Data from 5,525 in-water reef fish surveys conducted between 1- and 30-m depth reveal predictable depth-dependent zonation across the Pacific Ocean, particularly in the absence of a local human population. By contrast, relationships between depth and biomass were reduced or absent at populated islands, which suggests a human impact on depth-dependent ecological organization.
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This is a summary of: Richardson, L. E. et al. Local human impacts disrupt depth-dependent zonation of tropical reef fish communities. Nat. Ecol. Evol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02201-x (2023).
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Depth zonation of reef fish is predictable but disrupted on contemporary coral reefs. Nat Ecol Evol 7, 1759–1760 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02202-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02202-w
