Responses of algal communities to gradients in herbivore biomass and water quality in Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands |
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Authors: | S Albert J Udy I R Tibbetts |
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Institution: | (1) Centre for Marine Studies, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia;(2) Environmental Engineering, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia |
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Abstract: | Settlement tiles were used to characterise and quantify coral reef associated algal communities along water quality and herbivory
gradients from terrestrial influenced near shore sites to oceanic passage sites in Marovo Lagoon, the Solomon Islands. After
6 months, settlement tile communities from inshore reefs were dominated by high biomass algal turfs (filamentous algae and
cyanobacteria) whereas tiles located on offshore reefs were characterised by a mixed low biomass community of calcareous crustose
algae, fleshy crustose algae and bare tile. The exclusion of macrograzers, via caging of tiles, on the outer reef sites resulted
in the development of an algal turf community similar to that observed on inshore reefs. Caging on the inshore reef tiles
had a limited impact on community composition or biomass. Water quality and herbivorous fish biomass were quantified at each
site to elucidate factors that might influence algal community structure across the lagoon. Herbivore biomass was the dominant
driver of algal community structure. Algal biomass on the other hand was controlled by both herbivory and water quality (particularly
dissolved nutrients). This study demonstrates that algal communities on settlement tiles are an indicator capable of integrating
the impacts of water quality and herbivory over a small spatial scale (kilometres) and short temporal scale (months), where
other environmental drivers (current, light, regional variability) are constant. |
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Keywords: | Algae Herbivory Water quality Coral reefs |
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