Changes in a North Carolina Reef Fish Community after 15 Years of Intense Fishing—Global Warming Implications

Abstract
A North Carolina reef fish community was resurveyed with scuba gear to determine if changes occurred in community structure after 15 years of intense fishing. Generally, fishes important in the recreational and commercial fisheries were smaller, and large changes occurred in relative abundance and species composition. Indicative of a warming trend, total species composition of fishes had become more tropical, and a tropical sponge previously unrecorded at this latitude off the North Carolina coast became common. Two new (to the area) families and 29 new species of tropical fishes were recorded. Observations of 28 species of tropical reef fishes increased significantly. No new temperate species were observed, and the most abundant temperate species decreased by a factor of 22. Mean monthly bottom water temperatures in winter were 1–6°C warmer during the recent study. An increase in fish-cleaning symbiosis was especially noticeable.