@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}
}
