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<p>Maintaining biodiversity is crucial for maximising ecosystem resilience. Despite this, anthropogenic disturbances are driving global biodiversity declines that are heightened in vulnerable ecosystems like coral reefs. Coral reefs are impacted by sedimentation, overfishing and habitat degradation, which impacts biodiversity and therefore the range of functional roles of the reef fish that they support. To evaluate how anthropogenic disturbances influence the functional richness of fish and the distribution of key functional groups, we surveyed coral reef fish assemblages across 135 sites in Beqa Lagoon, Fiji, using remote underwater video systems. We found species richness and total abundance were typically greatest when coral extent within a 500-m buffer around a site was approximately 40,000&#xa0;m<sup>2</sup> and when a site was 20&#xa0;km from the river mouth. Corallivore, piscivore and zooplanktivore abundance were positively correlated with fish functional richness. Sites greater than 20&#xa0;km from a major river had greater functional richness, while corallivore abundance was highest farther from villages. Piscivore abundance was highest at sites with moderate coral reef extent and zooplanktivore abundance was highest at sites that were at a moderate distance from the river. Given these patterns, anthropogenic disturbance is one of the key drivers of functional richness decline on coral reefs. Managing coral reef resilience within the region should therefore focus on reducing sediment and nutrient runoff and implementing fishing regulations that maintain ecological stability and resilience. More thoroughly accounting for change in functional diversity when monitoring impacts and considering conservation strategies can help to safeguard coral reefs.</p>

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Anthropogenic disturbance contributes to the loss of key fish functional groups and modifies functional richness on fringing reefs in Fiji

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月13日

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  • Christopher J. Henderson,
  • Jesse D. Mosman,
  • Helen Sykes,
  • Anish Maharaj,
  • Susan Nuske,
  • Ken Kassem,
  • Kelera Macedru,
  • Andrew D. Olds,
  • Ben L. Gilby,
  • Lucy A. Goodridge Gaines,
  • Ashley J. Rummell,
  • Paul S. Maxwell

摘要

Maintaining biodiversity is crucial for maximising ecosystem resilience. Despite this, anthropogenic disturbances are driving global biodiversity declines that are heightened in vulnerable ecosystems like coral reefs. Coral reefs are impacted by sedimentation, overfishing and habitat degradation, which impacts biodiversity and therefore the range of functional roles of the reef fish that they support. To evaluate how anthropogenic disturbances influence the functional richness of fish and the distribution of key functional groups, we surveyed coral reef fish assemblages across 135 sites in Beqa Lagoon, Fiji, using remote underwater video systems. We found species richness and total abundance were typically greatest when coral extent within a 500-m buffer around a site was approximately 40,000 m2 and when a site was 20 km from the river mouth. Corallivore, piscivore and zooplanktivore abundance were positively correlated with fish functional richness. Sites greater than 20 km from a major river had greater functional richness, while corallivore abundance was highest farther from villages. Piscivore abundance was highest at sites with moderate coral reef extent and zooplanktivore abundance was highest at sites that were at a moderate distance from the river. Given these patterns, anthropogenic disturbance is one of the key drivers of functional richness decline on coral reefs. Managing coral reef resilience within the region should therefore focus on reducing sediment and nutrient runoff and implementing fishing regulations that maintain ecological stability and resilience. More thoroughly accounting for change in functional diversity when monitoring impacts and considering conservation strategies can help to safeguard coral reefs.