Publication Abstract

Predicting the vulnerability oftropical reef fishes to exploitation using phylogenies and life histories

S. Jennings, J.D. Reynolds and N.V.C. Polunin

Fishinghas led to local extirpations of reef fishes. For conservation and management purposes, itis important to identify all those species that are vulnerable to fishing, but this cannotbe done using a priori assessments or by describing trends in abundance because thenecessary scientific resources are not available. Thus the predictions of vulnerabilitythat provide the basis for conservation action will have to be made with existing data ordata that can be acquired rapidly before further extirpations occur. The life histories of species may determine their responses to exploitation, and we describe how an easilymeasured parameter, maximum observed size, is related to population trends of exploitedfishes on coral reefs. Using a phylogenetic comparative approach, we demonstrated thatspecies of grouper (Epinephelinae), snapper (Lutjanidae), and parrotfish (Scaridae) thatdecreased in abundance more than their nearest phylogenetic relative bad greater maximumsize. Our results suggest that one can predict the vulnerability of reef fishes toexploitation based on responses of their relatives. The quality of the prediction was goodfor the intensively fished groupers and snappers but poor for the lightly fishedparrotfishes. Our approach may help proactive conservationists and fishery managersidentify and conserve vulnerable species in new, developing, or lightly exploitedfisheries, thereby reducing their reliance on reactive management methods.

Reference:

S. Jennings, J.D. Reynolds and N.V.C. Polunin, 1999. Predicting the vulnerability oftropical reef fishes to exploitation using phylogenies and life histories. ConservationBiology, 13: 1466-1475