@article{fdi:010094343,
  title = {{D}rivers of fish diversity and size spectra across lagoonal habitats of the {T}oliara reef system ({SW} {M}adagascar)},
  author = {{J}aonalison, {H}. and {G}r{\'e}goire, {M}. and {M}ahafina, {J}. and {M}waluma, {J}. and {R}avelohasina, {H}. {B}. and {N}omenisoa, {A}. {L}. and {M}ory, {T}. {J}. and {R}anivoarivelo, {L}. and {P}onton, {D}ominique and {F}r{\'e}d{\'e}rich, {B}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}ize-spectra and taxonomic diversity are important indicators to study the dynamics of communities and to inform conservation in aquatic ecosystems. {T}o date, few studies aimed at modelling the distribution of reef fish diversity at small spatial scales (similar to 10 km) have been done. {B}ased on a one-year fish sampling using trawl nets, we described and modeled the distribution of fish diversity and their size spectra across various coastal habitats in the {T}oliara reef system ({SW} {M}adagascar). {O}ur data revealed a significant spatial and seasonal change of taxonomic diversity. {B}eta-diversity was mainly driven by species turnover with up to 75 %, indicating the important conservation value of the sampled sites. {F}ish size spectra slope emphasized the high dominance of small-sized fish on the sites close to the shoreline indicating their potential nursery zones. {B}y combining environmental and geographic data with the use of the machine learning algorithm {R}andom {F}orest, we demonstrated the geographic position of sites and associated habitat features were the foremost drivers of alpha-diversity and size spectra patterns (50-64 % of variation). {T}he use of {G}eneralized {D}issimilarity {M}odels revealed sediment cover was the main predictor of species turnover patterns (62 % of explained variation), with a rapid increase of species replacement within the first 2 km from the coast. {B}eyond a confirmation of the role of habitat features on biodiversity, our study emphasized the importance of distance to the shoreline on the distribution of fish diversity across the lagoon. {T}his unexpected driver is discussed in the light of various anthropogenic factors including fisheries and sedimentation.},
  keywords = {{S}eagrass beds ; {F}ish communities ; {S}ubstrate features ; {S}horeline distance ; {M}achine learning ; {C}onservation ; {MADAGASCAR} ; {OCEAN} {INDIEN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}arine {E}nvironmental {R}esearch},
  volume = {210},
  numero = {},
  pages = {107330 [14 p.]},
  ISSN = {0141-1136},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107330},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010094343},
}