Exeter Owen M, Broderick Annette C, Harrison Xavier A, Garzon Francesco, Morcom Sarah, Pender Ricky, Russell Trudy, Saunders Ian, Somerfield Paul J, Sugar Kate, Trundle Colin, Webber Julie, Hooper Tom, Metcalfe Kristian
Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK.
Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Ecol Appl. 2025 Sep;35(6):e70104. doi: 10.1002/eap.70104.
Marine protected areas (MPAs) often lack adequate data on the status of marine assemblages to support evidence-based management. Stereo baited remote underwater video (BRUV) systems offer a powerful, low-cost tool for collecting ecological data, yet they remain underutilized in the North East Atlantic, especially compared to more invasive methods such as fisheries surveys. Here, we demonstrate how a spatially comprehensive stereo-BRUV survey can generate benchmark data to support MPA management at an ecosystem scale, using an ecologically distinct oceanic archipelago as a case study. The archipelago's habitats were found to support high abundances of regionally targeted commercial species, including benthic catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) and European spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas), with ~12,000 individuals recorded representing 64 species and 44 families. Deeper, topographically complex reefs were found to support higher levels of richness and biomass, with sediment-specific increases in depth also driving demersal abundance. Stereo technology was additionally able to provide body size data for 43 species, with remoteness and shelter from exposure found to be common drivers of increased body size for indicator taxa. Survey results represent a contemporary benchmark for measuring changes in local MPA management, fisheries practices, and climate change impacts. The results also illustrate how spatially robust sampling methods and stereo-BRUV systems can facilitate more holistic, fisheries-independent data collection in UK and European waters.
海洋保护区（MPAs）往往缺乏关于海洋生物群落状况的充分数据来支持基于证据的管理。立体诱饵远程水下视频（BRUV）系统为收集生态数据提供了一种强大且低成本的工具，但在东北大西洋地区仍未得到充分利用，尤其是与渔业调查等更具侵入性的方法相比。在这里，我们以一个生态独特的海洋群岛为案例研究，展示了空间全面的立体BRUV调查如何能够生成基准数据，以支持生态系统规模的海洋保护区管理。研究发现，该群岛的栖息地拥有大量区域目标商业物种，包括底栖猫鲨（猫鲨科）和欧洲多刺龙虾（欧洲龙虾），记录到约12000个个体，代表64个物种和44个科。更深、地形复杂的珊瑚礁被发现支持更高水平的丰富度和生物量，深度特定的沉积物增加也推动了底栖生物的丰度。立体技术还能够为43个物种提供体型数据，发现偏远性和免受暴露的庇护是指示分类群体型增加的常见驱动因素。调查结果代表了衡量当地海洋保护区管理、渔业实践和气候变化影响变化的当代基准。结果还说明了空间稳健的采样方法和立体BRUV系统如何能够促进在英国和欧洲水域进行更全面、独立于渔业的数据收集。
