caa a22 4500 605509298 CHVBK 20210128100640.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20151201xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10452-015-9542-3 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10452-015-9542-3 Regional-scale patterns of habitat preference for the seahorse Hippocampus reidi in the tropical estuarine environment [Elektronische Daten] [L. Aylesworth, J. Xavier, T. Oliveira, G. Tenorio, A. Diniz, I. Rosa] When dealing with species where local information on distribution and habitat preferences is insufficient or lacking (data poor), it is challenging for managers to determine effective measures for conservation. The purpose of this paper was to identify trends in habitat preference for a data-deficient seahorse species, Hippocampus reidi in northeastern Brazil. This is also the first study to use mixed-effect models to compare multiple datasets at a regional level for any seahorse species. Generalized linear mixed-effects models determined that shallow depths, warm temperatures and the number of holdfasts were the most important habitat variables in predicting seahorse presence in tropical estuaries. A log-likelihood ratio *G test found no difference between the proportion of adults and juveniles using various holdfasts, although adults used a greater diversity of holdfasts. The lack of difference in adult and juvenile habitat suggests either that H. reidi may not experience ontogenetic shifts in habitat or that habitat is not determining the distribution patterns of adults and juveniles within estuaries. Alternatively, habitat preference may be coupled with other factors to drive seahorse distribution within estuaries. Due to estuary importance in providing holdfast diversity and other conditions to seahorse use, conservation and management for H. reidi should also consider appropriate protection of estuarine areas, thus safeguarding habitat for both juveniles and adults. Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht, 2015 Syngnathids nationallicence Brazil nationallicence Mangrove nationallicence Ecology nationallicence Mixed effects nationallicence Data-poor nationallicence Aylesworth L. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, V6N 1W7, Vancouver, Canada aut Xavier J. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut Oliveira T. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut Tenorio G. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut Diniz A. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut Rosa I. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut Aquatic Ecology Springer Netherlands 49/4(2015-12-01), 499-512 1386-2588 49:4<499 2015 49 10452 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-015-9542-3 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-015-9542-3 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Aylesworth L. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, V6N 1W7, Vancouver, Canada aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Xavier J. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Oliveira T. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Tenorio G. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Diniz A. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Rosa I. Laboratório de Peixes - Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Aquatic Ecology Springer Netherlands 49/4(2015-12-01), 499-512 1386-2588 49:4<499 2015 49 10452