Seascape connectivity of temperate fishes between estuarine nursery areas and open coastal reefs

While estuaries are considered valuable nurseries for many harvested fish species, little quantitative data exist about the spatial scales over which supply individuals to coastal reefs and how this influences metapopulations. Quantifying connectivity between will assist sustainable management of fisheries key habitat. This information is particularly pertinent considering world-wide experiencing degradation habitat loss. We examine relative abundance body length three exploited fishes (Chrysophrys auratus, Pseudocaranx georgianus Nemadactylus douglasii) varied in relation proximity size nearest estuary, predicting that estuarine dependent species (i.e. C. auratus) would be smaller more abundant on close large estuaries. As a network ‘no-take’ marine reserves across study area, we also assessed reserve effects if these were influenced by Fish assemblages surveyed using baited remote underwater video systems deployed 629 rocky 417 km coastline south-eastern Australia. predicted, auratus adjacent (<8.5 km), consistent with being heavily reliant as nursery habitats. Neither nor N. douglasii P. or Marine consistently had higher abundances larger regardless their However, variable both georgianus. Synthesis applications. Our results suggest dispersal subadult Chrysophrys from occurs relatively small scales, highlighting conserving ecological functioning paramount sustaining recruitment nearby fisheries. Estuary influence populations not greatly found did enhance effects, instead area.