Green2009-herbivore monitoring

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................7
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 7
Coral Reef Resilience ......................................................................................................................... 7
Role of Functional Groups of Herbivorous Reef Fishes ..................................................................... 7
Monitoring Functional Groups of Herbivorous Reef Fishes ................................................................ 9
BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................................11
Coral Reefs and Their Ecosystem Services ..................................................................................... 11
Threats .............................................................................................................................................. 11
Natural Disturbances .................................................................................................................... 11
Anthropogenic Threats ................................................................................................................. 11
Status and Trends............................................................................................................................. 12
CORAL REEF RESILIENCE..........................................................................................................13
What is it, and Why is it Important? .................................................................................................. 13
Role of Functional Groups of Herbivorous Reef Fishes ................................................................... 14
Avoiding Coral-Algal Phase Shifts................................................................................................ 15
Reversing Coral-Algal Phase Shifts.............................................................................................. 16
Reversing/Avoiding Other Alternate States on Coral Reefs......................................................... 17
Managing Coral Reef Resilience....................................................................................................... 17
Reducing Threats to Coral Reef Resilience ................................................................................. 17
Ecosystem-based Adaptation Strategies...................................................................................... 18
Monitoring Coral Reef Resilience...................................................................................................... 18
Scope and Objectives of This Study ................................................................................................. 19
HERBIVOROUS CORAL REEF FISHES ......................................................................................20
Key Families and Their Feeding Modes ........................................................................................... 20
Ontogenetic Changes in Feeding Modes.......................................................................................... 22
Territorial Behaviour.......................................................................................................................... 23
Biogeographic and Regional Differences.......................................................................................... 23
Patterns of Distribution and Abundance within Geographic Areas................................................... 24
Variation Among Reefs................................................................................................................. 24
Variation Within Reefs .................................................................................................................. 24
Biodiversity and Functional Redundancy.......................................................................................... 25
Size and Role in Ecosystem Processes ........................................................................................... 26
MONITORING FUNCTIONAL GROUPS OF HERBIVOROUS REEF FISHES ............................27
What can be Achieved? .................................................................................................................... 27
Monitoring Functional Groups of Herbivorous Reef Fishes that Prevent Coral-Algal Phase Shifts . 27
Functional Groups......................................................................................................................... 27
Assigning Species to Functional Groups...................................................................................... 32
Data Analysis................................................................................................................................ 42
Interpreting Results....................................................................................................................... 47
Adaptive Management.................................................................................................................. 49
Simplifying the Protocol..................................................................................................................... 49
Using a Lower Taxonomic Level................................................................................................... 49
Minimum Size for Inclusion........................................................................................................... 53
Size Categories............................................................................................................................. 53
Adaptations for Other Biogeographic and Geographic Regions....................................................... 53
Refining the Protocol......................................................................................................................... 53
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................55
GLOSSARY ...................................................................................................................................63
Terms ................................................................................................................................................ 63
Fish Families and Common Names.................................................................................................. 64
Abbreviations..................................................................................................................................... 64
APPENDIX 1 Data Sheets.............................................................................................................65
APPENDIX 2 Biomass Constants ...............................................................................................70
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