Dr Valeriya Komyakova1,2, Dr Jasmine Jaffrés3,4, Christina Maas5, Eloise Wilson1,2, Thomas Windsor1
1Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia, 2Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia, 3C&R Consulting, Townsville, Australia, 4James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, 5Parrotfish publishing , , Germany
Habitats play a vital role in structuring associated animal communities across all ecosystems of the planet. In marine environments, biogenic habitats such as coral reefs and kelp forests – as well non-biogenic habitats such as rocky reefs – can drive structure of fish communities. Different habitat characteristics – including percent live cover of habitat forming organisms, habitat complexity and diversity of refugia – have been associated with positive relationships with fish variables such as abundance and diversity. However, discrepancies in the results do exist, with some studies reporting no relationships and others describing negative correlations between habitat complexity (or diversity) and fish abundance (or species richness). Understanding fish-habitat association is highly important for effective marine ecosystem management and conservation. With the global losses of marine habitats, including over 90% loss of kelp cover and over 70% declines in coral cover in several regions, our understanding of these relationships is more important than ever if we wish to improve our management practices. Here, we examine and synthesise research of fish-habitat associations from the last thirty years in an attempt to tease apart variables that drive discrepancies in the data and understand global and temporal trends in these associations. We also explore evolution in this field of research from the perspective of methodologies and geographic hot spot of research intensity.
Presentation Slides – Valeriya Komyakova
Biography:
Dr Valeriya Komyakova is an environmental scientist who aims to understand and manage human impacts on the marine environment and has a strong solution development focus. She has over 15 years expirience in fish-habitat associations research. She has developed artificial reefs that have demonstrated potential to elevate reef performance. Her research was the first to demonstrate potential ecological trap formation due to artificial reef deployments and pathways towards mitigation of this impact. Valeriya has worked on projects investigating recruitment dynamics of commercial fishes, impacts of pollution on marine populations, and development of policy advise on future marine microplastic management.
