Data from: Impacts of predator depletion by fishing on the biomass and diversity of non-target reef fish communities (Kadavu Islands, Fiji)

URLhttps://nzobisipt.niwa.co.nz/resource?r=fiji_reef_fish_jennings_polunin_1997
Repository URL https://nzobisipt.niwa.co.nz/
Node SWP OBIS
Published2024-08-24 01:59
First registered2024-08-08 05:00
Abstract

This dataset is from a paper by Jennings and Polunin (1992) the looked at impacts of predator depletion by fishing on the biomass and diversity of non-target reef fish communities around the Kadavu Islands, Fiji.

An understanding of the indirect effects of fishing on predator-prey relationships is required for the development of valid multispecies yield models for reef fisheries and for determining the factors governing fish community structure at larger scales. We used an underwater visual census technique to examine the indirect effects of fishing on the biomass and diversity (species richness) of reef fishes in a series of ten traditional Fijian fishing grounds (qoliqoli) subject to a range of fishing intensities. All members of the families Chaetodontidae (butterflyfishes), Labridae (wrasses), Lutjanidae (snappers), Mullidae (goatfishes), Scaridae (parrotfishes) and the sub-family Epinephelinae (groupers and coral trout) which could be reliably identified were censused. Each species censused was assigned to one of three trophic groups: herbivore, invertebrate feeder or piscivore. The biomass of all piscivorous fishes and of large ('30 cm) piscivorous fishes differed significantly between qoliqoli and was significantly correlated with fishing intensity. However, the biomass of piscivorous fishes was not correlated with the biomass or diversity of their potential prey (which were not targeted by the fishery). This suggested that the indirect effects of fishing did not have an important bearing on fish diversity or biomass and that predation by the target species did not play an important role in structuring these Fijian reef fish communities. The results contrast with those from a number of studies at smaller scales and provided further indications that the structure of reef fish communities is not governed by a single dominant process, but by a range of processes which operate on different scales in different circumstances.

CitationJennings S, Polunin N (2024). Data from: Impacts of predator depletion by fishing on the biomass and diversity of non-target reef fish communities (Kadavu Islands, Fiji). Version 1.2. Southwestern Pacific Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) Node. Samplingevent dataset. https://nzobisipt.niwa.co.nz/resource?r=fiji_reef_fish_jennings_polunin_1997&v=1.2
RightsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License
Keywords Samplingevent, Observation
Contacts
Creator S. Jennings
Department of Marine Sciences and Coastal Management, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Creator N.V.C. Polunin
Department of Marine Sciences and Coastal Management, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Contact S. Jennings
Department of Marine Sciences and Coastal Management, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Metadata Provider S. Jennings
Department of Marine Sciences and Coastal Management, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne

Statistics

Occurrence records 25,536
Species level 25,536
Absence records 0
Event records 70
MoF records 26,306
Sequence records 0
Species 144
Taxa 144
Time range 1995 - 1995

This dataset has appeared in 1,839 downloads in 2025, with a total of 16,631,130 records.

Data quality

Dropped records

Dropped records 0
Not marine 0
No WoRMS match 0
No coordinates 0
Zero coordinates 0

Taxonomic issues

Marine unsure 0
No accepted name available 0

Missing and invalid fields

Field Missing Invalid
No missing or invalid fields.

Spatial issues

Records on land 0
More than 20 km from shore 0
Depth exceeds bathymetric depth 0

Top taxa

IUCN Red List All taxa
Scientific name Records
Chlorurus sordidus (Forsskål, 1775)
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
2,162
Thalassoma hardwicke (Bennett, 1830)
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
1,864
Thalassoma lutescens (Lay & Bennett, 1839)
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
972
Scarus globiceps Valenciennes, 1840
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
872
Scarus niger Forsskål, 1775
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
768
Chaetodon pelewensis Kner, 1868
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
720
Scarus schlegeli (Bleeker, 1861)
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
647
Gomphosus varius Lacepède, 1801
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
636
Parupeneus multifasciatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
598
Chaetodon trifasciatus Park, 1797
Phylum Chordata > Class Teleostei
590

Distribution

Composition

detailed (class) simple

Data providers

Name OceanExpert ID
Department of Marine Sciences and Coastal Management, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne

Measurement types

measurementType measurementTypeID Records
area 25,606
fishing intensity index 25,606
human population for area 25,606
length of reef front for area 25,606
mean cover living massive corals 25,606
mean cover of coral rubble, sand and other 25,606
mean cover of rock and dead coral 25,606
mean cover other living hard corals 25,606
mean water depth 25,606
rugosity (mean habitat complexity) 25,606
site 25,606
fork length SDN:S06::S0600261 25,536

Occurrences

scientificNameeventDatedecimalLongitudedecimalLatitudecollectionCodecatalogNumber