Loss of native rocky reef biodiversity in Australian metropolitan embayments.

Autor: Stuart-Smith RD; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia. Electronic address: rstuarts@utas.edu.au., Edgar GJ; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia., Stuart-Smith JF; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia., Barrett NS; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia., Fowles AE; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia., Hill NA; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia., Cooper AT; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia., Myers AP; OceanWatch Australia, Locked Bag 247, Pyrmont, NSW 2009, Australia., Oh ES; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia., Pocklington JB; Marine Plant Laboratory, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 981-8555, Japan., Thomson RJ; Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Marine pollution bulletin [Mar Pollut Bull] 2015 Jun 15; Vol. 95 (1), pp. 324-32. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Apr 14.
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.03.023
Abstrakt: Urbanisation of the coastal zone represents a key threat to marine biodiversity, including rocky reef communities which often possess disproportionate ecological, recreational and commercial importance. The nature and magnitude of local urban impacts on reef biodiversity near three Australian capital cities were quantified using visual census methods. The most impacted reefs in urbanised embayments were consistently characterised by smaller, faster growing species, reduced fish biomass and richness, and reduced mobile invertebrate abundance and richness. Reef faunal distribution varied significantly with heavy metals, local population density, and proximity to city ports, while native fish and invertebrate communities were most depauperate in locations where invasive species were abundant. Our study adds impetus for improved urban planning and pollution management practises, while also highlighting the potential for skilled volunteers to improve the tracking of changes in marine biodiversity values and the effectiveness of management intervention.
(Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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