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Density-driven habitat use differences across fishing zones by predator fishes (Serranidae) in south-western Mediterranean rocky reefs

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Abstract

The characterization of habitat use by predator species is crucial to understand its effect over fish distribution. We tested the hypothesis that fish density affects habitat use as well as influence on the relationships between top predators (groupers) and meso-predators (combers) by evaluating their distribution in and outside a marine reserve (MR) in SW Mediterranean Sea. All groupers showed significant higher densities inside MR. All species but Epinephelus costae (grouper) displayed a distinct microhabitat use between high- and low-density locations. When density is reduced, groupers occupied previously rejected microhabitats (shallow habitats) at MR, indicating the density-related distribution. Combers were negatively correlated and showed an opposite microhabitat-depth use demonstrating niche segregation. Groupers overlapped their spatial niche and were positively correlated probably due to food partitioning. We suggest the existence of cascading top-down effects on Serranus scriba (comber) population, at MR, reinforcing the importance of the protected areas for the recovery of top-predator populations and their key role on healthy ecosystem.

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Acknowledgements

Authors FCFH and CWH also want to express their gratitude to Capes Foundation from Ministry of Education of Brazil (Process no, BEX 0123/09-9) and CNPq from Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil (Process no. 200630/2008-3), respectively, for their personal financial support. This work has been partly financed by the Regional Service for Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water of the Regional Government of Murcia and by Fundación BBVA (Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Foundation, Spain).

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  1. Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Carlos Werner Hackradt, Fabiana Cézar Félix-Hackradt, Jorge Treviño-Otón, Ángel Pérez-Ruzafa & José Antonio García-Charton

  2. Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação Marinha, Centro de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, campus Sosígenes Costa, Rod BR 367 km 10, Porto Seguro, Bahia, 45810-000, Brazil

    Carlos Werner Hackradt & Fabiana Cézar Félix-Hackradt

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  1. Carlos Werner Hackradt
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Hackradt, C.W., Félix-Hackradt, F.C., Treviño-Otón, J. et al. Density-driven habitat use differences across fishing zones by predator fishes (Serranidae) in south-western Mediterranean rocky reefs. Hydrobiologia 847, 757–770 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-019-04135-7

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