作者: Fabián Pina-Amargós , Gaspar González-Sansón , Félix Martín-Blanco , Abel Valdivia
DOI: 10.7717/PEERJ.274
关键词:
摘要: Marine reserves can restore fish abundance and diversity in areas impacted by overfishing, but the effectiveness of developing countries where resources for enforcement are limited, have seldom been evaluated. Here we assess whether establishment 1996 largest marine reserve Caribbean, Gardens Queen Cuba, has had a positive effect on commercially valuable reef species relation to neighboring unprotected areas. We surveyed 25 sites, including two habitats (reef crest slope), inside outside reserve, five different months, over one-and-a-half year period. Densities ten most frequent, highly targeted, relatively large showed significant variability across archipelago both that depended month survey. These tendency towards higher months during study. Average densities pooled protection level, however, out these were at least two-fold significantly than one or habitats. Supporting evidence from previously published studies area indicates habitat complexity major benthic communities similar while fishing pressure appeared be homogeneous before establishment. Although poaching may occur within especially boundaries, effective was plausible explanation patterns observed.