Ecological Process in Pattern Generation in Tropical Coral-Seagrass Reefscapes

Landscape ecology links pattern to process, and the importance of pattern-producing organisms to ecosystem health and functioning is well established in terrestrial systems. Near-shore tropical marine reefscapes also feature many diverse and easily-observable patterns at the intersection of distinct benthic cover types, including a series of bare sand “halos” around individual coral patches that separate the corals from the darker seagrass or algal beds around them. Halos and similar patterns present an opportunity to examine the interactions of reef-dwelling organisms at multiple spatial scales, from benthic primary producers to macrograzers and the predators that prey on them. Explanations for the phenomenon can be physical, biological, or some combination of both, and the underlying drivers may be impacted by threats like overfishing and global climate change or by local protections. Here, we examine the evidence for several hypotheses regarding halo formation and maintenance and propose an integrated model combining fish distributions, herbivory, and nutrients. We use grazing manipulations to demonstrate the role of reef-centered herbivory in maintaining the halo pattern at Lighthouse Reef Atoll in Belize, and we present a novel underwater camera trap design and demonstrate its potential for long-term monitoring of species behavior, abundance, and distribution.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Bilodeau, Stephanie Marisa

• camera trap

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/93912

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/93912