The potential for spatial distribution indices to signal thresholds in marine fish biomass

Emilie Reuchlin-Hugenholtz; Nancy L. Shackell; Jeffrey A. Hutchings

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120500

The potential for spatial distribution indices to signal thresholds in marine fish biomass

Emilie Reuchlin-Hugenholtz, Nancy L. Shackell, Jeffrey A. Hutchings

Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The frequently observed positive relationship between fish population abundance and spatial distribution suggests that changes in distribution can be indicative of trends in abundance. If contractions in spatial distribution precede declines in spawning stock biomass (SSB), spatial distribution reference points could complement the SSB reference points that are commonly used in marine conservation biology and fisheries management. When relevant spatial distribution information is integrated into fisheries management and recovery plans, risks and uncertainties associated with a plan based solely on the SSB criterion would be reduced. To assess the added value of spatial distribution data, we examine the relationship between SSB and four metrics of spatial distribution intended to reflect changes in population range, concentration, and density for 10 demersal populations (9 species) inhabiting the Scotian Shelf, Northwest Atlantic. Our primary purpose is to assess their potential to serve as indices of SSB, using fisheries independent survey data. We find that metrics of density offer the best correlate of spawner biomass. A decline in the frequency of encountering high density areas is associated with, and in a few cases preceded by, rapid declines in SSB in 6 of 10 populations. Density-based indices have considerable potential to serve both as an indicator of SSB and as spatially based reference points in fisheries management.

Original language	English
Article number	e120500
Journal	PLoS One
Volume	10
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120500
Publication status	Published - Mar 19 2015

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to acknowledge Daniel Ricard and David Keith for their support and assistance with this study. We thank the referees for their comments. This study would not have been possible without the support of the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, the Dalhousie Biology Department and Cox Fisheries Scientist Award, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, for which we are grateful.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Reuchlin-Hugenholtz et al.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
General

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1371/journal.pone.0120500

Cite this

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abstract = "The frequently observed positive relationship between fish population abundance and spatial distribution suggests that changes in distribution can be indicative of trends in abundance. If contractions in spatial distribution precede declines in spawning stock biomass (SSB), spatial distribution reference points could complement the SSB reference points that are commonly used in marine conservation biology and fisheries management. When relevant spatial distribution information is integrated into fisheries management and recovery plans, risks and uncertainties associated with a plan based solely on the SSB criterion would be reduced. To assess the added value of spatial distribution data, we examine the relationship between SSB and four metrics of spatial distribution intended to reflect changes in population range, concentration, and density for 10 demersal populations (9 species) inhabiting the Scotian Shelf, Northwest Atlantic. Our primary purpose is to assess their potential to serve as indices of SSB, using fisheries independent survey data. We find that metrics of density offer the best correlate of spawner biomass. A decline in the frequency of encountering high density areas is associated with, and in a few cases preceded by, rapid declines in SSB in 6 of 10 populations. Density-based indices have considerable potential to serve both as an indicator of SSB and as spatially based reference points in fisheries management.",

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The potential for spatial distribution indices to signal thresholds in marine fish biomass

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

UN SDGs

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