Reef fish movement and community assemblages associated with a newly deployed artificial reef
Abstract Artificial reefs provide critical habitat for fish in areas lacking benthic structure, yet our understanding of how artificial reefs function and develop is limited. Here, changes in fish community assemblages were monitored using baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys before and aft...
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Wiley
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70250 |
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| author | Jade M. Carver Brett J. Falterman Stephen R. Midway Christian Walker Creed C. Branham Michael A. Dance |
| author_facet | Jade M. Carver Brett J. Falterman Stephen R. Midway Christian Walker Creed C. Branham Michael A. Dance |
| author_sort | Jade M. Carver |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Artificial reefs provide critical habitat for fish in areas lacking benthic structure, yet our understanding of how artificial reefs function and develop is limited. Here, changes in fish community assemblages were monitored using baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys before and after a new artificial reef was deployed in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Movement of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) between nearby oil and gas platforms (n = 3) and the new artificial reef was examined using acoustic telemetry, and residency was calculated for fish associated with both structure types. Fish community development at the artificial reef site was slow despite close proximity to existing habitat, and fish communities at the artificial reef site did not differ from control sites (unconsolidated substrate) one year after reef deployment. Residency of red snapper and gray snapper at the artificial reef was surprisingly low, with most tagged fish emigrating rapidly, and no tagged fishes from the surrounding platforms were detected moving to the artificial reef during the initial eight months following artificial reef deployment. While residency was much higher at the platforms, a major hurricane (Hurricane Ida) passed directly over the sites and led to large numbers of tagged fishes emigrating from the study area. Results highlight an artificial reef with limited fish community development and low residency after one year despite close proximity to existing habitats. Considering the presence of seasonal benthic hypoxia in this region, findings suggest that artificial reefs with limited vertical relief may offer sub‐optimal habitat for reef fish in comparison with the substantial vertical relief offered by standing platforms, reducing the potential benefits to reef fish. Given the rapid decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, this study has significant implications for rigs‐to‐reefs programs as well as artificial reef siting and design. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9700a52030e044608a8efea2586bef95 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-9700a52030e044608a8efea2586bef952025-08-20T02:30:04ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252025-05-01165n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.70250Reef fish movement and community assemblages associated with a newly deployed artificial reefJade M. Carver0Brett J. Falterman1Stephen R. Midway2Christian Walker3Creed C. Branham4Michael A. Dance5Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USAFisheries Research Support LLC Mandeville Louisiana USADepartment of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USADepartment of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USADepartment of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USADepartment of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USAAbstract Artificial reefs provide critical habitat for fish in areas lacking benthic structure, yet our understanding of how artificial reefs function and develop is limited. Here, changes in fish community assemblages were monitored using baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys before and after a new artificial reef was deployed in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Movement of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) between nearby oil and gas platforms (n = 3) and the new artificial reef was examined using acoustic telemetry, and residency was calculated for fish associated with both structure types. Fish community development at the artificial reef site was slow despite close proximity to existing habitat, and fish communities at the artificial reef site did not differ from control sites (unconsolidated substrate) one year after reef deployment. Residency of red snapper and gray snapper at the artificial reef was surprisingly low, with most tagged fish emigrating rapidly, and no tagged fishes from the surrounding platforms were detected moving to the artificial reef during the initial eight months following artificial reef deployment. While residency was much higher at the platforms, a major hurricane (Hurricane Ida) passed directly over the sites and led to large numbers of tagged fishes emigrating from the study area. Results highlight an artificial reef with limited fish community development and low residency after one year despite close proximity to existing habitats. Considering the presence of seasonal benthic hypoxia in this region, findings suggest that artificial reefs with limited vertical relief may offer sub‐optimal habitat for reef fish in comparison with the substantial vertical relief offered by standing platforms, reducing the potential benefits to reef fish. Given the rapid decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, this study has significant implications for rigs‐to‐reefs programs as well as artificial reef siting and design.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70250acoustic telemetryartificial reefbaited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveycommunity developmentgray snapperGulf of Mexico |
| spellingShingle | Jade M. Carver Brett J. Falterman Stephen R. Midway Christian Walker Creed C. Branham Michael A. Dance Reef fish movement and community assemblages associated with a newly deployed artificial reef Ecosphere acoustic telemetry artificial reef baited remote underwater video (BRUV) survey community development gray snapper Gulf of Mexico |
| title | Reef fish movement and community assemblages associated with a newly deployed artificial reef |
| title_full | Reef fish movement and community assemblages associated with a newly deployed artificial reef |
| title_fullStr | Reef fish movement and community assemblages associated with a newly deployed artificial reef |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reef fish movement and community assemblages associated with a newly deployed artificial reef |
| title_short | Reef fish movement and community assemblages associated with a newly deployed artificial reef |
| title_sort | reef fish movement and community assemblages associated with a newly deployed artificial reef |
| topic | acoustic telemetry artificial reef baited remote underwater video (BRUV) survey community development gray snapper Gulf of Mexico |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70250 |
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