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dc.contributor.authorSmith, M
dc.date.accessioned2019-05-21T09:34:51Z
dc.date.issued2019-05-13
dc.description.abstractThe 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.en_GB
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10871/37163
dc.publisherUniversity of Exeteren_GB
dc.subjectHaemulidaeen_GB
dc.subjectStegastesen_GB
dc.subjectCoral reef flatsen_GB
dc.subjectPatch reefsen_GB
dc.subjectAnthropogenic noiseen_GB
dc.subjectNurseryen_GB
dc.subjectTerritory selectionen_GB
dc.subjectBahamasen_GB
dc.titleDamsels and distress: Factors affecting Haemulidae distribution on Bahamian reefsen_GB
dc.typeThesis or dissertationen_GB
dc.date.available2019-05-21T09:34:51Z
dc.contributor.advisorSimpson, Sen_GB
dc.contributor.advisorStevens, Jen_GB
dc.contributor.advisorHarborne, Aen_GB
dc.publisher.departmentBiological Sciencesen_GB
dc.rights.urihttp://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserveden_GB
dc.type.degreetitleMRes in Biological Sciencesen_GB
dc.type.qualificationlevelMastersen_GB
dc.type.qualificationnameMbyRes Dissertationen_GB
rioxxterms.versionNAen_GB
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate2019-07-18
rioxxterms.typeThesisen_GB
refterms.dateFOA2019-05-21T09:34:55Z


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