A trophic model of fringing coral reefs in Nanwan Bay, southern Taiwan suggests overfishing

Pi Jen Liu; Kwang Tsao Shao; Rong Quen Jan; Tung Yung Fan; Saou Lien Wong; Jiang Shiou Hwang; Jen Ping Chen; Chung Chi Chen; Hsing Juh Lin

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2009.04.009

A trophic model of fringing coral reefs in Nanwan Bay, southern Taiwan suggests overfishing

Pi Jen Liu, Kwang Tsao Shao, Rong Quen Jan, Tung Yung Fan, Saou Lien Wong, Jiang Shiou Hwang, Jen Ping Chen, Chung Chi Chen, Hsing Juh Lin^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Life Science

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

37 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Several coral reefs of Nanwan Bay, Taiwan have recently undergone shifts to macroalgal or sea anemone dominance. Thus, a mass-balance trophic model was constructed to analyze the structure and functioning of the food web. The fringing reef model was comprised of 18 compartments, with the highest trophic level of 3.45 for piscivorous fish. Comparative analyses with other reef models demonstrated that Nanwan Bay was similar to reefs with high fishery catches. While coral biomass was not lower, fish biomass was lower than those of reefs with high catches. Consequently, the sums of consumption and respiratory flows and total system throughput were also decreased. The Nanwan Bay model potentially suggests an overfished status in which the mean trophic level of the catch, matter cycling, and trophic transfer efficiency are extremely reduced.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	106-117
Number of pages	12
Journal	Marine Environmental Research
Volume	68
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2009.04.009
Publication status	Published - 2009 Sept

Keywords

Ecopath
Food web
Macroalgae
Network analysis
Phase shift

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Pollution

UN SDGs

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

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10.1016/j.marenvres.2009.04.009

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title = "A trophic model of fringing coral reefs in Nanwan Bay, southern Taiwan suggests overfishing",

abstract = "Several coral reefs of Nanwan Bay, Taiwan have recently undergone shifts to macroalgal or sea anemone dominance. Thus, a mass-balance trophic model was constructed to analyze the structure and functioning of the food web. The fringing reef model was comprised of 18 compartments, with the highest trophic level of 3.45 for piscivorous fish. Comparative analyses with other reef models demonstrated that Nanwan Bay was similar to reefs with high fishery catches. While coral biomass was not lower, fish biomass was lower than those of reefs with high catches. Consequently, the sums of consumption and respiratory flows and total system throughput were also decreased. The Nanwan Bay model potentially suggests an overfished status in which the mean trophic level of the catch, matter cycling, and trophic transfer efficiency are extremely reduced.",

keywords = "Ecopath, Food web, Macroalgae, Network analysis, Phase shift",

author = "Liu, {Pi Jen} and Shao, {Kwang Tsao} and Jan, {Rong Quen} and Fan, {Tung Yung} and Wong, {Saou Lien} and Hwang, {Jiang Shiou} and Chen, {Jen Ping} and Chen, {Chung Chi} and Lin, {Hsing Juh}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was financially supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan and Kenting National Park. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Villy Christensen of the Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Canada, for fruitful discussions. Comments by two anonymous reviewers were helpful in revising the manuscript.",

year = "2009",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.marenvres.2009.04.009",

language = "English",

volume = "68",

pages = "106--117",

journal = "Marine Environmental Research",

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AU - Liu, Pi Jen

AU - Shao, Kwang Tsao

AU - Jan, Rong Quen

AU - Fan, Tung Yung

AU - Wong, Saou Lien

AU - Hwang, Jiang Shiou

AU - Chen, Jen Ping

AU - Chen, Chung Chi

AU - Lin, Hsing Juh

N1 - Funding Information: This study was financially supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan and Kenting National Park. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Villy Christensen of the Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, Canada, for fruitful discussions. Comments by two anonymous reviewers were helpful in revising the manuscript.

PY - 2009/9

Y1 - 2009/9

N2 - Several coral reefs of Nanwan Bay, Taiwan have recently undergone shifts to macroalgal or sea anemone dominance. Thus, a mass-balance trophic model was constructed to analyze the structure and functioning of the food web. The fringing reef model was comprised of 18 compartments, with the highest trophic level of 3.45 for piscivorous fish. Comparative analyses with other reef models demonstrated that Nanwan Bay was similar to reefs with high fishery catches. While coral biomass was not lower, fish biomass was lower than those of reefs with high catches. Consequently, the sums of consumption and respiratory flows and total system throughput were also decreased. The Nanwan Bay model potentially suggests an overfished status in which the mean trophic level of the catch, matter cycling, and trophic transfer efficiency are extremely reduced.

AB - Several coral reefs of Nanwan Bay, Taiwan have recently undergone shifts to macroalgal or sea anemone dominance. Thus, a mass-balance trophic model was constructed to analyze the structure and functioning of the food web. The fringing reef model was comprised of 18 compartments, with the highest trophic level of 3.45 for piscivorous fish. Comparative analyses with other reef models demonstrated that Nanwan Bay was similar to reefs with high fishery catches. While coral biomass was not lower, fish biomass was lower than those of reefs with high catches. Consequently, the sums of consumption and respiratory flows and total system throughput were also decreased. The Nanwan Bay model potentially suggests an overfished status in which the mean trophic level of the catch, matter cycling, and trophic transfer efficiency are extremely reduced.

KW - Ecopath

KW - Food web

KW - Macroalgae

KW - Network analysis

KW - Phase shift

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A trophic model of fringing coral reefs in Nanwan Bay, southern Taiwan suggests overfishing

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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