A designed artificial reef is among the most productive marine fish habitats: new metrics to address ‘production versus attraction’

摘要: It was recently demonstrated that oil platforms are among the most productive marine fish habitats (Claisse et al. in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 111:15462–15467, 2014). Designed artificial reef systems similar, albeit smaller, modified designed to accommodate assemblages. We compared production at a large reported platforms. Given focus research on distinguishing between new and aggregated production, we used different approach of Claisse (Proc 2014) calculate based steady-state assumption. This assumption simplifies analysis distinguishes ‘local production’, ‘new ‘biomass flux’. Comparing biomass flux with standing stock enables address versus attraction debate, by revealing how much is exposed fishing has local production. The this 384 g m−2 year−1, which within 105–887 g m−2 year−1 range al., although our study included visitor species not estimate ecosystem may only be 4–5 % due abundance reef. annual across very large, ~380 times greater than biomass, meaning vulnerable overexploitation from fishing. Our results show like platforms, reefs can habitats, but greatly increase net system. method detailed here will allow similar studies done relatively simply other including aggregation devices.