An Examination of Parrotfish Assemblage Structure on the Northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia
An Examination of Parrotfish Assemblage Structure on the Northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Date
2016-08
Authors
Johnson, Garrett
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[Honolulu] : [University of Hawaii at Manoa], [August 2016]
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Abstract
Here I investigated parrotfish assemblage structure from mid to outer shelf reefs and across 6° latitude on the Northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. Stereo-video surveys were performed to determine abundance and biomass of 24 parrotfish species at 82 sites, as well as habitat characteristics. The association between parrotfish population measures (i.e., population abundance and biomass) and geographic, biophysical, and human explanatory variables were modelled using redundancy analysis to determine major patterns in the drivers of assemblage structure on reefs of the GBR. Large cross-shelf and latitudinal differences in the composition of assemblages were apparent, where geographic variables (e.g., latitude, reef area and distance from shore) were the dominant factors driving variation in parrotfish assemblages. When including shelf-position as an explanatory variable, all variables proved significant, with the exception of reef zones imposed by Australian management agencies. On outer reef sites, causal factors driving parrotfish abundance and biomass were more difficult to interpret, relative to mid-shelf sites. No single subset of potential factors driving parrotfish assemblages explains patterns of variation. Both geographic and biophysical factors drive changes in parrotfish assemblages, both including and excluding the effect of reef shelf position. Variation in abundance and biomass varies dramatically between reefs, likely both interspecifically and intraspecifically.
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M.S. University of Hawaii at Manoa 2016.
Includes bibliographical references.
Includes bibliographical references.
Keywords
parrotfish,
Great Barrier Reef,
assemblage structure
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Theses for the degree of Master of Science (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Marine Biology
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