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Debunking paradigms in estuarine fish species richness

Waugh, Adam; Elliott, Michael; Franco, Anita

Authors

Adam Waugh

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Professor Mike Elliott Mike.Elliott@hull.ac.uk
Emeritus Professor of Estuarine and Coastal Sciences/ Research Professor, Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies

Anita Franco



Abstract

The comparison of species complements within and between habitats and geographical areas is a fundamental aspect of ecological assessments. However, many influences resulting from variability in sampling and data analysis often hinder the ability to determine important patterns in community structure. The study is based on the hypothesis that using a standard sampling method, an asymptote in the rarefaction curve represents the total (gear-specific) species complement likely to be encountered for the geographical area. Accordingly, an asymptotic species richness estimator was used to predict the full complement of species present within each estuary that could be caught using seine netting. The rarefaction curves and species richness estimator enable the interrogation of two underlying paradigms of ecological species richness: the species-energy relationship and the species-area relationship. This analysis reveals distinct groups which show a significant relationship with latitude and size, although the size effect has a smaller influence. In particular, the species-latitude relationship paradigm holds true in this study while the species-area relationship paradigm only applies when latitude is considered concomitantly. Marine species in particular appear to account for the increased fish species number at lower latitudes. The underlying influence of latitude and estuary size suggests that any managerial tool that explores anthropogenic impacts (such as those used in the European Water Framework Directive) should include these aspects. It is concluded that the analysis gives environmental managers an objective cost-beneficial method of identifying when and where further sampling does not give further information for management.

Citation

Waugh, A., Elliott, M., & Franco, A. (2019). Debunking paradigms in estuarine fish species richness. Marine ecology progress series, 613, 125-138. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12883

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 4, 2019
Online Publication Date Mar 21, 2019
Publication Date Mar 21, 2019
Deposit Date Feb 4, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 22, 2020
Journal Marine Ecology Progress Series
Print ISSN 0171-8630
Publisher Inter Research
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 613
Pages 125-138
DOI https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12883
Keywords Seine netting; Rarefaction curves; Fish species richness; Species-energy relationship
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1270874
Publisher URL https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v613/p125-138/

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