Evidence of artificial habitat use by a recovering marine predator in southern California. Issue 6 (8th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burns, Echelle S.; Clevenstine, Alyssa J.; Logan, Ryan K.; Lowe, Christopher G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 97:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 1857
• Page End: 1860
• Publication Date: 2020-10-08
• Subjects: acoustic telemetry -- artificial reefs -- giant sea bass -- Stereolepis gigas -- VPS -- wastewater; Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14539
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

Abstract: The giant sea bass Stereolepis gigas Ayres 1859 (GSB) is a critically endangered top marine predator in California. Since protection in 1982 and 1994, the population has appeared to increase, and individuals within a growing population may expand their ranges to new habitats to reduce intraspecific competition and increase foraging opportunities. In 2016–2018, two GSB tagged with acoustic transmitters were detected at artificial reefs for periods of up to 3 months during October–March, and one individual travelled 53 km from an offshore island to mainland California in 56 h. Artificial reefs may provide important foraging opportunities for these protected marine predators as they recover from exploitation.