ROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region

Abstract Understanding how fish associate with habitats across marine landscapes is crucial to developing effective marine spatial planning (MSP) in an expanding and diversifying ocean economy. Globally, anthropogenic pressures impact the barely understood temperate mesophotic ecosystems and South A...

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Autores principales:	Rio E. Button, Denham Parker, Vivienne Coetzee, Toufiek Samaai, Ryan M. Palmer, Kerry Sink, Sven E. Kerwath
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/701e91f2723d4ca180932c5a7b37aeeb
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:701e91f2723d4ca180932c5a7b37aeeb2021-12-02T18:33:51ZROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region10.1038/s41598-021-97369-22045-2322https://doaj.org/article/701e91f2723d4ca180932c5a7b37aeeb2021-09-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-97369-2https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Understanding how fish associate with habitats across marine landscapes is crucial to developing effective marine spatial planning (MSP) in an expanding and diversifying ocean economy. Globally, anthropogenic pressures impact the barely understood temperate mesophotic ecosystems and South Africa’s remote Amathole shelf is no exception. The Kei and East London region encompass three coastal marine protected areas (MPAs), two of which were recently extended to the shelf-edge. The strong Agulhas current (exceeding 3 m/s), which runs along the narrow shelf exacerbates sampling challenges. For the first time, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveyed fish and their associated habitats across the shelf. Results indicated fish assemblages differed between the two principle sampling areas, and across the shelf. The number of distinct fish assemblages was higher inshore and on the shelf-edge, relative to the mid-shelf. However, the mid-shelf had the highest species richness. Unique visuals of rare Rhinobatos ocellatus (Speckled guitarfish) and shoaling Polyprion americanus (wreckfish) were collected. Visual evidence of rhodolith beds, deep-water lace corals and critically endangered endemic seabreams were ecologically important observations. The ROV enabled in situ sampling without damaging sensitive habitats or extracting fish. This study provided information that supported the Amathole MPA expansions, which extended protection from the coast to beyond the shelf-edge and will guide their management. The data gathered provides baseline information for future benthopelagic fish and habitat monitoring in these new MPAs.Rio E. ButtonDenham ParkerVivienne CoetzeeToufiek SamaaiRyan M. PalmerKerry SinkSven E. KerwathNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Rio E. Button Denham Parker Vivienne Coetzee Toufiek Samaai Ryan M. Palmer Kerry Sink Sven E. Kerwath ROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region
description	Abstract Understanding how fish associate with habitats across marine landscapes is crucial to developing effective marine spatial planning (MSP) in an expanding and diversifying ocean economy. Globally, anthropogenic pressures impact the barely understood temperate mesophotic ecosystems and South Africa’s remote Amathole shelf is no exception. The Kei and East London region encompass three coastal marine protected areas (MPAs), two of which were recently extended to the shelf-edge. The strong Agulhas current (exceeding 3 m/s), which runs along the narrow shelf exacerbates sampling challenges. For the first time, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveyed fish and their associated habitats across the shelf. Results indicated fish assemblages differed between the two principle sampling areas, and across the shelf. The number of distinct fish assemblages was higher inshore and on the shelf-edge, relative to the mid-shelf. However, the mid-shelf had the highest species richness. Unique visuals of rare Rhinobatos ocellatus (Speckled guitarfish) and shoaling Polyprion americanus (wreckfish) were collected. Visual evidence of rhodolith beds, deep-water lace corals and critically endangered endemic seabreams were ecologically important observations. The ROV enabled in situ sampling without damaging sensitive habitats or extracting fish. This study provided information that supported the Amathole MPA expansions, which extended protection from the coast to beyond the shelf-edge and will guide their management. The data gathered provides baseline information for future benthopelagic fish and habitat monitoring in these new MPAs.
format	article
author	Rio E. Button Denham Parker Vivienne Coetzee Toufiek Samaai Ryan M. Palmer Kerry Sink Sven E. Kerwath
author_facet	Rio E. Button Denham Parker Vivienne Coetzee Toufiek Samaai Ryan M. Palmer Kerry Sink Sven E. Kerwath
author_sort	Rio E. Button
title	ROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region
title_short	ROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region
title_full	ROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region
title_fullStr	ROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region
title_full_unstemmed	ROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region
title_sort	rov assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the amathole region
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/701e91f2723d4ca180932c5a7b37aeeb
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ROV assessment of mesophotic fish and associated habitats across the continental shelf of the Amathole region

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