The ecology of surf-zone fishes on ocean shores: a review

Surf-zones are recognized to perform many important ecological functions for fish, which warrant more attention from research in the disciplines of ecology, fish biology and conservation. Some surf-zone fish species support... [ view full abstract ]

Surf-zones are recognized to perform many important ecological functions for fish, which warrant more attention from research in the disciplines of ecology, fish biology and conservation. Some surf-zone fish species support intense commercial and recreational fisheries and, therefore, possibly suffer from the poor attention these ecosystems are afforded in conservation planning exercises. This review synthesizes published material on the ecology of surf-zone fish from ocean beaches (134 studies), provides an overview of the current state of knowledge, and identifies key priorities for future research. It addresses the following questions: (1) Which thematic areas has research on surf-zone fish covered?; (2) What is the taxonomic composition of fish assemblages in surf-zones?; (3) Which are the most commonly identified environmental drivers thought to structure surf-zone fish communities?; (4) What are the main functions of surf-zone habitats for fishes?; (5) What are the paradigms that govern surf-zone fish ecology research?; and (6) How can future research integrate advanced ecological concepts that are being applied in other marine ecosystems? Surf zones fish communities are dominated by few species and are subject to high temporal variability. However, a surprisingly large number of fish species and families utilize this habitat as an interface between estuaries and offshore ecosystems, or as a spawning, nursery or feeding ground. To date, research has focused on a narrow range of topics with a limited geographic distribution of research effort, and has been restricted by four key limitations: (1) sampling gear restrictions; (2) limited knowledge of fish life-history strategies and the importance of connectivity with other habitats; (3) poor integration of modern frameworks in spatial ecology; and (4) little adoption of innovative research techniques from other disciplines. It is time to overcome the limitations and ensconced paradigms that have hampered the field to improve our ability to manage surf-zone ecosystems.