Metrics
1 File views/ downloads
52 Record Views
Thesis
REEF FISH COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AT UNPUBLISHED ARTIFICIAL REEF SITES OFF NORTHWEST FLORIDA
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2008
Abstract
Reef fish community structure was estimated from video collected at unpublished artificial reef sites (n = 27) located between 15 and 20 miles south of Pensacola, Florida. Quarterly sampling trips were conducted between fall 2004 and summer 2006. Video sampling was performed with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with a laser scaler that was used to estimate fish size. Tagging also was conducted at a subset (n = 9) of reef sites to examine species-specific site fidelity and movement. Results indicate that reef communities are dynamic in nature as significant changes occurred in fish assemblages and the reef-attached fouling community during the study. Number of fish species and individuals present increased over time, while evenness and the Shannon-Weiner diversity index decreased. Reefs were characterized by large abundances of small red snapper (< 9% above the legal size limit of 406 mm) which increased in abundance, along with other lutjanids, throughout the study, while grouper abundances decreased. Tagging data demonstrated that red snapper exhibited the lowest site fidelity and most movement (mean distance = 27.2 km) among tagged fishes. Overall, study results suggest even fishes observed at unreported artificial reef sites may suffer significant fishing mortality if they move among fished and unfished areas.
Details
- Title
- REEF FISH COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AT UNPUBLISHED ARTIFICIAL REEF SITES OFF NORTHWEST FLORIDA
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Identifiers
- 99380090737506600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida