- Published:
The development and dynamics of a small artificial reef community
Die Entwicklung und Dynamik einer kleinen künstlichen Riffgemeinschaft
Helgoländer wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen volume 27, pages 298–312 (1975)
Kurzfassung
An der Nordostküste von Neuseeland wurde ein künstliches Riff durch Autoreifen, die in 20 m Tiefe deponiert worden waren, geschaffen und die Entwicklung der auf und im Bereich dieses Substrats lebenden Organismengemeinschaften während eines Beobachtungszeitraums von 12 Monaten verfolgt. Sessile Arten (Hydroides norvegicus, Balanus trigonus, Bryozoen,Lithothamnion, Plumularia) besiedelten die Außenflächen dieses Riffes. Außerdem traten kleinere mobile Evertebraten (u. a. Gastropoden, Einsiedlerkrebse, Mysideen und Garnelen) sowie Fische auf. Die Intensität der Wasserbewegung beeinflußte diese Lebensgemeinschaften in erheblichem Maße und schränkte die Entwicklung der Epifauna beträchtlich ein. Wasserströmungen spielten offensichtlich für die Riffbesiedlung und Verbreitung der aufgefundenen Species eine wichtige Rolle. 7 Fischarten traten zumeist ständig auf; das Artenspektrum änderte sich im Verlauf des Jahres nur wenig, doch schwankte die Individuendichte. Schätzungen der Biomasse der Fische, die im Bereich dieses künstlichen Riffs lebten, ergaben um das 10- bis 14fache höhere Werte als in den nahegelegten natürlichen Felsriffen. Insbesondere dominierte der MullideUpeneichthys porosus, der auch die umliegenden Sandbiotope bewohnte.
Summary
-
1.
The development of the community of a small artificial reef built from car tyres was investigated by SCUBA diving over a 12 month period. It was sited on a sandy bottom at a depth of 20 m on the coast of north-eastern New Zealand.
-
2.
Seasonal settlement by sessile organisms occurred in a number of well defined stages (serpulid tubeworms, barnacles, bryozoans,Lithothamnion, hydroids). The reef was colonised by small mobile invertebrates — notably gastropods, hermit crabs, mysids and shrimps — as well as by fishes.
-
3.
Wave action was the most important single factor affecting the community. Severe water movement and sand scouring caused extensive sloughing of the epifauna, and a pattern of settlement-growth-catastrophic mortality which limited biotic succession. Wave action was important also in the colonisation by mobile organisms and many of the invertebrates and small fishes were probably carried to the reef associated with drift weed and other storm flotsam.
-
4.
Seven species of fish were more or less permanent residents. There was little seasonal change in the number of fish species but fluctuation in the numbers of individuals occurred, brought about mainly by the effects of storms, and in some cases also by predation and the availability of food.
-
5.
Standing crop estimates of the fishes were 1.458 and 1.075 kg/m2, or about 10–14 times greater than that of nearby natural reefs. the bulk of the fish biomass, however, was contributed by a single species(Upeneichthys porosus) which inhabited the adjacent sand and was not directly supported by the reef itself.
Literature cited
Ayling, A. M., 1968. The ecology of sublittoral rock surfaces in northern New Zealand. Thesis, Univ. Auckland (unpubl.).
Brock, V. E., 1954. A preliminary report on a method of estimating reef fish populations. J. Wildl. Mgmt18, 197–308.
Buchanan, C. C., 1973. Effects of an artificial habitat on the marine sport fishery and economy of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. Mar. Fish. Rev.35 (9), 15–22.
Carlisle, J. G., Turner, C. H. &Ebert, E. E., 1964. Artificial habitat in the marine environment. Calif. Fish Game124, 1–94.
Clark, T. A., Flechsig, A. O. &Grigg, R. W., 1967. Ecological studies during project Sealab II. Science, N.Y.157, 1381–1389.
Coustalin, J. B., 1972. Méthodologie expérimentale en vue de la création des récifs artificiels. Téthys3, 827–840.
Crisp, D. J. &Ryland, J. S., 1960. Influence of filming and of surface texture on the settlement of marine organisms. Nature, Lond.185, 119.
Fager, E. W., 1971. Pattern in the development of a marine community. Limnol. Oceanogr.16, 241–253.
Fast, D. E. &Pagan-Font, F. A., 1973. Observations on an artificial reef of used vehicle tyres (Abstr.). Meet. Ass. Isl. mar. Labs Caribb.10, 57.
Hobson, E. S., 1968. Predatory behaviour of some shore fishes in the Gulf of California. Res. Rep. U.S. Fish. Wildl. Serv.73, 1–92.
Larcombe, M. F. &Russell, B. C., 1971. Egg laying behaviour of the broad squidSepioteuthis bilineata. N.Z. Jl mar. Freshwat. Res.5, 3–11.
Morris, D. E., 1967. Sea sled and SCUBA reconnaissance inshore areas and studies on the effects of artificial shelters on standing crops of fishes. Job Completion Rep. 1966. Div. Fish Game, Hawaii (unpubl.).
Oren, O. H., 1968. Artificial reefs — review and appeal. F.A.O. Fish. Circ.305, 1–8.
Randall, J. E., 1963. An analysis of the fish populations of artificial and natural reefs in the Virgin Islands. Caribb. J. Sci.3, 31–47.
Russell, B. C., 1971a. Artificial reef. Dive11 (3), 16–18.
—— 1971b. Ecological relationships of rocky reef fishes of north-eastern New Zealand. Thesis, Univ. Auckland (unpubl.).
Sanders, H. L., 1968. Marine benthic diversity, a comparative study. Am. Nat.102, 243–282.
Steimle, F. &Stone, R. B., 1973. Bibliography on artificial reefs. Publ. Coastal Plains Cent. mar. Dev. Serv.73 (2), 1–129.
Stone, R. B., Buchanan, C. C. &Steimle, F. W. Jr., 1974. Scrap tires as artificial reefs. Summ. Rep. U.S. Environment. Prot. Ag.SW-119, 1–33.
Turner, C. H., Ebert, E. E. &Given, R. R., 1969. Man-made reef ecology. Calif. Fish Game146, 1–221.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Russell, B.C. The development and dynamics of a small artificial reef community. Helgolander Wiss. Meeresunters 27, 298–312 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01611698
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01611698