Abstract
Rocky reefs provide important spawning and refuge habitats for lithophilic spawning fishes. However, many reefs have been lost or severely degraded through anthropogenic effects like dredging, channelization, or sedimentation. Constructed reefs have been used to mitigate these effects in some systems, but these reefs are also subject to degradation which may warrant custodial maintenance. Monitoring and maintenance of natural or constructed spawning reefs are not common practices; therefore, few methodologies have been created to test the effectiveness of such tools. We conducted a literature review to assess available information on maintenance of rocky spawning habitats used by lithophilic fishes. We identified 54 rocky spawning habitat maintenance projects, most of which aimed to improve fish spawning habitats through the addition of spawning substrate (n = 33) or cleaning of substrate (n = 23). In comparison to shallow riverine studies focused on salmonids, we found little information on deep-water reefs, marine reefs, or other fish species. We discuss the possible application of potential spawning habitat cleaning methods from other disciplines (e.g., treasure hunting; archeology) that may provide effective means of reef maintenance that can be used by restoration practitioners.
Highlights
IntroductionRocky reefs are historically important fish habitats that can increase fish abundance locally [1], serve as biodiversity hotspots [2,3], and provide spawning, nursery, and refuge habitats [4,5,6].Habitat requirements vary by species and life stage (e.g., egg, larvae, juvenile, or adult); different fishes and life history stages benefit from rocky reefs differently
Rocky reefs are historically important fish habitats that can increase fish abundance locally [1], serve as biodiversity hotspots [2,3], and provide spawning, nursery, and refuge habitats [4,5,6].Habitat requirements vary by species and life stage; different fishes and life history stages benefit from rocky reefs differently
There were 54 rocky spawning habitat maintenance projects found that met the criteria for inclusion in the literature review (Table 1)
Summary
Rocky reefs are historically important fish habitats that can increase fish abundance locally [1], serve as biodiversity hotspots [2,3], and provide spawning, nursery, and refuge habitats [4,5,6].Habitat requirements vary by species and life stage (e.g., egg, larvae, juvenile, or adult); different fishes and life history stages benefit from rocky reefs differently. Rocky reefs are historically important fish habitats that can increase fish abundance locally [1], serve as biodiversity hotspots [2,3], and provide spawning, nursery, and refuge habitats [4,5,6]. Gravel habitats beds serve purpose for recruitment potential in deeper waters [8]. Gravel beds serve the same purpose for salmonids and salmonids and other riverine species in shallow water environments [9,10]. Despite their importance, other riverine species shallow water environments [9,10]
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