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Differences in fish assemblage structures between fragmented and continuous seagrass beds in Trang, southern Thailand

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  • Biology
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Abstract

Fish assemblage structures in fragmented and continuous seagrass habitats in Trang Province, Thailand, were examined in detail to elucidate the effects of habitat fragmentation. The assemblage structures clearly differed: fish species diversity was apparently higher in the fragmented seagrass beds, although total fish numbers did not differ between them. A total of 37 fish species were collected, including 24 and 34 species from the continuous and fragmented beds, respectively. Thirteen species were restricted to the fragmented beds, compared with three restricted to the continuous beds. In addition, eight species were more abundant in the fragmented beds and only two in the continuous beds. Such differences may have arisen, at least in part, from differences in microhabitat diversity and the relative amounts of microhabitats between the two habitat types, as well as specific microhabitat preferences of the resident fishes. Although fragmented beds supported greater fish species diversity at the present study sites, it is axiomatic that habitat fragmentation caused by anthropogenic disturbance is unacceptable, with seagrass-habitat conservation being essential for both the preservation of high overall biodiversity and the successful management of local fisheries.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Yukinori Nakane, Koji Fujimoto, Suwat Tanyaros, Suwana Taveepattanapong, and the staff of the Faculty of Science and Fisheries Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya for their generous assistance in the field work, and Ai Yoshizawa and Sachi Sugiura for their helpful suggestions in fish identification. Constructive comments on the manuscript from Graham Hardy and anonymous referees were much appreciated. This work was conducted with the permission of the National Research Council of Thailand and was financially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan (No. 19405032).

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Author notes

  1. Kusuto Nanjyo & Mitsuhiko Sano

    Present address: Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 1138657, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Coastal Lagoon Environments, Shimane University, Matsue, Shimane, 6908504, Japan

    Masahiro Horinouchi

  2. Department of Marine Science, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Sikao, Trang, 92150, Thailand

    Prasert Tongnunui

  3. Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 1138657, Japan

    Kusuto Nanjyo & Mitsuhiko Sano

  4. Graduate School of Kuroshio Science, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi, 7838502, Japan

    Yohei Nakamura

  5. Department of Marine Biosciences, School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Ohfunato, Iwate, 0220101, Japan

    Hisao Ogawa

Authors
  1. Masahiro Horinouchi
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  2. Prasert Tongnunui
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  3. Kusuto Nanjyo
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  4. Yohei Nakamura
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  5. Mitsuhiko Sano
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  6. Hisao Ogawa
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Correspondence to Masahiro Horinouchi.

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Horinouchi, M., Tongnunui, P., Nanjyo, K. et al. Differences in fish assemblage structures between fragmented and continuous seagrass beds in Trang, southern Thailand. Fish Sci 75, 1409–1416 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-009-0166-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-009-0166-1

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