Fish biodiversity patterns of a mesophotic-to-subphotic artificial reef complex and comparisons with natural substrates

PLoS One. 2020 Apr 24;15(4):e0231668. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231668. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Artificial reefs act as high-rugosity habitats and are often deployed to enhance fishing; however, the effects of man-made features on fish communities can be unpredictable and are poorly understood in deeper waters. In this study, we used a submersible to describe a deep-water artificial reef complex (93-245 m) off of Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, USA, and evaluated possible conservation and/or fisheries-related contributions. Sixty-eight species were recorded, with larger features supporting greater diversity of species. Species composition changed strongly with depth and a faunal break was detected from 113-137 m. While the features supported diverse fish communities, they were not similar to those on natural substrates, and were numerically dominated by only two species, Lutjanis kasmira and Chromis verater. Depth-generalist and endemic species were present at levels comparable to natural substrates, but were less abundant and species-rich than at biogenic Leptoseris reefs at similar depths. While the non-native L. kasmira was highly abundant, its presence and abundance were not associated with discernable changes in the fish community, and was not present deeper than 120 m. Finally, five species of commercially- and recreationally-important 'Deep 7' fisheries species were also observed, but the artificial reef complex was mostly too shallow to provide meaningful benefits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biodiversity*
  • Coral Reefs*
  • Endangered Species
  • Perciformes / classification
  • Perciformes / physiology*

Grants and funding

Research was funded by the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawaii. Additional support for K Weng was also provided by the Pelagic Fisheries Research Program (PFRP) at the Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Science (JIMAR) at the University of Hawaii, and the College of William & Mary (WM) and Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). Additional support for S Jones was provided by WM, VIMS and the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington.