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204 results on '"Pittman, Simon"'

13. Fish–Seascape Associations Within an Offshore Protected Area in the Arabian Gulf.

Author

Kembrey, Holly, Pittman, Simon J., Bejarano, Ivonne, Blanco‐Parra, María del Pilar, Jabado, Rima W., Yaghmour, Fadi, and Mateos‐Molina, Daniel

Subjects
*CORAL reefs & islands, *MARINE parks & reserves, *CORALS, *FISH populations, *MULTISCALE modeling, *MARINE biodiversity, *CORAL reef restoration
Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems support high fish biodiversity through ecological interactions with structural complexity across multiple spatial scales including coral colony architecture and the surrounding seascape structure. In an era where the complexity of coral reef ecosystems is being diminished, understanding the importance of structural characteristics beyond single focal patches has the potential to better inform actions for protecting, restoring or creating habitat for reef‐associated species. A seascape ecology approach was applied to explore the associations between multiple scales of seascape structure and fish assemblage response variables within a small (49.6 km2) offshore no‐take MPA, Sir Bu Nair Island Protected Area, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Fish–seascape associations were modelled with single regression trees. Both in situ and remote sensing–derived variables produced the best models with highest contributions from coral cover, amount of hard‐bottom habitat type and structural complexity of the seafloor terrain. Fish species richness was significantly higher where coral cover exceeded 35%. The hard‐bottom areas with coral supported diverse assemblages dominated by carnivorous and omnivorous fishes. The Sir Bu Nair Island Protected Area provides a critical refuge for threatened and regionally overexploited species including those with low resilience to fishing. The ecological success of this protected area is key to safeguarding regional marine biodiversity and recovering fish populations to enhance food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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14. Development of a reef fish biological condition gradient model with quantitative decision rules for the protection and restoration of coral reef ecosystems

Author

Bradley, Patricia, Jessup, Ben, Pittman, Simon J., Jeffrey, Christopher F.G., Ault, Jerald S., Carrubba, Lisamarie, Lilyestrom, Craig, Appeldoorn, Richard S., Schärer, Michelle T., Walker, Brian K., McField, Melanie, Santavy, Deborah L., Smith, Tyler B., García-Moliner, Graciela, Smith, Steven G., Huertas, Evelyn, Gerritsen, Jeroen, Oliver, Leah M., Horstmann, Christina, and Jackson, Susan K.

Published
2020
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19. Structure‐from‐motion photogrammetry demonstrates that fine‐scale seascape heterogeneity is essential in shaping mesophotic fish assemblages

Author

Swanborn, Denise J. B., Stefanoudis, Paris V., Huvenne, Veerle A. I., Pittman, Simon J., Woodall, Lucy C., Scales, Kylie, and Jones, Alice

Subjects
Ecology, Computers in Earth Sciences, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Nature and Landscape Conservation
Abstract

Benthic components of tropical mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are home to diverse fish assemblages, but the effect of multiscale spatial benthic characteristics on MCE fish is not well understood. To investigate the influence of fine-scale benthic seascape structure and broad-scale environmental characteristics on MCE fish, we surveyed fish assemblages in Seychelles at 30, 60 and 120 m depth using submersible video transects. Spatial pattern metrics from seascape ecology were applied to quantify fine-scale benthic seascape composition, configuration and terrain morphology from structure-from-motion photogrammetry and multibeam echosounder bathymetry and to explore seascape–fish associations. Hierarchical clustering using fish abundance and biomass data identified four distinct assemblages separated by the depth and geographic location, but also significantly influenced by variations in fine-scale seascape structure. Results further revealed variable responses of assemblage characteristics (fish biomass, abundance, trophic group richness, Shannon diversity) to seascape heterogeneity at different depths. Sites with steep slopes and high terrain complexity hosted higher fish abundance and biomass, with shallower fish assemblages (30–60 m) positively associated with aggregated patch mixtures of coral, rubble, sediment and macroalgae with variable patch shapes. Deeper fish assemblages (120 m) were positively associated with relief and structural complexity and local variability in the substratum and benthic cover. Our study demonstrates the potential of spatial pattern metrics quantifying benthic composition, configuration and terrain structure to delineate mesophotic fish–habitat associations. Furthermore, incorporating a finer-scale perspective proved valuable to explain the compositional patterns of MCE fish assemblages. As developments in marine surveying and monitoring of MCEs continue, we suggest that future studies incorporating spatial pattern metrics with multiscale remotely sensed data can provide insights will that are both ecologically meaningful to fish and operationally relevant to conservation strategies.

Published
2022
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21. Multi-habitat carbon stock assessments to inform nature-based solutions for coastal seascapes in arid regions

Author

Carpenter, Stephen, Evans, Claire, Pittman, Simon J., Antonopoulou, Marina, Bejarano, Ivonne, Das, Himansu S., Möller, Mona, Peel, Kate, Samara, Fatin, Stamoulis, Kostantinos A., Mateos-Molina, Daniel, Carpenter, Stephen, Evans, Claire, Pittman, Simon J., Antonopoulou, Marina, Bejarano, Ivonne, Das, Himansu S., Möller, Mona, Peel, Kate, Samara, Fatin, Stamoulis, Kostantinos A., and Mateos-Molina, Daniel

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are integral to global carbon cycling and are increasingly recognised for their role in mitigating climate change. Within these ecosystems, the dynamics of carbon storage are diverse, varying significantly across different habitats. However, existing management strategies often focus predominantly on vegetated habitats neglecting the contributions of non-vegetated areas. We address this knowledge gap by providing a quantitative spatial assessment of carbon storage across coastal seascapes varying in plant biomass. Our comprehensive multi-habitat inventory of carbon stocks in the United Arab Emirates confirmed that mangroves are the largest carbon-storing habitat per hectare (94.3 t/ha), followed by saltmarshes (63.6 t/ha), microbial mats (51.6 t/ha), mudflats (46.8 t/ha), seagrass (32.5 t/ha), and coastal sabkha (31.0 t/ha).Mean carbon content in the top 50 cm of mangrove soils (53.9 t/ha) was similar to saltmarshes (52.7 t/ha), microbial mats (51.6 t/ha), and mudflats (46.8 t/ha). We highlight the importance of including non-vegetated habitats in carbon accounting and management strategies. Our findings suggest that a more context-specific whole-system approach is essential for guiding effective ecosystem management and designing ecologically meaningful Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Adopting this broader perspective in NbS can ensure more comprehensive conservation and restoration outcomes, which not only protect and enhance blue carbon ecosystems but also contribute to broader ecological and social benefits. This approach is pivotal for advancing our understanding of interconnected coastal ecosystems and their role in climate change mitigation.

Published
2023

25. LiDAR Applications

Author

Pittman, Simon J., Costa, Bryan, Wedding, Lisa M., Goodman, James A., editor, Purkis, Samuel J., editor, and Phinn, Stuart R., editor

Published
2013
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29. Habitat suitability models of elkhorn coral provide ecological insight to support coral reef restoration.

Author

Yuen, Benedict, Stuart, Courtney E., Pittman, Simon J., Green, Stephanie J., Henderson, Leslie M., and Wedding, Lisa M.

Subjects
CORAL reefs & islands, CORAL reef restoration, CORALS, HABITATS, MARINE parks & reserves, ACROPORA, OCEAN acidification, WATER pollution
Abstract

Coral reefs are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress from global warming, ocean acidification, fishing, and water pollution. In the Caribbean and Western Atlantic, multiple stressors have resulted in widespread losses of the dominant reef‐building Acroporid corals, two of which are listed as threatened species under the 1973 U.S. Endangered Species Act. In response, active coral reef restoration through the outplanting of live corals has become a widespread intervention technique. To increase restoration success, active coral reef restoration requires significant investment and careful planning, and selection of suitable sites for coral outplanting is an essential early step with considerable influence on restoration outcomes. We applied a maximum entropy model to predict and map habitat suitability for the reef‐building coral species, Acropora palmata, around the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Based mostly on bathymetry and benthic habitat type, the highest performing model predicted approximately 21.75 km2 of the highest probability of suitable habitat, of which over half occurred within existing marine protected areas (MPAs). Outplanted coral at 60% of sites coincided with predicted maximum habitat suitability index values greater than 0.75 and 35% with values greater than 0.90. The model reveals that all three statutory MPAs with shallow water coral reefs have a considerable area (13.24 km2) of predicted high suitability seabed with potential for active A. palmata restoration efforts. The predictive spatial modeling approach provides a cost‐effective tool to inform future coral restoration design and to evaluate the habitat suitability of coral outplanting sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2023
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49. Bringing seascape ecology to the deep seabed: A review and framework for its application

Author

Swanborn, Denise J.B., Huvenne, Veerle, Pittman, Simon J., Woodall, Lucy C., Swanborn, Denise J.B., Huvenne, Veerle, Pittman, Simon J., and Woodall, Lucy C.

Abstract

Seascape ecology is an emerging pattern-oriented and integrative science conceptually linked to landscape ecology. It aims to quantify multidimensional spatial structure in the sea and reveal its ecological consequences. The seascape ecology approach has made important advances in shallow coastal environments, and increasing exploration and mapping of the deep seabed provides opportunities for application in the deep ocean. We argue that seascape ecology, with its integrative and multiscale perspective, can generate new scientific insights at spatial and temporal scales relevant to ecosystem-based management. Seascape ecology provides a conceptual and operational framework that integrates and builds on existing benthic ecology and habitat mapping research by providing additional pattern-oriented concepts, tools and techniques to (1) quantify complex ecological patterns across multiple scales; (2) link spatial patterns to biodiversity and ecological processes; and (3) provide ecologically meaningful information that is operationally relevant to spatial management. This review introduces seascape ecology and provides a framework for its application to deep-seabed environments. Research areas are highlighted where seascape ecology can advance the ecological understanding of deep benthic environments.

Published
2021

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