Logging degrades nursery habitat for an iconic coral reef fish

摘要: Abstract The loss of nursery habitats is widely believed to contribute disproportionally declines in abundance and productivity fish populations. However, it has been difficult establish links between the processes threatening nurseries changes population demography. Here we show that juvenile bumphead parrotfish ( Bolbometopon muricatum ), an iconic coral reef species globally threatened, depend on a highly specific micro-habitat vulnerable sedimentation from logging operations. We conducted surveys fringing reefs Solomon Islands. Surveys covered around island selectively logged, where there no logging. B. juveniles were restricted shallow lagoonal fringed mangrove forested shorelines had high proportion live branching corals, with smallest settlers found Acropora aspera micropthalma colonies occupied by damselfish. Statistical path models indicated 24 times decline near operations due mediating effect habitat loss, possible direct abundance. Our study shows can pose significant threat near-shore highlights role sustaining recruitment