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.

Additional Comments

Austrian Science Foundation grant #: P13165-GEO

ORCID ID

0000-0002-6003-9324

ResearcherID

F-8807-2011

DOI

10.5479/si.00775630.496-26.480

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