Damsels and distress: Factors affecting Haemulidae distribution on Bahamian reefs
Smith, M
Date: 13 May 2019
Publisher
University of Exeter
Degree Title
MRes in Biological Sciences
Abstract
The interconnected habitats of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass are home to a quarter of all known species in the marine environment. The interconnectivity of these areas improves species richness and density, even for species that do not use the habitats as a nursery. The communities that live as part of these ecosystems, just like ...
The interconnected habitats of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass are home to a quarter of all known species in the marine environment. The interconnectivity of these areas improves species richness and density, even for species that do not use the habitats as a nursery. The communities that live as part of these ecosystems, just like many other marine species, are vulnerable to the effects of anthropogenic noise. Haemulidae spp. use the patch reef system protected by the Cape of Eleuthera as an intermediate nursery and exhibit a complex relationship with Stegastes spp. The importance of coral reef flats, such as those of Eleuthera, remains a crucial knowledge gap in our understanding of the coral reef nursery ecosystem. Also lacking is an understanding of the effect of chronic boat traffic on entire coral reef fish communities. This thesis aims to address these knowledge gaps across three chapters. Chapter 1 provides a literature review exploring Haemulidae spp. in the tropical marine environment and the importance of nursery habitats; Stegastes species in the tropical marine environment; and, the effects of anthropogenic noise in the marine environment. This highlights the current knowledge gaps and guides the data chapters. Chapter 2 presents a study in the patch reef system identifying the settlement habits of three Stegastes spp. (S. leucostictus, S. diencaeus, S. partitus) and the relationship with local Haemulidae spp. populations. This study identifies that this interaction may be an indication of reef health, as well as shedding light on a competitive hierarchy that exists amongst Stegastes spp. Chapter 3 presents a community level study (53 species, 14,970 individuals, 6 patch reefs) comparing the reactions of the patch reefs either communities protected from or exposed to chronic boat traffic. The chronic effect of boat traffic had a detrimental effect on density, species richness and recruitment compared to similar reefs. This was particularly noticeable with the Haemulidae spp. using the patch reef system as an intermediate nursery. This could mean that chronic boat traffic is influencing recruitment as well as having wider implications for reef health.
MbyRes Dissertations
Doctoral College
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