Harasti David, Martin-Smith Keith, Gladstone William
Fisheries Research, Marine Ecosystems, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Nelson Bay, New South Wales, Australia.
School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania.
PLoS One. 2014 Aug 19;9(8):e105462. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105462. eCollection 2014.
Seahorses are iconic charismatic species that are often used to 'champion' marine conservation causes around the world. As they are threatened in many countries by over-exploitation and habitat loss, marine protected areas (MPAs) could help with their protection and recovery. MPAs may conserve seahorses through protecting essential habitats and removing fishing pressures. Populations of White's seahorse, Hippocampus whitei, a species endemic to New South Wales, Australia, were monitored monthly from 2006 to 2009 using diver surveys at two sites within a no-take marine protected areas established in 1983, and at two control sites outside the no-take MPA sites. Predators of H. whitei were also identified and monitored. Hippocampus whitei were more abundant at the control sites. Seahorse predators (3 species of fish and 2 species of octopus) were more abundant within the no-take MPA sites. Seahorse and predator abundances were negatively correlated. Substantial variability in the seahorse population at one of the control sites reinforced the importance of long-term monitoring and use of multiple control sites to assess the outcomes of MPAs for seahorses. MPAs should be used cautiously to conserve seahorse populations as there is the risk of a negative impact through increased predator abundance.
海马是具有标志性魅力的物种，常被用于在全球范围内“倡导”海洋保护事业。由于它们在许多国家受到过度捕捞和栖息地丧失的威胁，海洋保护区（MPA）有助于对其进行保护和恢复。海洋保护区可以通过保护关键栖息地和消除捕捞压力来保护海马。2006年至2009年期间，对澳大利亚新南威尔士州特有的怀特氏海马（Hippocampus whitei）种群进行了每月监测，在1983年设立的一个禁捕海洋保护区内的两个地点以及禁捕海洋保护区外的两个对照地点，采用潜水员调查的方式进行。还对怀特氏海马的捕食者进行了识别和监测。怀特氏海马在对照地点更为丰富。海马捕食者（3种鱼类和2种章鱼）在禁捕海洋保护区内更为丰富。海马和捕食者的丰度呈负相关。其中一个对照地点的海马种群存在很大的变异性，这凸显了长期监测以及使用多个对照地点来评估海洋保护区对海马保护效果的重要性。在保护海马种群时应谨慎使用海洋保护区，因为存在因捕食者数量增加而产生负面影响的风险。
