From fronds to fish the use of indicators for eco

Authors: Dan A Smale Timothy J Langlois Gary A Kendrick Jessica J Meeuwig Euan S Harvey

Publish Date: 2010/09/15

Volume: 21, Issue: 3, Pages: 311-337

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Abstract

Ecological indicators are used for monitoring in marine habitats the world over With the advent of Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management EBFM the need for cost effective indicators of environmental impacts and ecosystem condition has intensified Here we review the development utilisation and analysis of indicators for monitoring in marine benthic habitats and outline important advances made in recent years We use the unique speciose benthic system of Western Australia WA as a detailed case study as the development of indicators for EBFM in this region is presently ongoing and major environmental drivers eg climate change and fishing practices are currently influencing WA marine systems As such the work is biased towards but not restricted to indicators that may be important tools for EBFM such as biodiversity surrogates and indicators of fishing pressure The review aimed to 1 provide a concise uptodate account of the use of ecological indicators in marine systems 2 discuss the current and potential applications of indicators for ecological monitoring in WA and 3 highlight priority areas for research and pressing knowledge gaps We examined indicators derived from benthic primary producers benthic invertebrates and fish to achieve these goalsDS and TL are postdoctoral research associates funded by the Western Australian Marine Science Institute WAMSI This study forms part of a WAMSI project to assist with the implementation of an Ecosystem Approach to the management of fisheries resources We thank L Bellchambers B Molony and D Gaughan Department of Fisheries WA and Pippa Moore for useful comments on an earlier draught of the review

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