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Reserves in Central California,Part I (PDF,4.9 MB), Part II (PDF, 4.8MB)
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Abstract
The average length of rockfish (genus Sebastes) was significantly greater in 2 of the 3 reserve sites, as was the proportion of larger fish. Population density and size differences combined to produce substantially greater biomass and therefore reproductive potential per unit of area within the reserves. The magnitude of these effects seems to be influenced by the reserves age. While our results demonstrate that current levels of fishing pressure influence kelp forest rockfish populations, differences between the reserves and adjacent non-reserves are surprisingly small. We discuss a number of reasons why the influences of fishing on kelp forest ecosystems may be greater, or at least different, than our findings indicate. Potentially confounding influences include the very small size of the reserves, effects of historical fishing, poaching, spillover effects on adult and larval populations from reserve to non-reserve habitats, and the possibility that catastrophic phase shifts induced by human disturbances have altered both reserve and non-reserve areas. |
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