Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2003
Publication Title
Atoll Research Bulletin
ISSN
0077-5630
Volume
496
Issue/No.
26
First Page
480
Last Page
499
Abstract
Ecologically and commercially significant coral reef fishes were surveyed at 28 sites in the Turks and Caicos Islands during August 1999. Our results constitute the first quantitative census of these fishes and can serve as baseline information for subsequent studies. Their density and size generally were highest off West Caicos and lowest in Mouchoir Bank. Herbivore density overall showed no correlation with macroalgal index (a proxy for biomass) or live stony coral cover, but surgeonfish density was positively correlated with macroalgal index. Species richness of these select fishes was positively correlated with the species richness of stony corals that were ≥10cm in diameter. Current fishing pressures overall were low, and the reef-fish communities appeared relatively intact on the Turks and Caicos Banks. However, overfishing and destructive fishing practices have negatively impacted the reef fish communities on Mouchoir Bank.
NSUWorks Citation
Kaho Hoshino, Marilyn Brandt, Carrie Manfrino, Bernhard Riegl, and Sascha C. C. Steiner. 2003. Assessment of the Coral Reefs of the Turks and Caicos Islands (Part 2: Fish Communities) .Atoll Research Bulletin , (26) : 480 -499. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/311.
ORCID ID
0000-0002-6003-9324
ResearcherID
F-8807-2011
DOI
10.5479/si.00775630.496-26.480
Additional Comments
Austrian Science Foundation grant #: P13165-GEO