The Kapiti Marine Reserve (New Zealand): Spatial and temporal comparisons of multi-species responses after 8 years of protection

Abstract

Kapiti Marine Reserve (KMR) was established in May 1992 following a single baseline biological survey. We surveyed macroalgal, macroinvertebrate and fish species for abundance and/or size at two sites inside and two outside KMR and then conducted reservation status (inside vs outside KMR) and temporal (1992 baseline vs 1999-2000) tests to quantify biological responses after 8 years of protection. Reservation status has had a significant effect on abundance or size for four fish species (banded wrasse, blue cod, butterfish, blue moki), but not for heavily fished macroinvertebrates (two species of paua, kina, rock lobster). Temporal analyses revealed only one significant difference (banded wrasse), but that is not attributable to the reserve. Despite low statistical power to detect change, the value of the baseline survey is highlighted by our ability to understand and interpret better the biological responses that we observed and to demonstrate conservation outcomes at KMR. © 2012 Copyright The Royal Society of New Zealand.