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
Coral responses to macroalgal reduction and fisheries closure on Caribbean patch reefs
Author(s)
McClanahan, T. R.;Huntington, B. E.;Cokos, B.
Published
2011
Publisher
Marine Ecology Progress Series
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09285
Abstract
To determine the effects of algal reduction and fisheries closure, a crossed experimental design was undertaken over a 516 d period on the remote patch reefs of Glover's Reef Atoll, Belize. We investigated (1) the effects on health, growth, and survivorship of 2 transplanted coral species, Porites asteroides and Siderastrea siderea, and (2) the changes in the benthic and fish communities. Algal reduction (98% reduction by physical removal kept low by monthly removal) increased the abundance of all fish and slightly elevated herbivore bite rates. P. asteroides showed a temporal response to environmental conditions opposite of predictions, with higher bleaching and mortality in the unfished reefs cleared of algae. This may be due to reduced water flow at these sites as the growth rate of P. asteroides was positively related to water flow (R2 = 0.35, p = 0.04). S. siderea growth showed no relationship with water flow and bleached slightly more in the control reefs. Nevertheless, there were no patterns in mortality, and growth rates were twice as high in the fished than unfished reefs for this species. This reef-scale study contrasts with results of small-scale experiments that found rapid, indirect coral mortality from erect algae. Rather, our results suggest that environmental conditions, notably reef location in relation to water flow, can be a considerably stronger factor influencing coral health than erect algae. © Inter-Research 2011.
Keywords
Algal-coral interactions;Bleaching;Coral growth;Fishing effects;Management;Marine reserve;Phase shifts
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB14299