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Species richness and identity both determine the biomass of global reef fish communities

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan S. Lefcheck

    (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center)

  • Graham J. Edgar

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Rick D. Stuart-Smith

    (University of Tasmania)

  • Amanda E. Bates

    (Memorial University of Newfoundland
    University of Victoria)

  • Conor Waldock

    (Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich
    Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern)

  • Simon J. Brandl

    (The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute)

  • Stuart Kininmonth

    (The University of South Pacific, Laucala Bay Road)

  • Scott D. Ling

    (University of Tasmania)

  • J. Emmett Duffy

    (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center)

  • Douglas B. Rasher

    (Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences)

  • Aneil F. Agrawal

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

Changing biodiversity alters ecosystem functioning in nature, but the degree to which this relationship depends on the taxonomic identities rather than the number of species remains untested at broad scales. Here, we partition the effects of declining species richness and changing community composition on fish community biomass across >3000 coral and rocky reef sites globally. We find that high biodiversity is 5.7x more important in maximizing biomass than the remaining influence of other ecological and environmental factors. Differences in fish community biomass across space are equally driven by both reductions in the total number of species and the disproportionate loss of larger-than-average species, which is exacerbated at sites impacted by humans. Our results confirm that sustaining biomass and associated ecosystem functions requires protecting diversity, most importantly of multiple large-bodied species in areas subject to strong human influences.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan S. Lefcheck & Graham J. Edgar & Rick D. Stuart-Smith & Amanda E. Bates & Conor Waldock & Simon J. Brandl & Stuart Kininmonth & Scott D. Ling & J. Emmett Duffy & Douglas B. Rasher & Aneil F. A, 2021. "Species richness and identity both determine the biomass of global reef fish communities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27212-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27212-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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