Appendix A. A table comparing the gut contents of California sheephead in 1980–1982 and 2007.

A table comparing the gut contents of California sheephead in 1980–1982 and 2007

Sheephead Predation Trial Results

Results of field predation trials in which 15 urchins of three size classes (S,M,L) and two species (R, P) were presented in prey choice arenas. The size of sheephead attacking and consuming urchins in the arenas were recorded inside and outside of reserves at Catalina Island in August 2010

Sheephead Surveys at Catalina

Sheephead abundance and size distribution were quantified using SCUBA surveys in August 2010 and August 2011. Fish were surveyed on five 30 m × 2 m transects conducted in two reef zones (the inner [~10 m depth] and outer [~15 m depth] edges of the kelp bed at each site) in each year. Sizes were estimated visually to the nearest cm (total length [TL]) by divers experienced in estimating fish lengths

Supplementary Figures for “Protection of large predators in a marine reserve alters size-dependent prey mortality” by R. L. Selden, S. D. Gaines, S. L. Hamilton, and R. R. Warner in Proceedings of the Royal Society B"

Figures S1-S

Appendix A. A summary of the literature review and list of studies referenced in Fig. 3.

A summary of the literature review and list of studies referenced in Fig. 3

First quantification of subtidal community structure at Tristan da Cunha Islands in the remote South Atlantic: from kelp forests to the deep sea

<div><p>Tristan da Cunha Islands, an archipelago of four rocky volcanic islands situated in the South Atlantic Ocean and part of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), present a rare example of a relatively unimpacted temperate marine ecosystem. We conducted the first quantitative surveys of nearshore kelp forests, offshore pelagic waters and deep sea habitats. Kelp forests had very low biodiversity and species richness, but high biomass and abundance of those species present. Spatial variation in assemblage structure for both nearshore fish and invertebrates/algae was greatest between the three northern islands and the southern island of Gough, where sea temperatures were on average 3-4^o colder. Despite a lobster fishery that provides the bulk of the income to the Tristan islands, lobster abundance and biomass are comparable to or greater than many Marine Protected Areas in other parts of the world. Pelagic camera surveys documented a rich biodiversity offshore, including large numbers of juvenile blue sharks, <i>Prionace glauca</i>. Species richness and abundance in the deep sea is positively related to hard rocky substrate and biogenic habitats such as sea pens, crinoids, whip corals, and gorgonians were present at 40% of the deep camera deployments. We observed distinct differences in the deep fish community above and below ~750 m depth. Concurrent oceanographic sampling showed a discontinuity in temperature and salinity at this depth. While currently healthy, Tristan’s marine ecosystem is not without potential threats: shipping traffic leading to wrecks and species introductions, pressure to increase fishing effort beyond sustainable levels and the impacts of climate change all could potentially increase in the coming years. The United Kingdom has committed to protection of marine environments across the UKOTs, including Tristan da Cunha and these results can be used to inform future management decisions as well as provide a baseline against which future monitoring can be based.</p></div

First quantification of subtidal community structure at Tristan da Cunha Islands in the remote South Atlantic: from kelp forests to the deep sea

<div><p>Tristan da Cunha Islands, an archipelago of four rocky volcanic islands situated in the South Atlantic Ocean and part of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), present a rare example of a relatively unimpacted temperate marine ecosystem. We conducted the first quantitative surveys of nearshore kelp forests, offshore pelagic waters and deep sea habitats. Kelp forests had very low biodiversity and species richness, but high biomass and abundance of those species present. Spatial variation in assemblage structure for both nearshore fish and invertebrates/algae was greatest between the three northern islands and the southern island of Gough, where sea temperatures were on average 3-4^o colder. Despite a lobster fishery that provides the bulk of the income to the Tristan islands, lobster abundance and biomass are comparable to or greater than many Marine Protected Areas in other parts of the world. Pelagic camera surveys documented a rich biodiversity offshore, including large numbers of juvenile blue sharks, <i>Prionace glauca</i>. Species richness and abundance in the deep sea is positively related to hard rocky substrate and biogenic habitats such as sea pens, crinoids, whip corals, and gorgonians were present at 40% of the deep camera deployments. We observed distinct differences in the deep fish community above and below ~750 m depth. Concurrent oceanographic sampling showed a discontinuity in temperature and salinity at this depth. While currently healthy, Tristan’s marine ecosystem is not without potential threats: shipping traffic leading to wrecks and species introductions, pressure to increase fishing effort beyond sustainable levels and the impacts of climate change all could potentially increase in the coming years. The United Kingdom has committed to protection of marine environments across the UKOTs, including Tristan da Cunha and these results can be used to inform future management decisions as well as provide a baseline against which future monitoring can be based.</p></div

Linear mixed models testing the effects of island, site, and depth zone on patterns of invertebrate and macroalgal density and lobster biomass among the Tristan da Cunha islands.

<p>Density and biomass were square root transformed. Statistically significant p-values are in bold text. Density and biomass were square root transformed. Presented for the random effect of site are Wald p-values and percent of total variance explained.</p

Map of the study region.

<p>Map depicts the locations of the Tristan da Cunha Islands in the South Atlantic (top) and locations of scuba surveys (<i>n</i> = 34), pelagic camera surveys (<i>n</i> = 26), and deep sea benthic camera surveys (<i>n</i> = 23) in the four islands of the Tristan da Cunha Islands group (bottom).</p

Fish biomass and density-site means.

<p>Bubble plots depicting site-level variation in fish biomass, density, and species composition of kelp forest fish communities in the four Tristan da Cunha Islands. Shown are plots of (A) fish biomass and (B) fish density. Bubble size scales with the biomass or density estimated using site-level means of SCUBA surveys.</p