to coral reefs worldwide. However, there is spatial variation in the extent and severity of this disturbance, with offshore and well-managed reefs presumed to minimize the consequences. In this study, fish and benthic communities at the offshore and well-managed reefs of Apo Reef Natural Park, Philippines was examined during (2016), 2 years (2018) and 3 years (2019) after bleaching disturbance. Fish and benthic surveys were conducted on scuba at 5 sites at depths of 8-10m. Results showed that benthic communities varied more strongly with year attributed to changes in the benthic cover of coral. These changes were also influenced by site, with some sites experiencing coral loss of 41–48%, while at other sites there were minimal changes. These site differences were associated with the cover of coral pre-bleaching, with higher cover prior to the disturbance contributing to larger losses. Fish communities varied more with sites associated with differences in the predominant benthos among sites. The stability of fish communities with year despite coral loss may be attributed to the variable loss of coral cover among sites. For sites that experienced high losses of coral cover, the presence of alternative and/or deeper habitats may have provided shelter and food for fishes maintaining taxonomic composition within sites. This study shows that bleaching disturbance circumvents localized protection, but impacts are variable even at small (≤ 3km) spatial scales. Community composition pre-bleaching and alternative habitats seem to buffer against the consequences of bleaching disturbance.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2020
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 24-10-2017
DOI: 10.1101/208397
Abstract: We analyze the number of marine fish species as a function of fish body size and occurrence depth. For this purpose, we analyze the FishBase database. We compare these data to predictions of fish species numbers derived from the neutral theory of bio ersity combined with well-established ecological scaling laws, and measured oceanic biomass data. We consider several variants of these scaling laws, and we find that more large fish species exist compared to the prediction, which is especially true for elasmobranchs, possibly due to their overwhelmingly predatory niches. We find species numbers decreasing with occurrence depth somewhat quicker than our predictions based on the decrease of the number of in iduals with depth indicates. This is especially true for the elasmobranchs. This is unsurprising, since the in iduals versus depth data did not specifically determine elasmobranch biomass, and since sharks are known to be limited to depths 3,000 m. Finally, we discuss how a reduced rate of speciation in larger animals could explain why large species are rare, in spite of the advantages of large body sizes outlined in Cope’s rule.
No related grants have been discovered for Timothy Joseph Quimpo.