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Efectos de la Desertificación Ocasionada por la Pesquería de Lithophaga lithophaga (Mollusca) sobre Ensambles de Peces de Litoral a lo largo de Costas Rocosas del Sureste de Italia
Author(s) -
GUIDETTI PAOLO,
FRASCHETTI SIMONETTA,
TERLIZZI ANTONIO,
BOERO FERDINANDO
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2004.00343.x
Subject(s) - fishery , littoral zone , reef , geography , habitat , fishing , mussel , coastal fish , mollusca , ecology , biology , coral reef fish
We surveyed shallow, rocky reefs in southwestern Apulia (Mediterranean Sea) to assess the effects on coastal fish assemblages of the date mussel ( Lithophaga lithophaga ) fishery, an illegal practice that strips the rocky reef bare. We visually sampled fish four times over 15 months at three locations, one affected by date‐mussel fishery and two controls. The fish assemblage at the affected location differed significantly from those at the control locations over all sampling times. Herbivorous fishes, sparids, and labrids (genus Symphodus ) contributed most to the differences between the affected location and controls. Lower densities of Symphodus spp. were observed at the affected location, whereas detritivorous fishes were recorded exclusively at control sites. Small serranids and sparids showed temporal trends that differed between the affected location and the control locations. Our results suggest that the date‐mussel fishery affects fish assemblages chiefly through reduction of arborescent macroalgae (contributing to habitat complexity and primary production) and emphasize the need for more effective policing against this destructive practice.