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Density, Species, And Size Distribution Of Groupers (Serranidae) In Three Habitats At Elbow Reef, Florida Keys, Robert Sluka, Mark Chiappone, Kathleen Sullivan-Sealey, Thomas Potts, Jose Levy, Emily Schmitt Lavin, Geoff Meester

Emily F Schmitt Lavin

We examined the density, size and species distribution of groupers in three habitats on an inshore-to-offshore transect across Elbow Reef, Florida Keys: high-relief spur-and-groove (4–9 m depth), relict spur-and-groove (10–20 m), and deep fore reef slope (21–30 m). Physical relief was greatest in the high-relief spur-and-groove (up to 3 m), lowest in the relict spur-and-groove habitat (<0.5–1 m), and intermediate in the deep fore reef slope habitat (1–1.5 m). Benthic coverage in the three habitats was dominated by algae (>30%). There were significant differences in the density, size, and species distribution of groupers among the three habitats. Graysby, Epinephelus cruentatus, was numerically dominant, constituting 82–91% of individual observed. Black grouper, Mycteroperca bonaci, and Nassau grouper, E. striatus, were more abundant in high …