Habitat type and complexity drive fish assemblages in a tropical seascape

Inshore marine seascapes support a diversity of interconnected habitats and are an important focus for biodiversity conservation. This study examines the importance habitat attributes to fish assemblages across mosaic inshore habitats: coral reefs, rocky macroalgae beds sand/rubble beds. Fishes benthic were surveyed at 34 sites around continental islands central Great Barrier Reef using baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS). Species richness was influenced foremost by type also structural complexity within types. The most speciose occurred in reef with high complexity, provided presence bommies/overhangs, boulders rock crevices. Nonetheless, supported unique species, therefore contributed overall seascape. Most trophic groups had positive associations which predictor abundance piscivorous fishes mobile planktivores. There significant differentiation among habitats, notable exception reefs. overlapped substantially between 60% common despite cover being lower on suggests that, many substrates can provide equivalent structure, emphasizing providing refuges, highlighting contribution reefs provision tropical seascapes. results this emerging recognition collective value mosaics ecosystems.