ABSTRACT: Environmental variation influences fish assemblage structure; however, fish assemblage composition shifts due to natural or anthropogenic stressors have been observed in marine ecosystems worldwide, altering ecosystem structure and function, and fisheries sustainability. Previous research in waters off North and South Carolina (USA) was limited in scope and repeatability or did not quantify fish assemblages at a scale suitable for monitoring composition shifts. Concurrent chevron traps, underwater video, and environmental data from an annual fishery-independent survey were used to characterize the environment and enumerate demersal reef fishes caught in the traps, and priority fish species observed in video in depths ~15-110 m. Multivariate analyses detected assemblage patterns and environmental influences. An 8-variable (distance to shelf edge, depth, consolidated substrate size, latitude, percent biotic cover, temperature, undercut height, biotic class) model predicted assemblages, while 4 variables explained the greatest variation (distance to shelf edge [19%], depth [15%], consolidated substrate vertical relief [4%], size [4%]). The largest number of discriminator species occurred in mid- to outer shelf areas with greater substrate complexity (i.e. increasing substrate size and relief). Assemblages dominated by Centropristis striata at depths (~15-40 m) with little substrate complexity transitioned towards assemblages dominated by Pagrus pagrus, higher prevalence of larger-bodied predators, and invasive Pterois spp. at depths (~40-110 m) with greater substrate complexity. Understanding baseline assemblage characteristics and natural drivers of variability in fish assemblage structure is vital to conservation and management efforts that monitor changes in population abundance, the presence/absence of key species, and stressor-induced modifications of local assemblages, which are all measures of ecological health that underpin comprehensive assessments and management.

中文翻译：

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环境因素对美国大西洋东南部礁鱼群落结构的影响

摘要：环境变化影响鱼类组合结构；然而，在世界各地的海洋生态系统中观察到由于自然或人为压力因素导致的鱼类群落组成变化，改变了生态系统的结构和功能以及渔业的可持续性。以前在北卡罗来纳州和南卡罗来纳州（美国）附近水域的研究在范围和可重复性方面受到限制，或者没有在适合监测成分变化的规模上量化鱼类组合。同时使用人字形陷阱、水下视频和来自独立于渔业的年度调查的环境数据来描述环境特征并列举在陷阱中捕获的底栖礁鱼，以及视频中在约 15-110 m 深度观察到的优先鱼种。多变量分析检测到组合模式和环境影响。一个 8 变量（到货架边缘的距离、深度、固结基质尺寸、纬度、生物覆盖百分比、温度、底切高度、生物类别）模型预测了组合，而 4 个变量解释了最大的变化（到货架边缘的距离 [19%]） ，深度 [15%]，固结基材垂直起伏 [4%]，尺寸 [4%]）。最大数量的鉴别物种出现在具有更大底物复杂性（即增加底物尺寸和起伏）的中到外陆架区域。组合占主导地位 最大数量的鉴别物种出现在具有更大底物复杂性（即增加底物尺寸和起伏）的中到外陆架区域。组合占主导地位 最大数量的鉴别物种出现在具有更大底物复杂性（即增加底物尺寸和起伏）的中到外陆架区域。组合占主导地位Centropristis striata在深度（~15-40 m），底物复杂性很小，转变为以Pagrus pagrus为主的组合，体型较大的捕食者的流行率较高，以及入侵的Pterois spp。在深度（~40-110 m）具有更大的基底复杂性。了解基线组合特征和鱼类组合结构变异的自然驱动因素对于监测种群丰度变化、关键物种的存在/缺失以及压力源引起的局部组合变化的保护和管理工作至关重要，这些都是生态系统的衡量标准。健康是综合评估和管理的基础。