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Linkage between fish functional groups and coral reef benthic habitat composition in the Western Indian Ocean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2016

Kennedy Osuka Open the ORCID record for Kennedy Osuka [Opens in a new window] ,
Marc Kochzius ,
Ann Vanreusel ,
David Obura  and
Melita Samoilys
Kennedy Osuka*
Affiliation:
CORDIO East Africa, #9 Kibaki Flats, Kenyatta Beach, P.O. Box 10135, Mombasa 80101, Kenya Marine Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Marc Kochzius
Affiliation:
Marine Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Ann Vanreusel
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Gent, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Gent, Belgium
David Obura
Affiliation:
CORDIO East Africa, #9 Kibaki Flats, Kenyatta Beach, P.O. Box 10135, Mombasa 80101, Kenya
Melita Samoilys
Affiliation:
CORDIO East Africa, #9 Kibaki Flats, Kenyatta Beach, P.O. Box 10135, Mombasa 80101, Kenya
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: K. Osuka, CORDIO East Africa, #9 Kibaki Flats, Kenyatta Beach, P.O. Box 10135, Mombasa 80101, Kenya email: kosuka@cordioea.net
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Abstract

Benthic habitat composition is a key factor that structures assemblages of coral reef fishes. However, natural and anthropogenic induced disturbances impact this relationship. This study investigates the link between benthic habitat composition and fish functional groups in four countries in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Benthic composition of 32 sites was quantified visually from percentage cover of hard and soft corals, rubble, turf, fleshy and crustose coralline algae. At each site, abundance of 12 coral-associated fish functional groups in 50 × 5 m transects was determined. Cluster analysis characterized reefs based on benthic cover and revealed five habitat types (A, B, C, D and E) typified by decreasing cover of hard corals, increasing cover of turf and/or fleshy algae and differences in benthic diversity. Habitat type A was present in all four countries. Other habitats types showed geographic affiliations: notably Comoros sites clustered in either habitats B or E, northern Madagascar had B, C and D type habitats, whereas sites in central Tanzania and northern Mozambique had habitats D and E. Fish functional groups showed significant linkages with some habitat types. The abundances of corallivores, invertivores, detritivores and grazers were higher in habitat B, whereas planktivores and small excavators showed lower abundances in the same habitat. These linkages between benthic habitat types and fish functional groups are important in informing priority reefs that require conservation and management planning.

Keywords

Ecosystem functionalityreef resilience managementSIMPROFspatial characterizationphase-shifts
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 98 , Issue 2 , March 2018 , pp. 387 - 400
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2016 

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