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Unusual reef fish biomass and functional richness at Malpelo, a remote island in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

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Abstract

Fish assemblages can vary across temporal and spatial scales due to changes in habitat structure and the influence of local factors such as wave exposure, depth and anthropogenic influence. This study presents a description of species richness, functional richness, density and biomass of fish assemblages of Malpelo Island, a Marine Protected Area located in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) region and considered a World Heritage site. Underwater visual censuses (n = 103) from two years and a local checklist were used to characterize the reef fish assemblage of Malpelo Island. Our results show a numerical dominance, during both sampling years, by the planktivore species Chromis atrilobata and Apogon atradorsatus, which are regional TEP endemic species. Among the most striking results found were the high biomass values (706.2 g/m2 ± 73.2 in 2010 and 879 g/m2 ± 116.2 in 2015) of large-bodied TEP endemic piscivorous species and the high functional diversity represented mainly by vulnerable species. The dominance in density and biomass of regional endemic species exemplifies the high endemism level within the TEP. High levels of fish biomass and functional richness suggest that Malpelo is one of the most pristine and vulnerable sites within the TEP region. Thus, Malpelo island represents a baseline for untouched assemblages in this marine province, as well as a priority area for conservation at the national and international level.

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Acknowledgements

This study was carried out under the “Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape” initiative. We thank C.G. Muñoz, D. Lozano-Cortes, J. Tavera for help in the field, D. Diaz-Cánova, M. Bender, A.B. Anderson, A.N. Orians, M.S. Dias, Daura-Jorge, F, Hernandez-Medina M. Joyeux J.C. and two anonymous reviewers for all suggestions on earlier versions of this manuscript. J.P.Q. thanks CAPES (Brazil) for financial support. We also acknowledge Fundación Malpelo y Otros Ecosistemas Marinos for logistic organization, Colombian National Natural Parks for permits, Conservation International, UNESCO, The Walton Family Foundation and Fondo para la Acción Ambiental y la Niñez for the opportunity and funds for research at Malpelo’s Sanctuary of Flora and Fauna.

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  1. Juan P. Quimbayo

    Present address: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88010-970, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88010-970, Brazil

    Sergio R. Floeter

  2. Laboratório de Biogeografia e Macroecologia Marinha, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88010-970, Brazil

    Juan P. Quimbayo & Sergio R. Floeter

  3. Grupo de Investigación en Ecología de Arrecifes Coralinos, Universidad del Valle, Apartado Aéreo, 25360, Cali, Colombia

    Juan P. Quimbayo & Fernando A. Zapata

  4. Institute de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR “Entropie”, Labex Corail, Université de Perpignan, 66000, Perpignan, France

    Thiago C. Mendes & Michel Kulbicki

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Fig. S1

Comparison between the two sampling years 2010 and 2015. (a) Species richness, (b) functional richness, (c) density and (d) biomass. Each color represents a different year (dark blue for 2010 and light blue for 2015). Boxplots show medians (black line), mean (red diamond), upper and lower quartiles, and 95% confidence intervals. Red lines in A and B, represent the standardized number of surveys. Each point represents an underwater visual census (GIF 128 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 4.79 mb)

Fig. S2

Comparison of the density (a) and biomass (b) between endemic species and non-endemic species. Only families that have endemic species were considered for this comparison. Boxplots show medians (black line), upper and lower quartiles, and 95% confidence intervals. Each point represents an UVC (GIF 88.2 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 4.81 mb)

Fig. S3

Comparison of the biomass from Malpelo Island with others oceanic islands considered as pristine. Each color represents a different trophic group of fish assemblage (GIF 94.7 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 4.80 mb)

Table S1

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Quimbayo, J.P., Mendes, T.C., Kulbicki, M. et al. Unusual reef fish biomass and functional richness at Malpelo, a remote island in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Environ Biol Fish 100, 149–162 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-016-0557-y

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