Fish assemblages in locations with alternative structured habitats in an eelgrass, Zostera, dominated bay: Biodiversity value and potential for refuge

Abstract

The eelgrass, Zostera, is a key habitat for fish productivity in southern Australia, but it is also susceptible to major declines, as in Western Port, Victoria in the 1970s. The fish assemblages in Zostera in Western Port have been relatively well studied, but assemblages in locations with alternative habitats, and their spatial and temporal variability, have been poorly studied. This means that the ability of these locations to serve as refuge areas in periods of Zostera decline is unknown. Two primary sampling methods were used for sampling locations with alternative habitats. Underwater stereo video was used to sample locations with higher water clarity and dominated by Amphibolis, reef-m..