Rates of piscivory predict pharyngeal jaw morphology in a piscivorous lineage of cichlid fishes

The pharyngeal jaw apparatus is a key innovation hypothesised to increase foraging efficiency and facilitate utilisation of novel resources among teleost fishes. Here, we tested whether dietary characteristics could predict pharyngeal jaw morphology among eight species of Neotropical Crenicichla. Additionally, we tested the hypothesis that pharyngeal jaws may impose a functional constraint on piscivory via pharyngeal gape. We quantified the shape of the lower pharyngeal jaw (LPJ) using linear and geometric morphometrics and quantified diet using the relative volumetric proportions of prey items. We used principal component analysis to describe major axes of variation in LPJ shape and dietary patterns. The major axis of dietary variation significantly predicted LPJ morphology, which was driven by a significant relationship between LPJ shape and rates of piscivory. We also found that rates of piscivory predicted size‐corrected LPJ depth. Size‐corrected pharyngeal gape also significantly predicted rates of piscivory such that pharyngeal jaws may constrain piscivory by limiting pharyngeal gape. Strong form‐to‐function linkage between pharyngeal morphology and trophic patterns suggests an adaptive quality of the pharyngeal apparatus but may also impose functional constraints when consumers must switch prey or when prey availability is temporally or spatially unpredictable.     

Salmon of the Southeastern U.S.: Sucker migrations deliver resource subsidies to oligotrophic stream

The ability for migratory fishes to move commonly limiting resources such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) between discrete environments can have pronounced effects on recipient ecosystems. To further understand the geographic and taxonomic scope of migratory fish resource subsidies, we quantified N and P subsidies delivered by adfluvial suckers (Smallmouth Buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus) via excretion, eggs and carcasses to a small oligotrophic stream during their annual spawning migration. We also compared nutrient inputs from migrant buffalo with watershed nutrient export to assess the likelihood that delivered nutrients were ecologically important. We estimated that approximately 67,000 buffalo delivered 730 kg of N and 80 kg of P to Citico Creek as a result of excretion and egg subsidies across three migration waves. We estimated that carcasses delivered negligible amounts of N and P due to extremely low retention. The ratio of migrant inputs (M_w) to system export (E_w; M_w/E_w) varied amongst three migration waves and compounds (i.e. dissolved inorganic nitrogen, ammonium and soluble reactive phosphorus), with values for M_w/E_w ranging from 0.25 to 5.10, reflecting the potential of nutrient subsidies to exceed nutrients exported from the system under certain conditions. Our findings suggest that suckers have the potential to deliver large resource subsidies to their spawning habitats and that these subsidies may be ecologically important, thus warranting additional consideration of the functional relevance of nongame fishes and their migrations.     

Higher nitrogen and phosphorus immobilization in bioflocs is associated with higher temperature and increased suspended solids in shrimp farming with biofloc technology

High stocking density aquaculture can result in major environmental impacts such as waste disposal with high organic matter. In order to overcome this issue, biofloc technology (BFT) has arisen as an alternative to lower effluent nutrient loading by promoting dense microbial communities that control water quality through the assimilation of inorganic nutrients. Given the central role of microorganisms in nutrients storage, the aim of this study was to evaluate the elemental composition of bioflocs and free‐living microorganisms and to determine which environmental factors are associated with the variation in their stoichiometric ratios (C:N:P) in shrimp farming systems. Samples were taken in marine shrimp farms, and the stoichiometric ratios from bioflocs and free‐living microorganisms were analysed, as well as physical and chemical water quality variables. The C:N ratios were lower, and N:P ratios were higher in the free‐living microorganisms than bioflocs. The C:P and N:P ratios of the biofloc were lower at higher temperature and total suspended solids (TSS). We concluded that the elemental composition of the bioflocs is richer in C and P and that systems with higher temperature and higher TSS have a greater ability to absorb and immobilize these elements in the bioflocs.     

桓仁水库初级生产力和限制性营养盐研究

2018年4月10日、6月11日、8月14日在桓仁水库的上游(江南九队)、中游(砬砬岗子)和下游(泗河大地)3个站位用500 mL具塞磨口瓶盛装采水器采集的水库水样,进行限制性营养盐原位试验,同时测定水中溶解氧和初级生产力,并检测分析水体理化指标,以查明辽宁桓仁水库氮磷分布、营养盐限制和初级生产力状况,保护桓仁水库生态系统的结构和功能完整性。试验结果显示,营养盐加富试验中,0.5 mg/mL氮+0.3 mg/mL磷的添加组可显著提高水体中的溶解氧水平(P<0.05);上游和中游氮磷比为2∶1、下游氮磷比为4∶1可显著提高水体中的溶解氧水平(P<0.05);初级生产力随季节变化特征明显,原始P/R系数均小于试验组。根据试验结果分析得知,桓仁水库营养盐限制因素受季节变化的影响显著,具有氮、磷双限制等特征;根据初级生产力判断桓仁水库为自养代谢型水体。     

Study on limiting nutrients and phytoplankton at long‐line‐culture areas in Laizhou Bay and Sanggou Bay,northeastern China

• 1. Concentrations of major nutrients (NH₄⁺‐N, NO₃^?‐N, NO₂^?‐N, HPO₄^?‐P, Si(OH)₄‐Si) were measured, nutrient enrichment experiments (oxygen‐production bioassay) were conducted and phytoplankton were analysed at typical long‐line‐culture areas in Laizhou Bay and Sanggou Bay, northeastern China, from March 2001 to March 2002.
• 2. Generally, much variation of nutrient indices was detected among the sampling stations, between the two bays and in different seasons: the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) fluctuated more violently and ranged much more widely in Sanggou Bay. N‐limitation was usually found in both bays, and the ranking of limiting potentials of major nutrients was N>Fe>P=Si in Laizhou Bay and N>P>Fe>Si in Sanggou Bay. Diatoms dominated the phytoplankton community in Sanggou Bay, but only dominated in eight months (with flagellates dominant in four months) in Laizhou Bay.
• 3. Linear and nonparametric correlation analyses suggested that a large number of the nutrient and phytoplankton variables measured have intrinsic relationships within themselves. Much more complicated correlations between phytoplankton and nutrient indices were found in Laizhou Bay than in Sanggou Bay. This, together with the violent fluctuations of DIN concentrations, indicated a more fragile ecosystem stability in Sanggou Bay.
• 4. The relatively exposed locations and less crowded settings of the rafts in the long‐line‐culture areas in Laizhou Bay allowed for a better water exchange, and the effect of aquaculture activity on the environment was not significant. Because of the intensity of aquaculture activities in Sanggou Bay, the biological, chemical and physical characteristics in the bay are greatly affected; a reduced cultivation density based on more comprehensive studies of carrying capacity of the bay is suggested.

Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Outdoor phytoplankton continuous culture in a marine fish–phytoplankton–bivalve integrated system: combined effects of dilution rate and ambient conditions on growth rate, biomass and nutrient cycling

Natural phytoplankton populations were cultured in outdoor continuous cultures using fish-farm effluents as the source of nutrients. The dilution rate was assumed to be the integrating factor of phytoplankton growth and biomass development (flux and stock). In this context, the combined effects of (i) dilution rates of the outdoor culture and (ii) ambient conditions were tested on phytoplankton growth, biomass and cycling of the major nutrient elements (C, N and P). Experiments were carried out in outdoor polyester tanks (0.7 m deep), homogenised by gentle aeration. Si/P ratio was balanced at around 5 in the inflow in order to induce diatom domination while maintaining high N and P assimilation by phytoplankton. Nutrient cycling was assessed through analyses of the different forms of particulate and dissolved nutrients in the inflow and the outflow. Culture dilution rates determined the longevity of the culture and the assimilation efficiency of nutrients. Dissolved phosphorus was the most limiting nutrient. The optimal dilution rate was approximately 0.5 day⁻¹ at 10 °C and 1.5 day⁻¹ at 20 °C with a mean diatom biomass of 9 μM P. Under these conditions, 80% of the dissolved nutrients provided to the tanks were transformed, a production of 8 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ and an assimilation rate of 0.3 g P m⁻² day⁻¹ were recorded. Assimilation by diatoms was the major pathway of nutrient cycling. During the experiment, a bottom sediment developed progressively and this also played an important role in denitrifying the excess dissolved nitrogen in the fish-farm effluent. However, the results showed that diatom biomass can collapse and we hypothesize that this was the consequence of an increase in cellular sinking rates due to cell aggregation under nutrient or light stress. Modelling approaches are needed in future research in order to determine optimal dilution rates taking into account phytoplankton growth rates, nutrient inputs and ambient conditions (e.g. light and temperature).     

Growth,morphometrics and nutrient content of farmed eastern oysters,Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin), in New Hampshire,USA

When harvested, oysters represent a removal from the ecosystem of nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and carbon (C). A number of factors potentially affect nutrient content, but a quantitative understanding across the geographical range of the eastern oysters is lacking. This study was designed to quantify the relationships among various metrics of farmed eastern oysters near its northern geographical range focusing on nutrient content. Hatchery‐reared oysters were deployed in polyethylene bags at six sites, and were measured on multiple occasions from 2010 to 2012. A quadratic polynomial fit to the combined datasets for shell height indicated that on average a ‘cocktail’ size oyster (63 mm shell height) would be reached after 2 year, and ‘regular’ size (76 mm) would require 3 year. There were significant differences in growth rates and oyster nutrient content among the sites; means for %N in soft tissue ranged from 6.9 to 8.6, and 0.07 to 0.18 in shell. Per cent N in soft tissue and shell were highest at two sites at the mouths of rivers with elevated dissolved inorganic N concentrations in the water. Grand means (all sites, seasons and years combined) of soft tissue N and C for regular size oysters were 7.3% and 38.5%, respectively; and for shell N and C were 0.13% and 12.0% respectively. Our study extends the range of data on nutrient content of the eastern oyster to northern New England, and indicates that oyster size, seasonality, and nutrient concentration in ambient water potentially affect %N and %C content of oysters.     

Nitrogen loading alters seagrass ecosystem structure and support of higher trophic levels

• 1. Anthropogenic‐derived nutrient inputs to coastal environments have increased dramatically worldwide in the latter half of the 20th century and are altering coastal ecosystems. We evaluated the effects of nitrogen loading on changes in macrophyte community structure and the associated fauna of a north temperate estuary. We found that a shift in primary producers from eelgrass to macroalgae in response to increased nutrient loading alters habitat physical and chemical structure and food webs. As nitrogen load increased we found increased macroalgal biomass, decreased eelgrass shoot density and biomass, decreased fish and decapod abundance and biomass, and decreased fish diversity.
• 2. The central importance of macroalgae in altering eelgrass ecosystem support of higher trophic levels is evident in the response of the ecosystem when this component was manipulated. Removal of macroalgae increased eelgrass abundance and water column and benthic boundary layer O₂ concentrations. These changes in the physical and chemical structure of the ecosystem with lower macroalgal biomass resulted in higher fish and decapod abundance and biomass.
• 3. Both a ¹⁵N tracer experiment and the growth of fishes indicated that little of the macroalgal production was immediately transferred to secondary consumers. δ¹⁵N values indicated that the most abundant fishes were not using a grazing food web based on macroalgae. Fish tended to grow better and have a greater survivorship in eelgrass compared to macroalgal habitats.
• 4. Watershed‐derived nutrient loading has caused increased macroalgal biomass and degradation and loss of eelgrass habitat, thus reducing the capacity of estuaries to support nekton.

Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Population viability and perturbation analyses to support recovery of imperilled Eastern Sand Darter (Ammocrypta pellucida)

Small‐bodied freshwater fishes are often understudied, with the result that data gaps create uncertainties that can complicate and constrain conservation strategies aimed at species recovery. Use of matrix models and perturbation population viability analyses (PVA) are ideally suited for use in studying the consequences of life‐history parameter variation and environmental stochasticity to better understand the fate of threatened small‐bodied fishes. We use data for Eastern Sand Darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) populations from the Thames River, Canada, to explore the consequences of life‐history uncertainties such as age at maturation, multiple clutch sizes and age‐specific fertility for population recovery in this species. Environmental stochasticity acting on all life‐history parameters was found to pose significant risks for the continued viability of lower Thames River populations, with significant chances of local extinction predicted under current conditions. The intrinsic rate of population increase was most sensitive to 0+ survival rates, clutch size and clutch number. As demonstrated here, population models can successfully provide a means of exploring the population dynamics of small‐bodied fishes and can inform managers of risks posed by factors acting on life‐history parameters to affect continued population viability. Management actions for Eastern Sand Darter should focus on strategies designed to ensure successful spawning and improvement of 0+ survival rates, through programmes aimed at the protection, enhancement or recovery of additional spawning and juvenile rearing habitats.     

Lakeshore residential development and growth of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): a cross‐lakes comparison

Gaeta JW, Guarascio MJ, Sass GG, Carpenter SR. Lakeshore residential development and growth of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): a cross‐lakes comparison.
Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2011: 20: 92–101. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Lakeshore residential development is associated with changes in littoral habitat, riparian habitat, and ecosystem function with potential impacts ramifying through aquatic food webs. Effects of these changes on economically important game fishes may vary with fish size. We investigated largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) size‐specific growth rates across 16 lakes spanning the range of lakeshore residential development in Wisconsin’s Northern Highland Lake District using a longitudinal multilevel model. Growth rates of small fish had a strong positive relationship with lakeshore residential development. The strength of the relationship decreased with length and became increasingly negative for fish longer than 210 mm. This pattern may be driven by a release from density‐dependent growth, shifts in available prey sources, reduced macrophyte cover, or angling‐induced selection pressures. Regardless of the mechanism, our results indicate, relative to undeveloped lakes, largemouth bass in highly developed lakes take 1.5 growing seasons longer to enter the fishery (356 mm).     

Tooth size and skin thickness in mature sockeye salmon: evidence for habitat constraints and variable investment between the sexes

Abstract –  Pacific salmon develop many sexually dimorphic features at maturity, and the extent of development varies among populations. In this study, we compared a suite of traits including body length, body depth, jaw length, tooth size and skin mass in male and female sockeye salmon breeding in beach and creek habitats. Both tooth size and skin mass varied positively with body length. Within each of the breeding habitats, males had longer teeth than females, and within each sex, beach spawners had longer teeth than creek spawners. Males also had heavier skin than females in each habitat but, unlike the case with tooth size, creek spawners showed a much stronger relationship between skin mass and body length than did beach spawners. Tooth length was positively related to jaw length and skin mass among individuals within a given sex and habitat. Taken together, these results suggested that variation in tooth size parallels variation in other sexually dimorphic traits. Males and beach spawners tend to exhibit large trait values relative to females and creek spawners, and 'well-endowed' individuals displayed high values of all traits rather than a trade-off as might occur if investment in one trait compromised investment in others. However, the finding that creek fish tended to have thicker skin for a given body length than did beach fish suggested that factors other than merely defense against conspecifics during battle, such as abrasion and desiccation resistance in small streams, may influence the evolution of skin mass in mature sockeye salmon.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus digestibility and excretion of different-sized groups of milkfish (Chanos chanos Forsskal) fed formulated and natural food-based diets

This study determined the digestibility of nitrogen and phosphorus, and the excretion rate of different‐sized groups of milkfish fed a commercial diet, a SEAFDEC formulated diet or lab‐lab (natural food‐based diet). Fish (31.2–263.0 g) were stocked in 12 units of 300‐L fibreglass tanks filled with aerated seawater. The postprandial total ammonia‐nitrogen (TAN) and phosphate (PO₄‐P) excretion of fish were estimated from changes in TAN and PO₄‐P concentrations in water for 24 h. Digestibility was determined from the nitrogen, phosphorus and Cr₂O₃ content of the diets, and pooled faeces after the fish had been fed diets marked with chromic oxide. TAN excretion rate (mg TAN kg^?1 fish day^?1) was significantly lowest (P < 0.05) in medium to very big fish fed the lab‐lab diet (60.8–124.4) and highest in small and medium fish fed the SEAFDEC diet (333.3–331.6) and small fish fed the commercial diet (280.1). Regardless of size, fish fed lab‐lab excreted (mg PO₄‐P kg^?1 fish day^?1) significantly lower PO₄‐P (36.2) but did not differ with fish fed the commercial diet (64.8). Excretion rates decreased exponentially as fish weight increased but positively increased with feed ration. Excretion pattern of milkfish revealed two peaks: the first peak occurred 6 h after feeding and the second peak at 18 h for TAN and 21 h for PO₄‐P, coinciding with the start of the daylight hours. TAN and PO₄‐P excretion accounted for 20.5–34.6% of total N consumed and 18.7–42.6% of P consumed respectively. Approximately 27.9–42.5% of N consumed and 47.2–58.5% of P consumed were lost as faeces. Total nutrient losses were lower using the lab‐lab diet (0.31 g N and 0.14 g P kg^?1 fish) compared with the formulated diets (0.47–0.48 g N and 0.17–0.19 g P kg^?1 fish); the losses decreased per kg of fish as fish size increased. Results suggest that the diet and size of fish influence wastage of N and P to the environment with greater losses in small fish and when artificial diets are used. Such measurements will provide valuable information for the preparation of N and P budgets for milkfish in grow‐out systems.     

Water Quality and Plankton Communities in Hybrid Catfish (♀ Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus × ♂ Blue Catfish,Ictalurus furcatus) Ponds After Partial Fish Harvest

Twelve 0.4‐ha ponds were stocked with 10,000 hybrid catfish fingerlings in March 2015. Six ponds were partially harvested in August to remove fish larger than ～0.57 kg. All remaining fish were removed in October and November. Partial harvest of faster‐growing fish removed ～26% of the fish initially stocked; feeding rate (and therefore external nutrient loading) was reduced by about the same amount. However, reduced nutrient loading after partial fish harvest had no meaningful effects on water quality, phytoplankton biomass, phytoplankton and zooplankton community structure, or supplemental aeration. Lack of ecosystem change was caused by persistent internal recycling of nutrients added to the system before partial harvest and continued high (albeit reduced) external nutrient loading after partial harvest. Decisions to employ partial fish harvest to manage single‐cropped hybrid catfish ponds should be based on economic considerations and risk reduction rather than the expectation that fish biomass reduction will improve water quality.     

Decreasing shrimp (Pandalus borealis) sizes off Newfoundland and Labrador – environment or fishing?

During the 1990s, carapace length statistics including minimum size caught (L_min), mean male and female lengths, size at sex transition (L₅₀) and maximum size (L_max) of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) decreased in commercial and survey catches off Newfoundland and Labrador. Decreased growth rates caused by decreases in per‐capita food availability due to large population increases, exacerbated by increased metabolic demands from higher water temperatures in the mid‐1990s, appear to be the main cause of the size decrease. Fishing could have had an accelerating effect on environmentally driven decreases in shrimp growth and size by ‘cropping’ the largest shrimp from the population. The greatest decreases in shrimp size occurred in Hudson Strait and the adjacent northern shelf, the area which also has the highest densities and largest shrimp. We hypothesize that the greater size decrease here resulted from decreased primary production from decreased nutrient flux into the euphotic zone, caused by increased atmospheric warming, freshwater runoff and stratification during the warming trend of the 1990s.     

Habitat disruption and the identification and management of functional trait changes

Aquatic ecosystems are facing escalating threats from urbanization, habitat loss and projected impacts of climate change, which both individually and in combination have the potential to fundamentally alter ecosystem functioning. While it is well established that habitat disturbances can affect the composition and diversity of aquatic communities, only recently have studies considered whether such impacts result in changes in species’ functional traits. We consider how functional traits of freshwater and marine fishes respond to environmental change, and how shifts in the expression of these traits can impact community dynamics and key ecological processes, including trophic interactions and nutrient transfer. We find that a multitude of functional traits, including behavioural and sensory traits, is sensitive to habitat disturbances. We demonstrate how these trait changes can be used to reveal hidden “ecological diversity” as well as serving as early indicators of environmental perturbation. We conclude that management strategies that consider the fundamental biological responses of fishes to habitat disturbance will be particularly effective in determining causal relationships within the ecological network. While detailed information on trait function is often lacking, even some general understanding of trait function and importance will facilitate targeted and efficient ecosystem management. We urge fisheries biologists and aquatic ecosystem managers to consider the role of functional traits in facilitating effective habitat restoration and management.     

鲢鳙在长寿湖水生态系统氮磷循环中的作用

为探究长寿湖鲢、鳙在水体生态系统氮(N)磷(P)循环中的作用,研究测定了季节性水体总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)的变化,进行了原位鲢、鳙排泄率的测定。通过N、P排泄对比分析了鲢、鳙对水体N、P的贡献率。通过长寿湖鲢、鳙鱼体N、P含量测定,估算水体中N、P去除量。结果显示:鲢、鳙N、P排泄率夏季最高,冬季最低,季节性温度变化对其排泄率有一定影响;2016—2017在长寿湖平均水温为19.88℃条件下,鲢的N、P排泄率分别为0.973 1μg L-1d-1和0.242 2μg L-1d-1;鳙的N、P排泄率分别为0.642 5μg L-1d-1和0.174 9μg L-1d-1,鲢、鳙N、P排泄量分别占长寿湖藻类初级生产所需N含量的1.19%和0.79%,P含量的9.57%和6.91%;2016—2017长寿湖通过捕捞鲢、鳙产品带走的N、P含量分别为60.61 t和23.31 t。结果表明,长寿湖开展生态养殖对水体N、P贡献较小,不会引起水体富营养化。     

The direct contribution of fish to lake phosphorus cycles

Abstract –  Published data are synthesised to assess the direct contribution of fish to the recycling of phosphorus across a lake productivity gradient. Phosphorus excretion rates by fish assemblages are more or less directly proportional to fish biomass, despite changes in mean body mass, species composition and diet with increasing lake productivity. Piecewise linear regression of published data shows for the first time that lacustrine fish biomass increases with total phosphorus (TP) concentration in the water column up to around 140  μ g·TP·l⁻¹ but levels off above that value, suggesting that fish contribute less to nutrient recycling as lake productivity increases. The results confirm previous findings that water column nutrient recycling by fish is much less important than by plankton and that fish are important nutrient stores in lakes. The contribution of fish to nutrient recycling is small because of their low turnover rates relative to other taxa.     

Water and nutrient budgets of ponds in integrated agriculture–aquaculture systems in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

A participatory on-farm study analysed water and nutrient budgets of six low and four high water-exchange ponds of integrated agriculture–aquaculture (IAA) farms in the Mekong delta. Water, nitrogen (N), organic carbon (OC) and phosphorus (P) flows through the ponds were monitored, and data on fish production and nutrient accumulation in sediments were collected during a fish culture cycle. Results showed that, on average, only 5–6% of total N, OC or P inputs introduced into ponds were recovered in the harvested fish. About 29% N, 81% OC and 51% P accumulated in the sediments. The remaining fractions were lost through pond water discharges into adjacent canals. Fish yields and nutrient accumulation rates in the sediments increased with increasing food inputs applied to the pond at the cost of increased nutrient discharges. High water-exchange ponds received two to three times more on-farm nutrients (N, OC and P) while requiring nine times more water and discharging 10–14 times more nutrients than the low water-exchange ponds. Water and nutrient flows between the pond and the other IAA-farm components need to be considered when optimizing productivity and profitability from IAA systems.     

太湖中大银鱼_太湖新银鱼和寡齿新银鱼群体的遗传结构

利用ＲＡＰＤ技术对太湖中的大银鱼,太湖新银鱼,寡齿新银鱼的遗传结构进行了研究,共在太湖中的６个采样片采到大银鱼和太湖新银鱼样品,在两个采样片得到了寡齿新银鱼的样品。结果表明,太湖中不同水域的三种银鱼没有明显的遗传差异,三种银鱼中,大银鱼的遗传相似性指数显示最大,太湖新银鱼的次之,寡齿新银鱼的最小,说明大银鱼的遗传变异性最小,寡齿新银鱼的最大,太湖新银鱼的遗传变异性界两者之间。     

The Value of a Net‐Cage as a Fish Aggregating Device in Southern California

There is an urgent need for primary data that can be used to quantify the value of marine aquaculture facilities that also describe influences on the surrounding natural ecosystem and its wild fish communities. Divers completed 360 transect replicates below a net‐cage and at nearby and distant rocky reefs off Catalina Island, California, estimating the species abundance and size class of all conspicuous fishes in the water column. We observed 10,234 fishes aggregating below the net‐cage with a mean annual density of 142 (SE ± 30) per 100 m² and diversity H′ 2.29. At the adjacent reference reef, we counted 8452 fishes with a mean annual density of 117 (SE ± 20) and H′ 1.45 and at Reference Reef 2, located 500 m away, there were 8958 fishes with a density of 124 (SE ± 20) and H′ 1.13. The total density of fishes was the same between the study sites (ANOVA; P = 0.24); however, the spatial density of fishes in the water column was different between the net‐cage and reference reefs. Additionally, the density of juvenile fish was significantly lower at the net‐cage (ANOVA; P = 0.02), while the density of subadult and adult fishes was higher (ANOVA; P = 0.03). Feeding guild analysis ranked the net‐cage highest (3507), while Reference Reef 1 (2149), and Reference Reef 2 (2241), had lower values, a relationship often found between artificial and natural reefs. This suggests the importance of available trophic resources to the adult population of wild fishes, and has implications in the artificial reef attraction–production debate. The results of this study not only reproduce a pattern of fish attraction to net‐cages in the marine environment reported in previous studies but also demonstrate a relative habitat value compared in both time and space, of the fish community at a net‐cage compared with vibrant kelp bed communities.