@article {508,
	title = {Habitat connectivity as a factor affecting fish assemblages in temperate reefs},
	journal = {Aquatic Biology},
	volume = {1},
	year = {2008},
	abstract = {<p>Habitat connectivity exerts a significant effect on the structure of  biological communities. However, it is generally difficult to study such  an effect while controlling for other specific components of habitat  structure. Here, temperate fish assemblages were studied in artificial  reefs in localities differing chiefly in connectivity among complex  habitat patches. Total fish abundance and biomass were higher in  localities with high habitat connectivity, while species evenness  followed the opposite trend. In most cases, the assemblages can also be  distinguished by composition and relative abundance of species, as well  as multispecies variability. Species responses were related to specific  ecological profiles. Small species and those with restricted mobility  were associated with high habitat connectivity. By contrast,  medium-sized, off-reef foragers and vagile species were associated with  reef isolation. The abundance ratio between 2 representative families of  both groups of species, labrids and sparids, confirmed this finding.  The temporal consistency of the observed patterns was also studied. The  assemblages differed between periods of the year in terms of species  composition and relative abundances. Total fish abundance, number of  species and evenness were higher during the cold period than the warm,  due to the presence of transient species. The results highlight the  importance of habitat connectivity for the conservation and management  of Mediterranean reef fishes.</p>},
	keywords = {artificial reef, assemblage, biomass, Castellamare, connectivity, conservation, fish, fish abundance, fish assemblage, fishery reserve, habitat, habitat connectivity, Italy, labridae, management, Mediterranean sea, population, reefs, Sicilia, sparidae, spatial heterogeneity, temporal heterogeneity, trend, western Mediterranean},
	author = {T. Vega Fernandez and G. D{\textquoteright}Anna and F. Badalamenti and A. P{\'e}rez-Ruzafa}
}
