Vertical artificial structures as an alternative habitat for coral reef fishes in disturbed environments

G. Rilov; Y. Benayahu

doi:10.1016/S0141-1136(98)00106-8

Vertical artificial structures as an alternative habitat for coral reef fishes in disturbed environments

G. Rilov, Y. Benayahu

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The coral reefs of Eilat (Red Sea) have been heavily damaged as a result of extensive tourist activity. Artificial reefs have been demonstrated to be a potential tool for the restoration of marine habitats. We investigated the fish assemblage on pillars supporting the oil jetties in Eilat, studying the species composition on these vertical structures; and the relationships between fish community features and the structural characteristics of these artificial reefs over time, using multivariate regression analysis. The fish assemblage on these 25-year-old structures was shown to be abundant and diverse, comprising 146 species, distributed among 35 families. The 10 most abundant species were planktivores, accounting for 78% of all individuals; the most numerous fish was Neopomacentrus miryae (Pomacentridae). Size and complexity of pillars were correlated with fish abundance, richness and diversity, and related to the availability of shelters. These community indices increased near the bottom, possibly due to behavioral preferences. High coefficient of variance (CV) values indicated high temporal variability, resulting from a pronounced recruitment of N. miryae and other common species during April 1993. We discuss the possible use of these artificial reefs as a model for the construction of artificial habitats aimed at the rehabilitation of fish assemblages in deteriorating natural coral reef areas.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	431-451
Number of pages	21
Journal	Marine Environmental Research
Volume	45
Issue number	4-5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0141-1136(98)00106-8
State	Published - May 1998
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank the Israeli Diving Federation for a grant funding part of this research.W e acknowledget he Eilat-Ashquelon Pipe Line authoritiesf or allowing the research,t he InteruniversityI nstitute of Eilat for assistancea nd use of facilities, and MenahemG oren for usefulg uidelinesW. e thank Denis Goulet and DeniseB reitburgw ho suppliedc onstructivec riticismf or the first draft of this paper,a nd significantlyim proved it. We also thank the anonymousr eviewersfo r their suggestionosn the final versiono f the manuscript.S pecialt hanksto G. Nissel, I. Nehoran, N. Shiloah, R. Ben-David-Zaslow, and many othersf or helpful diving assistanceT. his paper forms part of an M.Sc. thesis submittedb y G.R.

Keywords

Artificial reefs
Coral reef
Fish community
Recruitment
Red Sea

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Pollution

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/S0141-1136(98)00106-8

Cite this

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title = "Vertical artificial structures as an alternative habitat for coral reef fishes in disturbed environments",

abstract = "The coral reefs of Eilat (Red Sea) have been heavily damaged as a result of extensive tourist activity. Artificial reefs have been demonstrated to be a potential tool for the restoration of marine habitats. We investigated the fish assemblage on pillars supporting the oil jetties in Eilat, studying the species composition on these vertical structures; and the relationships between fish community features and the structural characteristics of these artificial reefs over time, using multivariate regression analysis. The fish assemblage on these 25-year-old structures was shown to be abundant and diverse, comprising 146 species, distributed among 35 families. The 10 most abundant species were planktivores, accounting for 78% of all individuals; the most numerous fish was Neopomacentrus miryae (Pomacentridae). Size and complexity of pillars were correlated with fish abundance, richness and diversity, and related to the availability of shelters. These community indices increased near the bottom, possibly due to behavioral preferences. High coefficient of variance (CV) values indicated high temporal variability, resulting from a pronounced recruitment of N. miryae and other common species during April 1993. We discuss the possible use of these artificial reefs as a model for the construction of artificial habitats aimed at the rehabilitation of fish assemblages in deteriorating natural coral reef areas.",

keywords = "Artificial reefs, Coral reef, Fish community, Recruitment, Red Sea",

author = "G. Rilov and Y. Benayahu",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank the Israeli Diving Federation for a grant funding part of this research.W e acknowledget he Eilat-Ashquelon Pipe Line authoritiesf or allowing the research,t he InteruniversityI nstitute of Eilat for assistancea nd use of facilities, and MenahemG oren for usefulg uidelinesW. e thank Denis Goulet and DeniseB reitburgw ho suppliedc onstructivec riticismf or the first draft of this paper,a nd significantlyim proved it. We also thank the anonymousr eviewersfo r their suggestionosn the final versiono f the manuscript.S pecialt hanksto G. Nissel, I. Nehoran, N. Shiloah, R. Ben-David-Zaslow, and many othersf or helpful diving assistanceT. his paper forms part of an M.Sc. thesis submittedb y G.R.",

year = "1998",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/S0141-1136(98)00106-8",

language = "English",

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journal = "Marine Environmental Research",

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T1 - Vertical artificial structures as an alternative habitat for coral reef fishes in disturbed environments

AU - Rilov, G.

AU - Benayahu, Y.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank the Israeli Diving Federation for a grant funding part of this research.W e acknowledget he Eilat-Ashquelon Pipe Line authoritiesf or allowing the research,t he InteruniversityI nstitute of Eilat for assistancea nd use of facilities, and MenahemG oren for usefulg uidelinesW. e thank Denis Goulet and DeniseB reitburgw ho suppliedc onstructivec riticismf or the first draft of this paper,a nd significantlyim proved it. We also thank the anonymousr eviewersfo r their suggestionosn the final versiono f the manuscript.S pecialt hanksto G. Nissel, I. Nehoran, N. Shiloah, R. Ben-David-Zaslow, and many othersf or helpful diving assistanceT. his paper forms part of an M.Sc. thesis submittedb y G.R.

PY - 1998/5

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N2 - The coral reefs of Eilat (Red Sea) have been heavily damaged as a result of extensive tourist activity. Artificial reefs have been demonstrated to be a potential tool for the restoration of marine habitats. We investigated the fish assemblage on pillars supporting the oil jetties in Eilat, studying the species composition on these vertical structures; and the relationships between fish community features and the structural characteristics of these artificial reefs over time, using multivariate regression analysis. The fish assemblage on these 25-year-old structures was shown to be abundant and diverse, comprising 146 species, distributed among 35 families. The 10 most abundant species were planktivores, accounting for 78% of all individuals; the most numerous fish was Neopomacentrus miryae (Pomacentridae). Size and complexity of pillars were correlated with fish abundance, richness and diversity, and related to the availability of shelters. These community indices increased near the bottom, possibly due to behavioral preferences. High coefficient of variance (CV) values indicated high temporal variability, resulting from a pronounced recruitment of N. miryae and other common species during April 1993. We discuss the possible use of these artificial reefs as a model for the construction of artificial habitats aimed at the rehabilitation of fish assemblages in deteriorating natural coral reef areas.

AB - The coral reefs of Eilat (Red Sea) have been heavily damaged as a result of extensive tourist activity. Artificial reefs have been demonstrated to be a potential tool for the restoration of marine habitats. We investigated the fish assemblage on pillars supporting the oil jetties in Eilat, studying the species composition on these vertical structures; and the relationships between fish community features and the structural characteristics of these artificial reefs over time, using multivariate regression analysis. The fish assemblage on these 25-year-old structures was shown to be abundant and diverse, comprising 146 species, distributed among 35 families. The 10 most abundant species were planktivores, accounting for 78% of all individuals; the most numerous fish was Neopomacentrus miryae (Pomacentridae). Size and complexity of pillars were correlated with fish abundance, richness and diversity, and related to the availability of shelters. These community indices increased near the bottom, possibly due to behavioral preferences. High coefficient of variance (CV) values indicated high temporal variability, resulting from a pronounced recruitment of N. miryae and other common species during April 1993. We discuss the possible use of these artificial reefs as a model for the construction of artificial habitats aimed at the rehabilitation of fish assemblages in deteriorating natural coral reef areas.

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JF - Marine Environmental Research

IS - 4-5

ER -

Vertical artificial structures as an alternative habitat for coral reef fishes in disturbed environments

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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