Responses of algal communities to gradients in herbivore biomass and water quality in Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands

摘要: Settlement tiles were used to characterise and quantify coral reef associated algal communities along water quality herbivory gradients from terrestrial influenced near shore sites oceanic passage in Marovo Lagoon, the Solomon Islands. After 6 months, settlement tile inshore reefs dominated by high biomass turfs (filamentous algae cyanobacteria) whereas located on offshore characterised a mixed low community of calcareous crustose algae, fleshy bare tile. The exclusion macrograzers, via caging tiles, outer resulted development an turf similar that observed reefs. Caging had limited impact composition or biomass. Water herbivorous fish quantified at each site elucidate factors might influence structure across lagoon. Herbivore was dominant driver structure. Algal other hand controlled both (particularly dissolved nutrients). This study demonstrates are indicator capable integrating impacts over small spatial scale (kilometres) short temporal (months), where environmental drivers (current, light, regional variability) constant.