Effects of habitat fragmentation and patch size on recruitment and the abundance of kelp forest fishes (funded by National Undersea Research Program -- West Coast and Polar Region Center; National Science Foundation; SDSU Master's Program in Ecology)

Andres Deza's thesis project --

The relationship between habitats and the density or abundance of fishes has been explored extensively, and experimental manipulations have demonstrated how the presence of habitat and its structural complexity influence the distribution and abundance of temperate and tropical reef fishes. However, although patch dynamics and the effects of habitat fragmentation on invertebrates have been studied in seagrass beds and on coral reefs, few studies have investigated the response of reef fishes to fragmentation and patch size.

The various sources of disturbance that impact kelp forests (both natural and anthropogenic) requires that we understand the effects of disturbance-mediated habitat fragmentation and loss on associated fauna. The responses of fishes to habitat fragmentation and variation in patch size may provide valuable information to resource managers charged with protecting essential fish habitat. The overall objective of my research is to determine, at large and small spatial scales, the importance of habitat fragmentation and patch size of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) on the recruitment and abundance of kelp-associated fishes.

This page was last modified on May 19, 2008.

SDSU Fish Ecology Lab

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