Kellison, G. T, McDonough, V., Harper, D. E., Tilmant, J. T.

Coral reef fish assemblage shifts and declines in Biscayne National Park, Florida, USA

2012

Bulletin of Marine Science

88

1

1-36

"Reef fish assemblage structure was assessed in 2006-2007 ("recent" period) in Biscayne National Park, Florida, USA , and compared with data collected from 1977 to 1981 ("historical" period) from the same location. Substantial differences were observed in reef fish assemblage structure between periods. Sixty-four percent of species were observed less frequently in the recent period. Mean species richness per survey declined at all sites, with declines ranging from 9% to 27%. Declines of fishery-targeted species were also observed and were consistent with but not greater than those observed for the reef fish assemblage as a whole. The observed declines appeared to be assemblage-wide, as a majority of species within all trophic guilds examined (spongivores, planktivores, herbivores, omnivores, invertivores, generalist carnivores, and piscivores) declined in frequency of occurrence between periods, with declines ranging from 55% of species for piscivores to 75% for omnivores. Mean number of species per survey declined for all guilds but herbivores, and ranged from a 14% decline for piscivores to 67% for planktivores. The declines observed in the present study are conceptually consistent with, but more extensive than, those recently documented for the Caribbean region as a whole and with those expected in coral reef systems that are heavily utilized by humans."

10.5343/bms.2011.1027

CRCP Project ID 1064; Project Title: Assess and Monitor Coral Reef MPAs; Principal Investigator: G. Todd Kellison