Multiple Fish Species Supplement Predation in Estuaries Despite the Dominance of a Single Consumer

Abstract Predation is important in maintaining the community structure, functioning and ecological resilience of estuarine seascapes. Understanding how predator seascape context habitat condition combine to influence predation vital managing ecosystems. We measured relationships between species richness, abundance individual abundances as well condition, on relative probability mangrove forests, seagrass meadows unvegetated sediment across 11 estuaries Queensland, Australia. was quantified using videoed assays tethered invertebrates (i.e. ghost nippers, Trypaea australiensis ) fish assemblages were surveyed remote underwater video systems. Yellowfin bream ( Acanthopagrus australis dominated all three habitats; however, not correlated with yellowfin abundance. Instead, increased fourfold mangroves threefold when predatory richness highest (> 3 species), 10 individuals). forests a lower pneumatophore density (< 50/m 2 ). In seagrass, at sites that had greater extent 2000 m longer shoot lengths 30 cm) closer m) estuary mouth. more extensive salt marshes 15000 nearby. These findings demonstrate importance supplementing estuaries, despite dominance single species, highlight can have strong effects estuaries.