—With the use of a baited stereo-video camera system, this study semiquantitatively defined the habitat associations of 4 species of Lutjanidae: Opakapaka (Pristipomoides filamentosus), Kalekale (P. sieboldii), Onaga (Etelis coruscans), and Ehu (E. carbunculus). Fish abundance and length data from 6 locations in the main Hawaiian Islands were evaluated for speciesspecific and size-specific differences between regions and habitat types. Multibeam bathymetry and backscatter were used to classify habitats into 4 types on the basis of substrate (hard or soft) and slope (high or low). Depth was a major influence on bottomfish distributions. Opakapaka occurred at depths shallower than the depths at which other species were observed, and this species showed an ontogenetic shift to deeper water with increasing size. Opakapaka and Ehu had an overall preference for hard substrate with low slope (hard-low), and Onaga was found over both hard-low and hardhigh habitats. No significant habitat preferences were recorded for Kalekale. Opakapaka, Kalekale, and Onaga exhibited size-related shifts with habitat type. A move into hardhigh environments with increasing size was evident for Opakapaka and Kalekale. Onaga was seen predominantly in hard-low habitats at smaller sizes and in either hard-low or hard-high at larger sizes. These ontogenetic habitat shifts could be driven by reproductive triggers because they roughly coincided with the length at sexual maturity of each species. However, further studies are required to determine causality. No ontogenetic shifts were seen for Ehu, but only a limited number of juveniles were observed. Regional variations in abundance and length were also found and could be related to fishing pressure or large-scale habitat features.

Depth range
100- 300 m

Mesophotic “mentions”
1 x (total of 9540 words)

Classification
* Presents original data
* Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
* Focused on 'mesophotic coral ecosystem'

Fields
Biodiversity
Community structure
Ecology
Fisheries

Focusgroups
Fishes
Overall benthic (groups)

Locations
USA - Hawaii

Platforms
Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV)