If perturbations are intense and the fish response is large, then
that response might be detectable despite extensive background
variability. However, we have found no indication that intertidal
fish respond consistently to habitat degradation in mangrove
systems. We are aware of two instances in which the intertidal
fish assemblages were compared between unaltered mangrove
forest and anthropogenically impacted sites (Huxham et al., 2004;
Taylor et al., 2007). In each case, the alteration was clear-cutting of
mangrove trees (i.e. complete removal of all or most trees). When
structurally complex mangrove forest is converted to relatively
featureless mudflat by clear-cutting, light levels increase, water
temperatures are elevated, sediment organic content declines,
and the abundance and species composition of algae is changed