Acute effects of removing large fish from a near-pristine coral reef

摘要: Large animals are severely depleted in many ecosystems, yet we only beginning to understand the ecological implications of their loss. To empirically measure short-term effects removing large from an ocean ecosystem, used exclosures remove fish a near-pristine coral reef at Palmyra Atoll, Central Pacific Ocean. We identified range that followed removal these fish. These were revealed within weeks removal. Removing (1) altered behavior prey fish; (2) reduced rates herbivory on certain species algae; (3) had both direct positive (reduced mortality recruits) and indirect negative (through grazing pressure competitive algae) impacts recruiting corals; (4) tended decrease abundances small mobile benthic invertebrates. Results this kind help advance our understanding importance ecosystems.