Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Recovery trajectories of coral reef fish assemblages within Kenyan marine protected areas
McClanahan, T. R.; Graham, N.A.J. (2005). Recovery trajectories of coral reef fish assemblages within Kenyan marine protected areas. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 294: 241-248. dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps294241
In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. Inter-Research: Oldendorf/Luhe. ISSN 0171-8630; e-ISSN 1616-1599, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
Author keywords
    Biomass, recovery, marine protected areas, calcifying algae, fish growth, size spectra

Authors  Top 
  • McClanahan, T. R.
  • Graham, N.A.J.

Abstract
    The size, density and biomass of coral reef fish in 4 fully closed marine protected areas (MPAs) with different ages were studied over a 17 yr period. Space-for-time substitution samples were available for d period of 4 yr before, and 36 yr after the closure. Both the height of the size structure graph (which is a value of overall abundance-biomass) and the assemblage biomass graph are convex polynomials with a maximum biomass of 1200 kg ha(-1) at 22 yr. This suggests that full recovery of coral reef fish assemblages in terms of abundance-biomass is considerably longer than generally believed. Beyond 25 yr, there can be a small loss in biomass, which we suggest is due to reduced net primary production associated with the increased abundance of calcifying algae attributable to intense grazing. Size spectra slopes were variable at all times, changed quickly, and were probably influenced by local environmental conditions, which made concise predictions for equilibrium coral reef size structure rather difficult.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors