Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Response of fishes to algae reduction on Glovers Reef, Belize
Author(s)
McClanahan, T.R.; Bergman, K.; Huitric, M.; McField, M.; Elfwing, T.; Nystrom, M.; Nordemar, I.
Published
2000
Publisher
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Abstract
Many Caribbean coral reefs have experienced an increase in erect brown algae (species of Sargassum, Turbinaria and Lobophora) over the past 18 yr. We explored the effects of fleshy algal overgrowth on coral reef fishes by reducing erect algae by similar to2.5 kg(wet) m(-2) on 8 patch reefs (average size similar to 1000 m(2)) whereby half were in a new no-fishing zone and half in an unrestricted fishing zone. Another 8 reefs were left as unmanipulated controls in the respective zones. Multivariate ordination indicated that the algal removal had marginal effect on whole-fish assemblages but that effect was highly significant on the biomass of common herbivores. The reduction of erect algae resulted in a rapid increase in the abundance of the blue-headed wrasse Thalassoma bifasciatum (Labridae), in the biomass of the blue tang Acanthurus coeruleus (Acanthuridae), and in both the abundance and biomass of the spotlight parrotfish Sparisoma viride (Scaridae). Bite rates and intra- and inter-specific aggressive encounters were used as measures of resource quality, and we found that these measures increased for surgeonfishes and damselfishes after the algal reduction, particularly in the center of the patch reefs, where most erect algae was originally located. Increased accessibility, net production and palatability of the early successional turf algae on the manipulated reefs are likely to account for the increased numbers, biomass and feeding rates of the dominant herbivorous fishes.
Keywords
STOPLIGHT-PARROTFISH; COMMUNITY STRUCTURE; DIADEMA-ANTILLARUM; MASS MORTALITY; PHASE-SHIFTS; HABITAT USE; SEA; DYNAMICS; abundance; biomass; brown alga; coral reef; ichthyofauna; Belize; Acanthurus coeruleus; Lobophora; Sargassum; Sparisoma viride; Thalassoma bifasciatum; Turbinaria
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB11497