Vertical zonation and functional diversity of fish assemblages revealed by ROV videos at oil platforms in The Gulf

An assessment of vertical distribution, diel migration, taxonomic and functional diversity of fishes was carried out at offshore platforms in The (Arabian–Iranian–Persian) Gulf. Video footage was recorded at the Al Shaheen oil field between 2007 and 2014 using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). A to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of fish biology 2017-09, Vol.91 (3), p.947-967
Main Authors: Torquato, F., Jensen, H. M., Range, P., Bach, S. S., Ben‐Hamadou, R., Sigsgaard, E. E., Thomsen, P. F., Møller, P. R., Riera, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundance
Animals
artificial reef
Behavior, Animal
Biodiversity
Carnivores
Carnivorous animals
Community participation
Depth
Distribution
Drilling rigs
Fish
Fishes - physiology
Food Chain
functional traits
Iran
Migration
Migrations
Ocean floor
Offshore
Offshore drilling rigs
Offshore platforms
Oil
Oil and Gas Fields
Oil fields
Persian gulf
Population Dynamics
Qatar
Remotely operated vehicles
Robotics
ROPME Sea
Species diversity
Taxonomy
Underwater vehicles
Unmanned vehicles
Vertical distribution
Zonation
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Summary:An assessment of vertical distribution, diel migration, taxonomic and functional diversity of fishes was carried out at offshore platforms in The (Arabian–Iranian–Persian) Gulf. Video footage was recorded at the Al Shaheen oil field between 2007 and 2014 using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). A total of 12 822 individual fishes, from 83 taxonomic groups were recorded around the platforms. All the species identified are considered native to The Gulf, although Cyclichthys orbicularis and Lutjanus indicus were recorded for the first time in Qatari waters. Several trends were uncovered in the vertical distribution of the fish community; most species were observed between 20 and 50 m depth and fish abundance decreased towards the bottom, with the highest abundances recorded in the upper layers, i.e. down to 40 m depth. Vertical variation in fish diversity, however, was generally not accompanied by differences in vertical movements. Carnivores and invertivores were the dominant trophic groups, being found at each depth range from surface to seabed. The functional indices showed no significant differences between water depths or diel cycles. The study demonstrates that oil platforms represent a hotspot of fish diversity and interesting sites for studying fish communities, abundance and behaviour.
ISSN:0022-1112
1095-8649
DOI:10.1111/jfb.13394