DOI: 10.5061/dryad.g46q7
title: Data from: Impacts of predator depletion by fishing on the biomass and diversity of non-target reef fish communities

description: An understanding of the indirect effects of fishing on predator-prey
 relationships is required for the development of valid multispecies yield
 models for reef fisheries and for determining the factors governing fish
 community structure at larger scales. We used an underwater visual census
 technique to examine the indirect effects of fishing on the biomass and
 diversity (species richness) of reef fishes in a series of ten traditional
 Fijian fishing grounds (qoliqoli) subject to a range of fishing
 intensities. All members of the families Chaetodontidae (butterflyfishes),
 Labridae (wrasses), Lutjanidae (snappers), Mullidae (goatfishes), Scaridae
 (parrotfishes) and the sub-family Epinephelinae (groupers and coral trout)
 which could be reliably identified were censused. Each species censused
 was assigned to one of three trophic groups: herbivore, invertebrate
 feeder or piscivore. The biomass of all piscivorous fishes and of large
 (&gt;30 cm) piscivorous fishes differed significantly between qoliqoli
 and was significantly correlated with fishing intensity. However, the
 biomass of piscivorous fishes was not correlated with the biomass or
 diversity of their potential prey (which were not targeted by the
 fishery). This suggested that the indirect effects of fishing did not have
 an important bearing on fish diversity or biomass and that predation by
 the target species did not play an important role in structuring these
 Fijian reef fish communities. The results contrast with those from a
 number of studies at smaller scales and provided further indications that
 the structure of reef fish communities is not governed by a single
 dominant process, but by a range of processes which operate on different
 scales in different circumstances.
description: Reef fish size and
 abundance data from underwater visual census surveys in
 FijiThe data file comprises
 25536 length estimates for 144 species of reef fishes recorded by
 underwater visual census in 10 adjoining coral reef areas spanning the
 western coast of Kadavu Island, Fiji. These data were collected during one
 phase of a larger study of reef fish community structure, fisheries and
 fishing impacts in Fiji. Habitat cover data were collected at the same
 time as the fish census data and are provided as a separate file. Data
 collection is described in detail in Jennings, S. and Polunin, N.V.C.
 (1997) "Impacts of predator depletion by fishing on the biomass and
 diversity of non-target reef fish communities" (Coral Reefs, 16,
 71-82). Additional descriptions of the data structure and data collection
 process are provided in the accompanying "readme"
 file.Fiji_reef_fish_Jennings_Polunin_1997.csvHabitat data from underwater visual census surveys in FijiThe data file comprises mean habitat descriptors for 7 sites in each of 10 adjoining coral reef areas spanning the western coast coast of Kadavu Island, Fiji. The habitat descriptors are percentage cover of living corals, rock, sand and rubble, a measure of habitat complexity and depth. These data were collected during one phase of a larger study of reef fish community structure, fisheries and fishing impacts in Fiji. Fish census data were collected at the same time as the habitat data and are provided as a separate file. Data collection is described in detail by Jennings, S. and Polunin, N.V.C. (1997) “Impacts of predator depletion by fishing on the biomass and diversity of non-target reef fish communities” (Coral Reefs, 16, 71-82). Additional descriptions of the data structure and data collection process are provided in the accompanying "readme" file.Fiji_habitat_Jennings_Polunin_1997.csv