Self-recruitment in anemonefish and the impact of marine ornamental fishery in Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia: implications for management and conservation

Abstract

The yearly amount of traded by middlemen on Spermonde Archipelago (Indonesia) is estimated to about 140,000 specimens A. ocellaris and more than 31,000 anemones. Both A. ocellaris and sea anemone densities (p < 0.01) were significantly lower at reefs with a high exploitation than at reefs with a low exploitation. The size of A. ocellaris individuals was significantly smaller in Barrang Lompo than in Samalona (p < 0.01). The private alleles and allelic richness in Samalona were 4% significantly higher than in Barrang Lompo. The allelic richness was positively correlated with the fish density (p < 0.05). Fish stays largely in place despite its pelagic larvae stage (44 % - 60.7 % self-recruitment). The genetic relatedness revealed a close relation between individuals within a group of A. ocellaris in Barrang Lompo. Conversely, unrelated individuals of A. ocellaris in Samalona and of A. perideraion in Barrang Lompo were observed. Altogether, these results provide important insights how marine ornamental fishery has impacted the population of anemonefish and its host in Spermonde Archipelago.