Nursery provision of red-algal habitats in temperate Algoa Bay, South Africa

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This study examines the importance of both macroalgal heterogeneity and specific macroalgal species or morphotypes to nursery provision for juvenile sparids (Diplodus capensis and Sarpa salpa) in a shallow (< 2 m), sheltered rocky cove in warm-temperate Algoa Bay, South Africa. The rocky cove is comprised of a mosaic of two main benthic habitats; canopy-forming Plocamium corallorhiza beds on rocky outcrops and flat reef dominated by low growing red algae morphotypes. We assessed macroalgal communities and the trophic ecology (stomach contents and isotopes), abundance and size structure of D. capensis and S. salpa in the two different benthic habitats and the resources/food associated with the dominant macroalgae species/morphotypes. We found high densities of S. salpa and D. capensis, in both high profile reef (rocky outcrops) and low profile (flat) reef. Within this habitat mosaic resources (epiphytes and macroinvertebrates) were more abundant in the non-canopy forming low growing macroalgae (Laurencia spp. and coralline turf algae) and these algae were also assimilated in the diets of both sparids. The high abundance of both juvenile S. salpa and D. capensis in high profile and low profile reef, suggests that within this mosaic of habitats these species may be using canopy-forming algae in the high profile reef for shelter and non-canopy forming algae in both the high and low profile reef for food. This shows that macroalgal habitats comprising several morphotypes have the potential to support higher juvenile diversity and abundance through both food provision and shelter.