@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}
}
@article {409,
	title = {Effects of fish feeding by snorkellers on the density and size distribution of fishes in a Mediterranean marine protected area},
	journal = {Marine Ecology},
	year = {2005},
	abstract = {<p>Although there is a great deal of evidence to show that supplementary  feeding by humans in terrestrial environments causes pronounced changes  in the distribution and behaviour of wild animals, at present very  little is known about the potential for such effects on marine fish.  This study evaluated the consequences of feeding by snorkellers on fish  assemblages in the no-take area of the Ustica Island marine protected  area (MPA; western Mediterranean) by (1) determining if reef fish  assemblage structure is affected in space and time by tourists feeding  the fish; (2) assessing the effects of feeding on the abundance of the  most common fish species; and (3) assessing the effects of feeding on  the size structure of the two most numerically dominant ones. In  particular, we hypothesised that both the abundance and the size  structure of some fish species would increase at the study site  following supplementary feeding, since the additional food provided by  humans would make the site more appealing to them. Fish feeding  influenced the fish assemblages within the Ustica MPA, and significant  spatio-temporal changes occurred. While fish feeding appeared to have no  effect on the ornate wrasse Thalassoma pavo, there was a noticeable  increase in the number of Oblada melanura and Epinephelus marginatus in  the impacted location after feeding. It is very likely that aggregations  of fishes that evolve as a result of fish feeding by the public may  have negative effects on local populations of fishes and invertebrates  that make up their prey. Recreational use of coastal areas and MPAs is  increasing elsewhere, making fish feeding a generalised human activity.  Accurate information about its effect on the fish assemblage is  essential to make responsible management decisions.</p>},
	keywords = {assemblage, decision making, density, distribution, dusky, environment, Epinephelus marginatus, fish, fish assemblage, fish-feeding, human impact, impact, invertebrate, island, Italy, management, marine protected area, Mediterranean sea, no-take area, Oblada melanura, population, protected area, recreation, reef fish assemblage, serranidae, size, spatial heterogeneity, temporal heterogeneity, Thalassoma pavo, Ustica, western Mediterranean},
	author = {M. Milazzo and R. Chemello and T. Vega Fernandez and F. Badalamenti}
}
