Bahamas. Assessment of the Andros Island Reef System, Bahamas (Part 2: Fishes)

Abstract

Coral reef fish assemblages mere surveycd at 38 reef-crest and fore-reef habitats along approximate13 200 km of reefs on the eastern side of Andros Island in August of 1997 and 1998. A total of 164 species were recorded in roving diver suivc s. averaging 7'55 species per site. Select species density averaged 37.4 individuals/100m-in belt tranwcts and was significantly more abundant in reef crests than fore reefs. The select fish asseinblages were dominated by scarids, haemulids, and acanthurids, while serranids were ubiquitous but present in low densities (<0.5/100m~. Small differences in the community structure of four geographic areas (north, central, bights, south) are indicative of well-mixed populations. Species richness and abundance were comparatively low, particularly in fore-reef habitats, although mean size and biomass were relatively high. The Andros reef fish assemblages may be naturally limited by low recruitment, lack of nurseiy habitat, or possibly by high levels of predation. The entire reef system may be at high risk to even modest increases in fishing.Intact fish assemblages are integral to the functioning of coral reefs and patterns in their diversity, abundance, and size can be used to understand underlying ecological processes such as recruitment, predation, and herbivory. These patterns vary at different spatial and temporal scales and are likely to be influenced by habitat variables such as topographic complexity (e

Ecological assessments of the coral reef communities in the Eastern Caribbean and the effects of herbivory in influencing coral juvenile density and algal cover

“…Increases in coral juvenile density and growth have been directly linked to the increase in D. antillarum populations at other Caribbean locations (Edmunds & Carpenter, ; Carpenter & Edmunds, ; Myhre & Acevedo‐Gutierrez, ; Furman & Heck, ). However, macroalgal cover was not directly related to herbivorous fish biomass and densities in the present study, although herbivorous fish, especially parrotfish, may exert control over macroalgal abundance, facilitating coral recruitment (Williams & Polunin, ; Williams, Polunin, & Hendrick, ; Kramer, Marks, & Turnbull, ; Mumby et al., ; Burkepile et al., ; Mumby, Steneck, & Hastings, ). Typically, reefs protected from fishing have a higher biomass of grazing fish, resulting in higher coral cover and lower macroalgal abundance (Mumby et al., ; Mumby & Harborne, ; Vallès & Oxenford, ; Mumby, Steneck, Mehdi, & Arnold, ).…”

High resilience masks underlying sensitivity to algal phase shifts of Pacific coral reefs

“…Empirical and modelling studies of the resilience of Atlantic coral reefs tend to find that herbivorous fish, such as parrotfish, exert a strong negative impact on macroalgae that can facilitate coral recruitment (Williams and Polunin , Williams et al , Kramer et al , Newman et al , Mumby et al , , Burkepile et al ). Of particular importance is that the fisheries exploitation of large‐bodied herbivorous fishes, which undertake relatively high levels of grazing, can translate to a significant increase in macroalgae.…”

What can two years of monitoring tell us about Venezuelan coral reefs? The Southern Tropical America node of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (STA-GCRMN)

“…However, it is possible that changes in coral and benthic community, like the ones that occurred in Caiman, could affect fish assemblages, particularly those fish species most heavily dependent on live coral cover for shelter or sustenance (Lindahl et al 2001, Cheal et al 2002, Spalding & Jarvis 2002, Halford et al 2004. Dos Mosquises, Madrizqui and Cayo Norte had similar fish communities in terms of species richness, relative family dominance and trophic composition, compared with other reefs in the Caribbean (Mejía & Garzón-Ferreira 2000, Bruckner & Bruckner 2003, Kramer et al 2003 and Florida (Bohnsack & Banerot 1986).…”