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Nova Southeastern University

Series

2019

Coral reefs

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Fear Effects Associated With Predator Presence And Habitat Structure Interact To Alter Herbivory On Coral Reefs, Andrew G. Bauman, Jovena C. L. Seah, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, Andrew S. Hoey, Jenny Fong, Peter A. Todd Oct 2019

Fear Effects Associated With Predator Presence And Habitat Structure Interact To Alter Herbivory On Coral Reefs, Andrew G. Bauman, Jovena C. L. Seah, Fraser A. Januchowski-Hartley, Andrew S. Hoey, Jenny Fong, Peter A. Todd

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Non-consumptive fear effects are an important determinant of foraging decisions by consumers across a range of ecosystems. However, how fear effects associated with the presence of predators interact with those associated with habitat structure remain unclear. Here, we used predator fish models (Plectropomus leopardus) and experimental patches of the macroalga Sargassum ilicifolium of varying densities to investigate how predator- and habitat-associated fear effects influence herbivory on coral reefs. We found the removal of macroalgal biomass (i.e. herbivory) was shaped by the interaction between predator- and habitat-associated fear effects. Rates of macroalgal removal declined with increasing macroalgal density, likely …


Spatial And Temporal Variation In Fecundity Of Acropora Spp. In The Northern Great Barrier Reef, Morgan S. Pratchett, Andrew S. Hoey, Chun-Hong Tan, Chao-Yang Kuo, Andrew G. Bauman, Rajani Kumaraswamy, Andrew H. Baird Apr 2019

Spatial And Temporal Variation In Fecundity Of Acropora Spp. In The Northern Great Barrier Reef, Morgan S. Pratchett, Andrew S. Hoey, Chun-Hong Tan, Chao-Yang Kuo, Andrew G. Bauman, Rajani Kumaraswamy, Andrew H. Baird

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

The amount of energy invested in sexual reproduction by scleractinian corals depends on their life history strategies (i.e., allocation of energy between growth, reproduction, and maintenance). However, energy allocated to reproduction will also be affected by the amount of energy acquired and prevailing environmental conditions. Coral fecundity is therefore likely to vary spatially, especially along marked gradients in environmental conditions. One of the foremost gradients in reef structure and environmental conditions occurs with distance from the coast, whereby inner-shelf or near shore reefs are generally subject to higher levels of nutrients, sediments and pollutants, which often adversely affect reef-building corals. …