A first assessment of the distribution and abundance of large pelagic species at Cocos Ridge seamounts (Eastern Tropical Pacific) using drifting pelagic baited remote cameras.

Marta Cambra,Alex Hearn,Frida Lara-Lizardi,Patricia Zarate,César Peñaherrera-Palma,Carlos Chacón,Esteban Herrera,Jenifer Suárez-Moncada,James T Ketchum,Mario Espinoza,Johann Mourier

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0244343

Abstract

Understanding the link between seamounts and large pelagic species (LPS) may provide important insights for the conservation of these species in open water ecosystems. The seamounts along the Cocos Ridge in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) ocean are thought to be ecologically important aggregation sites for LPS when moving between Cocos Island (Costa Rica) and Galapagos Islands (Ecuador). However, to date, research efforts to quantify the abundance and distribution patterns of LPS beyond the borders of these two oceanic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been limited. This study used drifting-pelagic baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) to investigate the distribution and relative abundance of LPS at Cocos Ridge seamounts. Our drifting-pelagic BRUVS recorded a total of 21 species including elasmobranchs, small and large teleosts, dolphins and one sea turtle; of which four species are currently threatened. Depth of seamount summit was the most significant driver for LPS richness and abundance which were significantly higher at shallow seamounts (< 400 m) compared to deeper ones (> 400m). Distance to nearest MPA was also a significant predictor for LPS abundance, which increased at increasing distances from the nearest MPA. Our results suggest that the Cocos Ridge seamounts, specifically Paramount and West Cocos which had the highest LPS richness and abundance, are important aggregation sites for LPS in the ETP. However, further research is still needed to demonstrate a positive association between LPS and Cocos Ridge seamounts. Our findings showed that drifting pelagic BRUVS are an effective tool to survey LPS in fully pelagic ecosystems of the ETP. This study represents the first step towards the standardization of this technique throughout the region.

Highlights

Quantifying the spatial distribution and abundance of pelagic species is critical to effectively manage and protect their populations in the open oceans [1,2,3]
Most research effort on large pelagic species (LPS) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) have concentrated inside Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) [21,22,23,24], and there is currently limited information available on the role that seamounts play on the population structure and dynamics of LPS in this region
Our results suggest that Cocos Ridge seamounts connecting Cocos Island (Costa Rica) and the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) are important aggregation sites for wide ranging marine species such as elasmobranchs, large teleosts, dolphins and sea turtles

Summary

Introduction

Quantifying the spatial distribution and abundance of pelagic species (hereafter referred to as species that spend the majority of their lives inhabiting the upper layers of the water column in oceanic waters) is critical to effectively manage and protect their populations in the open oceans [1,2,3]. The Cocos Ridge is a chain of seamounts in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) ocean that connects Cocos Island (Costa Rica) and the Galapagos archipelago (Ecuador) (Fig 1) [11]. These two oceanic island groups are considered biodiversity hotspots in the ETP because of their high apex predator biomass [12,13]. They are important no-take Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and UNESCO World Heritage Sites within the ETP [14,15]. Most research effort on LPS in the ETP have concentrated inside MPAs [21,22,23,24], and there is currently limited information available on the role that seamounts play on the population structure and dynamics of LPS in this region ( see [25])

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Discussion

Conclusion