Abstract
Habitat associations and the effect of predators on dwarf rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) were investigated in two large marine protected areas (MPAs) off southern California. Using data from submersible surveys, the occurrence and abundance of dwarf rockfishes were modeled using substrata types and the biomass of predators as predictor variables. The occurrence and abundance of dwarf rockfishes generally were positively associated with rock, boulder, and cobble substrata. The association between predators and occurrence of dwarf rockfishes differed substantially between species. Predator density and biomass levels were much lower in the southern California MPAs than in a de facto MPA off central California. Better inference about predator effects on dwarf rockfishes will be possible if the predator biomass and densities of southern California MPAs increase to that observed in the de facto MPA.
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Acknowledgements
Field surveys were successfully conducted with assistance from D. Schroeder, M. Nishimoto, L. Snook, T. Laidig, T. Anderson, R. Starr, M. McCrea, R. Lea, and the dedicated crews of the R/V Velero IV and submersible Delta. We thank J. Field, E.J. Dick, and two anonymous reviewers for their detailed reviews of this manuscript. Underwater photographs were taken by L. Snook and D. Schroeder. Partial funding was provided by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation; NOAA NMFS Office of Habitat Conservation and Office of Protected Resources; NOAA National Undersea Research Program; and NOAA Marine Protected Area Center.
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O’Farrell, M.R., Yoklavich, M.M. & Love, M.S. Assessment of habitat and predator effects on dwarf rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) using multi model inference. Environ Biol Fish 85, 239–250 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-009-9489-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-009-9489-0