11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

22.879
Assessing And Mapping The Distribution Of Fish Species And Guilds Across The
Bermuda Reef Platform And Identifying Critical Marine Habitats For Spatial
Protection
Thaddeus MURDOCH 1,2 , Matthew HAMMOND 1 , Joanna PITT* 2 , Mandy SHAILER 3 ,
Annie GLASSPOOL 3
1 BREAM: Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Assessment and Mapping Programme, Bermuda
Zoological Society, Flatts Village, Bermuda, 2 Murdoch Marine Environmental
Consultant Services Ltd., Paget, Bermuda, 3 Bermuda Biodiversity Project, Bermuda
Zoological Society, Flatts Village, Bermuda
Bermuda supports the most northerly coral reef system in the world with the large
majority of the species being derived from the tropical Atlantic. A high latitude outpost
for Caribbean species, Bermuda supports a reduced species assemblage, with 22 species
of hard coral, and a similarly under-represented icthyofaunal composition. Since
accidentally colonized in 1609, accounts by the earliest explorers describe islands
uninhabited by humans but rich in fish, birds and sea turtles. However, by 1627 the first
restrictions regarding the harvesting of fish were passed due to a "scarcity of bait for
necessary fishing". We will review the numerous fisheries laws, including spatial
closures, size restrictions and species protections, which were enacted over the ensuing
centuries in order to regulate harvestable marine resources.
Current management of important fish species has been constrained by a lack of data
encompassing the entire Bermuda Reef Platform. Using AGRRA and REEF fish
assessment protocols, 105 survey sites located in lagoonal, reef crest and forereef habitats
across the entire Bermuda Reef Platform were surveyed for juvenile and adults of all
ecologically and economically import fish species. Results demonstrate that herbivores
and invertivore guilds were very abundant and speciose, but that piscivores were low in
abundance and of critically poor species diversity, and therefore possessing weak
ecological resilience. Results also illustrated that most fish species have distinctive crossplatform
patterns of abundance, both within and across habitats. Univariate and
multivariate data analysis demonstrated the existence of critical areas across the Bermuda
Reef Platform for different species and guilds that would benefit from enhanced
management and protection status.
22.880
Artisanal Fish Catches Along Coral Reef Areas Of East Coast Of Zanzibar
Narriman JIDDAWI* 1,2
1 MBRM, Institute of Marine Sciences, Zanzibar, Tanzania, 2 Department of Marine
BIology and Resources Management, Institute of MArien Sciences, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Many countries with coral reefs are highly dependent on them for food and income. Reef
fish associate closely with their habitat and catchability also depends on the gear and
number of fisher used. The fisher of Zanzibar have been using traditional fishing
techniques since time immemorial and usually and on the same fishing grounds. The
number of fishing units have increased with time. In 2003 Census survey there were
18,000 fisher but this doubled in 2007. Some studies on fish monitoring have been done
in some villages. This paper will present information on the changes in the number of
fishing gears and vessels used in coral reef areas as well as information on landings of
fish caught from these sites. The method used to get this information was through a
census survey conducted throughout these villages to determine the fishing units and
also monitoring of landed catch to determine the catch per unit effort, the sizes of fish as
well as the income of the fisher folks. The results showed the common gears and vessels
used are still basket traps and outrigger canoes respectively as these are afforded by most
fishers. The fish species are determined by the type of gear used and over 150 were
recorded. Despite fishing in the same sites since time immemorial the catch rates per
fisher although has gone down but still are able to catch enough for survival. This could
be attributed to the fishermen changing the fishing grounds with seasons leaving some to
recover. This study therefore will provide information on the importance of the fisheries
and will provide information for improving policy frameworks for the sustainable
utilization of these resources and the development of these coastal communities.
Poster Mini-Symposium 22: Coral Reef Associated Fisheries
22.881
Density, Biomass, And Habitat Association Of The Rainbow Parrotfish, Scarus
Guacamaia, in Alacranes Reef, Northern Yucatan Peninsula
Carlos GONZALEZ -SALAS* 1 , Alfonso AGUILAR-PERERA 1 , Harold VILLEGAS-
HERNÁNDEZ 1
1 Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
The Rainbow parrotfish, Scarus guacamaia, considered one of the largest fishes of the world,
attains a high biomass and has commercial value for some fisheries. It is a threatened species
according to the IUCN Red list and the largest herbivorous reef fish occurring in the Caribbean
region. Juveniles are associated to mangrove habitats compared to other available habitats (coral
reefs, seagrass beds). In this study, we present a particular case of high abundance of juveniles
and adults of S. guacamaia in coral reef habitats with a total absence of mangroves from
Alacranes reef, northern Yucatan Peninsula. Mangroves appear not to function as obligate
habitats and it is shown that seagrass and coral rubble appear as an alternative habitat for
nursery, growth and reproduction.
22.882
Contributions To The Biology Of The Mardi Gras Wrasse, Halichoeres Burekae, in The
Western Gulf Of Mexico
Douglas WEAVER* 1 , luiz ROCHA 2 , Jessica MAISANO 3
1 Coastal and Marine Systems Science, Texas AM-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX,
2 Evolutionary Ecology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 3 Department of Geology,
University of Texas, Austin, TX
Tropical coral reefs of the world’s oceans are often dominated by wrasses (Family Labridae),
including numerous species of the genus Halichoeres. A new species of wrasse, Halichoeres
burekae, was described from the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, and is
commonly known as the Mardi Gras wrasse. Subsequent to the initial collection and species
description, additional populations of the species were documented in Veracruz, Mexico and
Seven and One Half Fathom Reef near Padre Island, Texas. We present detailed information on
the morphological features of the Mardi Gras wrasse, genetic and morphological relationships
to congeners, gonad morphology, and morphology of the skull related to feeding and social
interactions. The Mardi Gras wrasse is currently known only from the western Gulf of Mexico,
and differs from other planktivorous members of the genus in skull morphology, skeletal
pigments, and life history. Feeding morphology of the skull of H. burekae contradicts previous
hypotheses of morphological adaptations attributed to planktivory, and suggests alternative
approaches to feeding modes in the genus.
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