Cerveny, Kassandra

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1

Distribution patterns of reef fishes in southwest Puerto Rico, relative to structural habitat, cross-shelf location, and ontogenetic stage
(2006) Cerveny, Kassandra; Appeldoorn, Richard S.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Recksiek, Conrad; Yoshioka, Paul; Aponte, Nilda E.; Department of Marine Sciences; Ojeda, Edgardo
This work applies a Cross-Shelf Habitat (CSH) framework to delineate habitat usage patterns for twenty-eight species from five families of common reef fishes (Acanthuridae, Serranidae, Haemulidae, Lutjanidae, Scaridae) in the southwest of Puerto Rico. This framework incorporates both habitat types and geomorphic zone of the insular shelf to create a matrix of individually unique cross-shelf habitats. Habitat maps of 24x4 meter strip transects and counts of 21,877 fishes (using visual census) on mapped habitats provided the data applied to the CSH framework. Patterns emerge in habitat usage. The Inner Shelf – windward intermediate geomorphic zone is of importance for all lifestages of sampled species, while for non-adult life stages Low Relief Dead Coral is the most important habitat type overall. These usage patterns can aid in the conservation efforts in marine and fishery science by delineating not only habitat of importance but also the location of that habitat on the shelf.