The Relationship of Reef Fish Densities to the Proximity of Mangrove and Seagrass Nurseries (Dorenbosch et al, 2004)
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
www.elsevier.com/locate/ECSS
The relationship of reef fish densities to the
proximity of mangrove and seagrass nurseries
M. Dorenbosch, M.C. van Riel, I. Nagelkerken), G. van der Velde
Department of Animal Ecology & Ecophysiology, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Received 20 May 2003; accepted 28 November 2003
Abstract
Visual census surveys were used to study the distribution of coral reef fishes that are associated with seagrass beds and mangroves
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in their juvenile phase, on various coral reef sites along the coast of the Caribbean island of Curacao (Netherlands Antilles). The
hypothesis tested was that various reef fish species occur in higher densities on coral reefs adjacent to nursery habitats than on reefs
located at some distance to these habitats. Of 17 coral reef fish species that are known to use bays with seagrass beds and mangroves
as nurseries (nursery species), 15 were observed in quadrats on the reef. Four nursery species, Haemulon sciurus, Lutjanus apodus,
Ocyurus chrysurus and Scarus coeruleus occurred in significantly higher densities on coral reefs adjacent to bays with seagrass beds
and mangroves. Lutjanus analis, Lutjanus mahogoni and Sphyraena barracuda also had their highest densities on reefs adjacent to
these bays, although differences between the distinguished reef categories were not always significant. It is suggested that these seven
species are highly dependent on the presence of bays with seagrass beds and mangroves as nurseries on an island scale. Eight other
species that are known to use seagrass beds and mangroves as nurseries did not have their highest densities on reefs adjacent to bays
with seagrass beds and mangroves. For six of these species, juveniles were also observed on the reef. It is suggested that these species
are able to use the reef as an alternative nursery and do not depend strictly on the presence of bays with seagrass beds and
mangroves as nurseries.
Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: nursery grounds; mangrove swamps; seagrasses; coral reef fishes; migration; juveniles
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2000a; Cocheret de la Moriniere et al., 2002; Adams and
1. Introduction
Ebersole, 2002; Nagelkerken and van der Velde, 2002).
x
In various parts of the world, shallow coastal areas On the island of Curacao (Netherlands Antilles),
containing mangroves and seagrass beds are considered Nagelkerken et al. (2000b) showed that an inland
important nurseries for juvenile fish (Pollard, 1984; marine bay with seagrass beds and mangroves served
Parrish, 1989; Baelde, 1990; Robertson and Blaber, as a nursery habitat for at least 17 coral reef species
1992). Pelagic fish larvae settle into these habitats, and (indicated below as nursery species). It has been shown
grow from juveniles to subadults or adults that leave on various islands that a reduced density of several of
these habitats by means of post-settlement migrations these nursery species on the coral reef is related to the
(Jones, 1991; Blaber, 2000). In the Caribbean, shallow absence of seagrass beds and mangroves (Nagelkerken
waters with mangroves and seagrass beds are charac- et al., 2002). This suggests that these nursery species
terised by the presence of high densities of juveniles of depend on the presence of seagrass beds and mangroves
several coral reef species that are assumed to migrate to as a nursery habitat. If this is the case, coral reefs ad-
the coral reef on reaching the (sub)adult stage (Austin, jacent to mangrove and seagrass nursery areas might be
1971; Louis and Guyard, 1982; Nagelkerken et al., expected to harbour higher densities of adults of these
nursery species than reefs located at greater distance to
these nursery areas, assuming that adult migration along
) Corresponding author.
the coast between reefs is limited.
E-mail address: i.nagelkerken@sci.kun.nl (I. Nagelkerken).
0272-7714/$ - see front matter Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2003.11.018
38 M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
x
The island of Curacao provides an opportunity to test of 80e90 m. The southwestern coast features eight large
this hypothesis along the coast of a single island. The inland bays (Fig. 1), which are dominated by man-
occurrence of both seagrass beds and mangroves is groves, seagrass beds and a muddy/sandy seabed
restricted to several shallow inland marine bays situated (Table 1). Rocky substratum, in the form of boulders
at the southwestern part of the island, allowing a clear and erosional notches, is present to some degree only in
distinction to be made between reefs adjacent to bays Spanish Water Bay. Notches are formed at and under
with seagrass beds and mangroves, reefs adjacent to the water line through biochemical solution of the fossil
´
bays without seagrass beds and mangroves, and reefs reef terrace along the shoreline (de Buisonje and
located at some distance from bays. In a pilot study, Zonneveld, 1960). Fringing mangroves grow in stands
Nagelkerken et al. (2000b) already observed reduced along the sandy shoreline of the bays and consist of
densities of six nursery species on the reef at an in- Rhizophora mangle (see Nagelkerken et al., 2000b and
creasing distance from a single bay with nursery ha- Nagelkerken et al., 2001 for a detailed description of
bitats. However, their study focused on only a few these habitats). Seagrass beds in Spanish Water Bay and
species and a small part of the reef, and did not consider Fuik Bay consist of Thalassia testudinum whereas those
the possible relation with fish size. in Piscadera Bay consist of Syringodium filiforme. All
While subadult or adult bay-to-reef migrations are bays have a narrow entrance from the open sea. The
likely to supply coral reefs adjacent to bays with nursery water of Zakito Bay is polluted with heavy metals from
species, reefs at some distance from these habitats can be a desalination plant and has an elevated temperature
colonised either by fish dispersal on reefs along the coast and salinity (Nagelkerken, unpubl. data). The average
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or by small populations of juvenile fish larvae that settle daily tidal range in Curacao is about 30 cm (de Haan
and survive on these reefs. Several studies (Tulevech and and Zaneveld, 1959), and the bays are not subject to
Recksiek, 1994; Macpherson, 1998; Zeller, 1998) suggest strong tidal currents.
that it is predominantly the larger individuals that
undertake migrations along the reef over larger dis- 2.2. Study design
tances. Whereas the population of nursery species on
coral reefs adjacent to bays with seagrass beds and The distribution of the 17 nursery species (listed in
mangroves is represented by older juveniles, subadults Table 2) was studied at 11 coral reef sites in a gradient
and adults (Nagelkerken et al., 2000b; Cocheret de la along the southwestern coast at varying distances from
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Moriniere et al., 2002; Nagelkerken and van der Velde, two types of bays. The 11 reef sites were subdivided into
2002), it might be expected that the population of nur- four ‘reef categories’ (Fig. 1): (1) three coral reef sites
sery species on coral reefs at great distances to bays with adjacent to bays featuring major seagrass beds and
seagrass beds and mangroves would consist predomi- mangrove habitats, indicated below as sgemg bays
nantly of adults. (distance to the bay !1 km); (2) three coral reef sites
The present study tested the hypothesis that juveniles adjacent to bays dominated by bare sediment without
and adults of nursery species occur in higher densities on marine vegetation (distance to the bay !1 km), but
coral reefs adjacent to nursery habitats than on reefs situated at some distance to sgemg bays, indicated
located at some distance to these habitats. In accordance below as mud/sand bays (distance to nearest sgemg bay
with this, reduced densities of adults and the absence of between 3.2 and 25.6 km); (3) two coral reef sites
juveniles on coral reefs away from these bays, are ex- situated between sgemg bays (distance to nearest
pected. The degree to which nursery species might utilise sgemg bay between 3.1 and 3.5 km, and to nearest
the coral reef as an alternative juvenile habitat instead of mud/sand bay between 8.0 and 15.5 km); and (4) three
seagrass and mangrove habitats was also investigated. coral reef sites located at greater distance to sgemg bays
(distance to nearest sgemg bay between 11.6 and
38.5 km, and to nearest mud/sand bay between 4.7
and 13.4 km). The reef at Holiday Beach was located
2. Materials and methods
close to a bay (St. Anna Bay), but was nevertheless
defined as a reef situated between sgemg bays (Fig. 1).
2.1. Study area
Due to industrial activities in St. Anna Bay (involving
The present study was carried out on the coral reef at the presence of a large harbour, oil refinery and
the leeward southwestern coast of the Caribbean island shipyards), all natural marine vegetation and muddy/
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of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles (Fig. 1). The coast on sandy habitats have been destroyed, and the water is
this side of the island is characterised by the presence of highly polluted (van den Hoek et al., 1972). Therefore,
a continuous fringing coral reef that consists of a small the ecological function of this bay cannot be considered
surf zone and a reef flat that gradually slopes down to typical for a mud/sand bay, and the reef close to this bay
a ‘drop-off’ at 7e12 m (Bak, 1975). At the drop-off, the cannot be considered typical for a reef adjacent to an
reef slopes off steeply and ends in a sandy plain at depths unpolluted mud/sand bay.
39
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
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Fig. 1. Locations of the eight largest bays and 11 reef sites sampled on the island of Curacao (latitude 12# N, longitude 68# W). The density pattern
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of nursery species and their non-nursery congeners along the gradient of reef sites is shown below the map of Curacao. Separate patterns are shown
(a) for pooled densities of the seven nursery species that had their highest densities at reef sites adjacent to bays with seagrass beds and mangroves
(see Table 1) and their congeners, and (b) for pooled densities of the eight nursery species that did not have higher densities at reef sites adjacent to
bays with seagrass beds and mangroves (see Table 1) and their congeners. Error bars indicate SEM. The table shows the mean coral cover (%) of
each depth zone.
Besides the 17 nursery species, the densities of nine (2000b) it is assumed that juveniles of these congeners
common non-nursery congeners of the nursery species do not use seagrass and mangrove habitats as a nursery.
were also determined on the reef sites: Acanthurus Data on the reef fish community structure were
collected by visual census in quadrats using SCUBA and
bahianus, Acanthurus coeruleus, Chaetodon striatus,
a stationary point-count method (Polunin and Roberts,
Haemulon carbonarium, Haemulon chrysargyreum, Sca-
1993) by two independent observers. Square quadrats of
rus taeniopterus, Scarus vetula, Sparisoma aurofrenatum
and Sparisoma viride. Based on Nagelkerken et al. 10 ! 10 m were surveyed at four depth zones: shallow
40
Table 1
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Main shallow-water habitats of the eight largest bays along the southwestern coastline of Curacao, and the abundance of nursery species
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Total Bay Bay area Length of Value as Lutjanus Lutjanus Lutjanus Lutjanus Gerres Chaetodon Haemulon Haemulon Haemulon Ocyurus Scarus Sparisoma Sphyraena
bay area consisting inundated nursery analis apodus griseus mahogoni cinereus capistratus flavolineatum sciurus parra chrysurus iserti chrysopterum barracuda
area covered of muddy/ mangroves
(m2) by sandy along
seagrass seabeds shoreline
beds (%) (m)
(%)
Sta. Martha 569,238 100 Low ** * * *** * ***
e e e e e e e e e
Bay
San Juan 159,060 100 60 Low * * * **
e e e e e e e e e e
Bay
St. Michiel 193,640 100 Very * *** *
e e e e e e e e e e e e
Bay low
Piscadera 726,168 2 98 3964 High *** *** *** ** * *** ** * *** *** ***
e e
Bay
Zakito 140,151 100 2267 Very *
e e e e e e e e e e e e e
Bay low
St. Anna 4,190,000 e 100 Very nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd
e
Bay low
ea ea ea ea ea
Spanish 2,846,511 15 82 8702 High * * * *** *** *** *** ***
Water
Bay
Fuik Bay 687,556 3 97 3200 High * * *** * ** * * * * * *
e e
The presence of 13 nursery species is based on Nagelkerken et al. (2001) and unpublished data (Nagelkerken) for which the bays were sampled using a beach seine net. Based on estimated total standing stocks of
juveniles on seagrass beds and muddy/sandy seabeds, presence of species is expressed as absent (e), low (*), high (**) or very high (***). Classes are distinguished per species by dividing the highest total standing
stock by three. Based on mean abundance and mean species richness of nursery species in the main nursery habitats of the bays, Nagelkerken (unpubl. data) classified the nursery function of the bays as high, low
or very low. No data are available for St. Anna Bay, but its nursery function is assumed to be very low (see text). nd, no data.
a
Presence in seagrass/mangrove habitats demonstrated by means of visual census (Nagelkerken et al., 2000b).
41
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
For each species, data were also analysed separately
Table 2
Size classes (cm) used to define juveniles for each nursery species, based for juveniles, based upon their maturation size (Table 2).
upon half the length of the smallest maturation sizes obtained from
Maturation sizes were obtained from FishBase World
FishBase World Wide Web (Froese and Pauly, 2002) and Munro
Wide Web (Froese and Pauly, 2002) and Munro (1983).
(1983) (for Lutjanus analis, the maturation size of Ocyurus chrysurus
If this database gave maturation size as a range, the
was used to distinguish the juveniles (see text))
smallest observed maturation size was used. Juveniles
Species Juveniles Species Juveniles
were defined as individuals smaller than half the ma-
0e10 0e10
Acanthurus chirurgus Lutjanus griseus
turation size (i.e., maturation size divided by two) to be
0e5 0e12.5
Chaetodon capistratus Lutjanus mahogoni
able to distinguish them from larger subadults. Matu-
0e10 0e12.5
Gerres cinereus Ocyurus chrysurus
ration size for Lutjanus analis was 37.5 cm, which is
0e5 0e15
Haemulon flavolineatum Scarus coeruleus
0e12.5 no data
Haemulon parra Scarus guacamaia much larger than that of the other Lutjanidae studied
0e10 0e10
Haemulon plumieri Scarus iserti
(i.e., 17.5e22.5 cm). This value was based on only one
0e10 0e12.5
Haemulon sciurus Sparisoma chrysopterum
study (quoted in FishBase World Wide Web), and may
0e12.5 0e30
Lutjanus analis Sphyraena barracuda
therefore not be very reliable. The same maturation size
0e12.5
Lutjanus apodus
for L. analis as for Ocyurus chrysurus was therefore
used. This was based on the fact that O. chrysurus and
L. analis have almost the same maximum length, and
reef flat (2.5 m), reef flat (5 m), drop-off (10 m) and reef
slope (15 m). A single 10 m line was used as a reference because for O. chrysurus a large number of studies have
for the size of a complete quadrat. At each site, ten determined the maturation size (quoted in FishBase
quadrats (placed in a direction parallel to the coastline) World Wide Web).
per depth zone were surveyed, to a total of 40 quadrats Since fish densities are often correlated to the degree
per site. These 40 quadrats were surveyed during three of coral cover (Luckhurst and Luckhurst, 1978; Hixon
visual census rounds: 16 quadrats at each site in and Beets, 1993; Grigg, 1994) the total hard coral cover
December 1999, 16 quadrats in January 2000 and 8 (both living and dead corals) at each site for each depth
zone was visually quantified. To estimate coral cover of
quadrats in February 2000. After placing the quadrat
line, the observer waited for 5 min to minimise fish the quadrat, the 10 ! 10 m quadrat was divided into
disturbance. All nursery species within or passing four quarters of 5 ! 5 m. For each quarter, coral cover
through the quadrat were then counted over a period was estimated separately and was averaged for the
of 10 min. During fish counting the observer was at the whole quadrat afterwards. The 10 m quadrat line was
edge of the quadrat for 8 min. After 8 min, the observer marked with a red label in the middle to visually
moved through the quadrats to search for and/or estimate the size of each quarter. Because the number of
estimate sizes of possible small juvenile fish hiding quadrats for which the cover was estimated was not
constant for each site (between 6 and 10 estimations per
behind or between coral boulders. Care was taken to
ensure that fishes that regularly moved in and out of the depth zone per site), cover was averaged for quadrats
quadrat were not counted twice. Fishes were classified and expressed as mean hard coral cover per depth zone
into size classes of 2.5 cm. Each reef site was visited by per site.
the two observers simultaneously and each observer
collected a total number of 20 quadrats. The location on 2.3. Statistical analysis
the reef, within a reef site, where an observer would
place the quadrats was randomly allocated to each of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to
the observers during each census round, making sure study the spatial distribution pattern of nursery species
not to recount the same area of reef. Species identifica- along the gradient of reef sites. PCA was carried out on
log10-transformed mean fish densities (with all size
tion and quantification were first thoroughly and
simultaneously practised by the two observers. Estima- classes pooled) per reef site, using the Canoco 4.0
tion of size classes was trained by repeatedly estimating ordination program (ter Braak and Smilauer, 1998).
the sizes of 40 pieces of electrical wires of known length Default options were used for the analysis: scaling was
(range 2.5e50 cm, in classes of 2.5 cm) under water. focused on inter-species correlations (to focus more on
Training was continued until differences in size-estima- the relationships between species), species scores were
tion were minimal (maximum difference of one size class divided by the standard deviation (to reduce the
of 2.5 cm for wire sizes !15 cm and two size classes for influence of species with a large variance in density),
sizes O15 cm) between the two observers. Training in and the data were centred by species (used for ordinary
fish species identification was continued until it was the PCA, where each species is weighted by its variance).
same between the observers. The training procedure To test the influence of coral cover on fish density,
started two weeks before the census and was repeated separate linear regressions were run for each species at
before each census round (three census rounds over each depth zone. Since Haemulon parra occurred only at
a period of three months). one reef site, no regression analysis could be performed
42 M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
for this species. For each species, mean fish density (with a fourth cluster, in which none of the species had their
all size classes pooled) at each site (N ¼ 11) was used as highest densities.
the dependent variable and mean hard coral cover was Generalized linear models were significant for 14
used as the regression. Regression analyses were species (Table 3). Post-hoc comparisons showed signif-
performed using SPSS version 11.5. icantly higher counts of Ocyurus chrysurus, Lutjanus
The influence of the presence of a bay nursery habitat apodus, Haemulon sciurus and Scarus coeruleus in the
on the occurrence of nursery species on the reef was category reefs adjacent to sgemg bays than in the other
tested using generalized linear models. Because the data three categories (Fig. 3a, Table 3). Ocyurus chrysurus
consisted of counts, a model based on a Poisson dis- had decreasing counts on reefs located at increasing
tribution was used. For each quadrat, visual census distances from sgemg bays. Lutjanus mahogoni and
counts of all size classes were pooled. Because the 10 Lutjanus analis also had their highest densities in the
quadrats of a depth zone were laid out in a line parallel category reefs adjacent to sgemg bays (Fig. 3a). For
to those in other depth zones, counts of quadrats dis- these two species, fish counts in the category reefs
tributed over the four depth zones were pooled to one adjacent to sgemg bays differed significantly from those
count. Therefore, data for each site consisted of 10 in the categories reefs between sgemg bays and reefs
counts (i.e., each a sum of counts over four depth adjacent to mud/sand bays, but not from reefs at great
zones). These fish counts were used as the dependent distance from sgemg bays. Sphyraena barracuda had its
variable in the model. The factor ‘reef category’ was highest density in the category reefs adjacent to sgemg
used as a fixed factor. Because data were collected bays, but a significant difference between counts was
during three time periods (visual census rounds), a three- only found between reefs adjacent to sgemg bays and
level block was added to the model, each level being one reefs at great distance from sgemg bays.
visual census round. The log link function and type 3 Of the other eight nursery species, two had their
analysis were used in the model. Post-hoc comparisons highest density in the category reefs between sgemg
between reef categories were made by calculating dif- bays (Chaetodon capistratus and Sparisoma chrysopte-
ferences of least squares means. Statistics were per- rum) and two in the category reefs adjacent to mud/
formed using the SAS system for Windows V8. sand bays (Haemulon flavolineatum and Scarus iserti)
(Table 3). Three species had their highest densities in
the category reefs at great distance from sgemg bays
(Gerres cinereus, Lutjanus griseus, and Haemulon parra).
3. Results
Densities of Acanthurus chirurgus were highest on reefs
adjacent to sgemg bays and on reefs adjacent to mud/
3.1. Total fish density
sand bays.
Pooled densities of the seven nursery species occur-
In the present study, 15 of the 17 known nursery
ring in higher densities on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays
species were observed in the quadrats on the reef.
were higher at all reef sites adjacent to sgemg bays than
Haemulon plumieri and Scarus guacamaia were not
at other reef sites (Fig. 1a). This pattern was not found
observed.
for the other eight nursery species observed on the reef
Of the 56 linear regressions between fish density and
(Fig. 1b). Non-nursery congeners of species with higher
coral cover, only three were significant: Haemulon
sciurus in the 15 m zone (P ! 0:01; R2 ¼ 0:63; Y ¼ densities on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays, had their
0:91 ÿ 1:20X), Scarus coeruleus in the 5 m zone (P ! highest densities on reef sites in the southwestern part of
0:01; R2 ¼ 0:65; Y ¼ 0:60C1:57X) and Lutjanus mahog- the gradient along the coast of the island, at great
oni in the 5 m zone (P ! 0:05; R2 ¼ 0:37; Y ¼ ÿ2:63C distance from bays with sgemg (Fig. 1a). Non-nursery
congeners of species without higher densities on reefs
11:08X).
adjacent to sgemg bays did not show higher densities in
PCA allowed the reef sites to be divided into four
any particular part of the gradient of reef sites examined
clusters (Fig. 2). One cluster was formed by the three
(Fig. 1b).
reef sites adjacent to sgemg bays and was characterised
by nine nursery species. Compared with the other reef
sites, the mean densities of seven of these species were 3.2. Juvenile fish density
highest on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays (Table 3). A
second cluster was formed by the reefs between sgemg For the seven nursery species which had their highest
bays and was characterised by high densities of densities (for the entire size range) on reefs adjacent to
Chaetodon capistratus. A third cluster was formed by sgemg bays, juveniles were also observed on the coral
two reefs adjacent to mud/sand bays and one reef at reef (Fig. 3b). An exception was Lutjanus analis, for
great distance from sgemg bays, and harboured five which only adults were observed on the reef. Juveniles of
species. Two reefs located at great distance from sgemg Haemulon sciurus were only observed on reefs adjacent
bays and one reef adjacent to a mud/sand bay formed to sgemg bays, and those of Sphyraena barracuda only
43
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Fig. 2. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of mean densities of the 15 nursery species at various reef sites. The horizontal axis represents the first
PCA axis, the vertical axis the second PCA axis. The first two axes accounted for 67.9% of the total variance. Abbreviations: sgemg bays: bays with
seagrass beds and mangroves; mud/sand bays: bays dominated by muddy/sandy seabeds; Achi: Acanthurus chirurgus; Ccap: Chaetodon capistratus;
Gcin: Gerres cinereus; Hfla: Haemulon flavolineatum; Hpar: Haemulon parra; Hsci: Haemulon sciurus; Lana: Lutjanus analis; Lapo: Lutjanus apodus;
Lgri: Lutjanus griseus; Lmah: Lutjanus mahogoni; Ochr: Ocyurus chrysurus; Scoer: Scarus coeruleus; Sise: Scarus iserti; Schr: Sparisoma chrysopterum;
Sbar: Sphyraena barracuda. On the basis of sites and species which showed the highest similarity in composition and density distribution (using PCA),
four clusters of sites and species were identified and bordered by lines.
on reefs between sgemg bays. Despite the presence of densities in seagrass/mangrove habitats and in reef
juveniles of six of these seven nursery species on the habitats (Fig. 4b).
coral reef, densities of their juveniles were much higher
in seagrass beds and mangroves than on the reef
(Fig. 3b). An exception was Scarus coeruleus, for which 4. Discussion
juvenile densities on the coral reef and those in seagrass
beds in Spanish Water Bay were similar. The present study showed significantly higher densi-
For the eight nursery species which did not show ties of four nursery species on reefs adjacent to sgemg
highest densities (for the entire size range) on reefs ad- bays than in all three other reef categories, whereas three
jacent to sgemg bays, juveniles were also found on the other nursery species showed significantly higher densi-
coral reef, except Lutjanus griseus and Haemulon parra ties at reefs adjacent to sgemg bays than in two of the
(Fig. 4a). The eight species can be divided into two three other reef categories. This is probably caused by the
groups. Densities of juveniles of Chaetodon capistratus, very high densities in the bays (summarised in Table 1)
Haemulon flavolineatum, Gerres cinereus, L. griseus, and of juveniles, which migrate to the adjacent reef when
H. parra were considerably higher in seagrass beds or reaching adulthood. This connectivity between nursery
mangroves in Spanish Water Bay than on the reef habitats in a bay and the reef adjacent to a bay has been
(Fig. 4a) whereas juveniles of Sparisoma chrysopterum, indicated before for Spanish Water Bay (Nagelkerken
Scarus iserti, and Acanthurus chirurgus showed similar et al., 2000b; Nagelkerken and van der Velde, 2002;
44 M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Table 3
Results of the generalized linear models with reef category as fixed factor and survey time as random block
Model Block Mean density per P-values of post-hoc comparisons
reef category
(# ind. 100 mÿ2)
X2 X2 1 2 3 4 1e2 1e3 1e4 2e3 2e4 3e4
P P
Species with highest density for reef category 1
654.50 !0.001 0.95 ns 1.9 1.3 0.5 !0.001 0.009
Ocyurus chrysurus 6.2 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
245.36 !0.001 1.20 ns 0.7 1.5 1.7 !0.001 ns
Lutjanus apodus 4.0 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
54.66 !0.001 9.39 0.009 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.006 !0.001 0.005 ns 0.001
Haemulon sciurus 0.7 !0.001
55.69 !0.001 13.25 0.001 0.0 0.2 0.001 0.026 0.020
Scarus coeruleus 0.4 e
23.13 !0.001 58.76 1.8 1.3 1.9 0.041 ns 0.026 ns 0.004
Lutjanus mahogoni 2.3
!0.001 !0.001
11.87 0.009 5.94 ns 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.033 0.011 ns ns ns ns
Lutjanus analis 0.2
10.47 0.015 9.13 0.010 0.1 0.1 ns ns 0.006 ns 0.045 ns
Sphyraena barracuda 0.2 0.2
Other species
501.77 !0.001 3.20 ns 1.8 1.1 2.2 0.027
Chaetodon capistratus 7.3 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
106.78 !0.001 3.36 ns 1.0 0.9 0.2 ns
Sparisoma chrysopterum 1.7 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
53.40 !0.001 3.08 ns 6.3 4.7 5.8 0.001 ns 0.003
Haemulon flavolineatum 7.6 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
210.51 !0.001 84.45 !0.001 9.3 6.0 5.0 ns 0.012
Scarus iserti 9.9 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
31.08 !0.001 0.90 ns 0.2 0.2 0.5 ns 0.006 0.002 ns
Gerres cinereus 0.6 !0.001 !0.001
22.52 !0.001 5.25 ns 0.1 0.1 ns ns ns
Lutjanus griseus 0.2
e
np
Haemulon parra 0.1
e e e
28.00 !0.001 91.24 !0.001 1.5 0.9 0.8 0.001 ns !0.001 0.002 ns
Acanthurus chirurgus 1.5 !0.001
np
Haemulon plumieri e e e e
np
Scarus guacamaia e e e e
P-values of post-hoc comparisons (differences of least mean squares) between the four types of reef categories are shown. Fish counts were converted
into mean fish densities per reef category; highest mean density is printed in bold. Abbreviations and symbols: np: not enough counts to perform the
test; ns: non-significant (P > 0:05); e: not observed; 1: reefs in front of bays with seagrass beds and mangroves; 2: reefs between bays with seagrass
beds and mangroves; 3: reefs in front of bays dominated by bare sediment; 4: reefs at great distances from bays with seagrass beds and mangroves.
`
Cocheret de la Moriniere et al., 2002). The present study new individuals on the reef, resulting in high densities on
suggests that all sgemg bays along the southwestern coast reefs adjacent to these bays.
x
of the island of Curacao show this type of connectivity An exception was Lutjanus mahogoni, for which den-
for certain coral reef fish species. A direct interlinkage sity differences between reefs adjacent to sgemg bays
between these habitats by fish life-cycle migration is and the other types of reef categories were not as large
difficult to show, but studies using otolith microchemistry as those for the other six species. A possible explanation
(Gillanders, 2002; Gillanders and Kingsford, 1996) have may be found in the ability of this species to spend its
confirmed the existence of these life-cycle migrations juvenile phase on the reef. Based on observations of
between juvenile habitats and adult habitats in temperate juveniles on the reef in the present study and by Wilson
marine fish species. (2001) and Nagelkerken et al. (2000a), ‘‘local recruit-
Regarding these seven species with the highest den- ment’’ on the reef may be an important source of new
sities on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays, Nagelkerken individuals. The higher densities on reefs adjacent to
et al. (2002) found that densities of Haemulon sciurus, sgemg bays might be a result of an additional input of
Lutjanus apodus and Ocyurus chrysurus were greatly individuals from these habitats onto the reef. Compar-
reduced on coral reefs of islands lacking seagrass and isons of densities of this species between islands with and
mangrove habitats relative to islands where these hab- without seagrass beds and mangroves did not reveal any
itats were present, indicating that these species are differences (Nagelkerken et al., 2002) and are consistent
highly dependent on these nursery habitats. For Lut- with this hypothesis.
janus analis, Sphyraena barracuda and Scarus coeruleus, If sgemg bays function as the main source of new
Nagelkerken et al. (2002) found a possible dependence individuals on the reef, the presence of these six species
on mangrove and/or seagrass nurseries. The present on reefs not adjacent to sgemg bays may partly result
study suggests that the presence of sgemg bays strongly from fish dispersal along the coast. This may explain
influences the distribution pattern of these six species on why the three types of reef located at great distance from
the coral reef along the coast of a single island. Since sgemg bays showed much lower densities for six of
mud/sand bays that lack seagrass and mangrove these nursery species. Studies have shown that fishes
habitats have a limited nursery function (Nagelkerken are able to migrate along reefs over distances ranging
et al., 2001; Table 1), sgemg bays are likely to function from hundreds of metres to several kilometres (Tulevech
as the main, and for some species the only, source of and Recksiek, 1994; Kanashiro, 1998; Mazeroll and
45
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Fig. 3. Mean densities of (a) the entire size range and (b) juveniles of the seven nursery species that had higher densities on reefs adjacent to bays with
seagrass beds and mangroves than at other locations (see Table 3). (b) Also shows densities of juveniles in mangroves and seagrass beds in Spanish
Water Bay (data recalculated from Nagelkerken and van der Velde, 2002), to allow comparison with densities on the reef. Note that the Y-axis of
(b) is on a log10-scale. Error bars indicate SEM. mg bay: mangrove habitat in Spanish Water Bay; sg bay: seagrass habitat in Spanish Water Bay;
Reef sgemg: reefs adjacent to bays with seagrass beds and mangroves; Reef between: reefs between bays with seagrass beds and mangroves; Reef
mud/sand: reefs adjacent to bays dominated by bare sediment; Reef distance: reefs at great distances to bays with seagrass beds and mangroves.
Montgomery, 1998; Zeller, 1998; Chapman and reefs, rather than in seagrass or mangrove habitats.
Kramer, 2000). Long-distance dispersal of Haemulon Although it has been shown, for example, that predation
pressure results in low survival of Haemulidae on reefs
sciurus, Lutjanus analis, Lutjanus apodus, Ocyurus chrys-
urus, and Sphyraena barracuda may have contributed to (Beets, 1997), some individuals may survive and con-
the presence of small fish populations on reefs located at tribute to small populations on reefs at some distance
some distance from their main nursery habitats. from seagrass and mangrove habitats (Shulman and
The presence of adults of species that had their highest Ogden, 1987). In the specific case of Scarus coeruleus,
densities on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays in the other which showed its highest densities on reefs adjacent to
reef categories may also be explained by the survival of sgemg bays, local recruitment can play a major role
juveniles that have settled and grown up directly on these because juvenile densities on the reef were comparable to
46 M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Fig. 4. Mean densities of juveniles of the eight nursery species that did not have higher densities on reefs adjacent to bays with seagrass beds and
mangroves than at other locations. Densities are shown on a log10-scale for the coral reef (this study) and for the mangroves and seagrass beds of
Spanish Water Bay (data recalculated from Nagelkerken and van der Velde, 2002). Species with higher juvenile densities in seagrass beds/mangroves
than on the reef (a) are distinguished from species with similar densities in seagrass beds/mangroves and on the reef (b). Error bars indicate SEM. For
abbreviations see the legend to Fig. 3.
those in seagrass beds. Other studies have also observed a role, the influence of the presence/absence of nursery
juveniles of S. coeruleus on patch reefs (Overholtzer and bays on the fish community structure of various reef fish
Motta, 1999). These observations suggest that this spe- species is greater than these other factors. Firstly, and
cies can also use the coral reef as a nursery. most importantly, if other factors were primarily
One problem with the interpretation of the present responsible, then non-nursery congeners of the nursery
results is that all reefs in front of bays with seagrass bed species would also show significantly elevated densities
and mangrove nurseries were located on the southeast- at reefs in front of nursery bays. This was not the case.
ern part of the coast, whereas all reefs in front of mud/ Secondly, coral cover at 2, 5, and 10 m depth and overall
sand bays and reefs at great distances from bays with coral cover did not differ significantly between the
mangroves and seagrass beds were located on the north- southeastern and northwestern reefs (P > 0:213, t-test).
western part of the island. Factors other than absence/ Only at 15 m depth was the coral cover significantly
higher at the latter reefs than at the former (p ¼ 0:047,
presence of bays with mangrove and seagrass beds may
therefore also influence the reef fish communities at these t-test), but the data indicated that with the exception of
reef categories. It is argued that even if such factors play one fish species no high positive correlation was present
47
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
between coral cover and fish densities. Thirdly, Ocyurus reef sites. Ontogenetic migrations from sgemg bays to
chrysurus, Lutjanus apodus and Haemulon sciurus which reefs located much farther away are therefore not likely.
showed the highest difference in density between the Various studies have demonstrated a close correla-
reefs in front of the bays with nursery habitats and the tion between habitat complexity and total fish density
other three reef categories, were three of the four (Luckhurst and Luckhurst, 1978; Bell and Galzin, 1984;
nursery species for which Nagelkerken et al. (2002) Grigg, 1994). In the present study, however, the relation
indicated that they showed a very high dependence of between coral cover and fish density was only evident
mangrove/seagrass nurseries at various islands through- for Scarus coeruleus, suggesting that this species favours
out the Caribbean. Environmental factors such as water reefs with a high coral cover. For the two other species
temperature, salinity and turbidity do not vary in which showed a significant relation between density and
a systematic way at the two parts of the island, partly coral cover, the relation was only significant in one
due to the ocean currents which run straight along the depth zone, and was negative for Haemulon sciurus,
entire southwestern coast of the island. The island does whereas for Lutjanus mahogoni the degree of variation
not have any fishing reserves, and fishing takes place explained by the regression line was very low. Further-
along the entire sheltered southwestern coast. It is more, the non-nursery congeners of the nursery species
therefore concluded that the presence of nursery bays is showed different distribution patterns among the reef
in this case the best possible explanation for the elevated sites than the nursery species. It is therefore likely that in
densities of seven nursery species on reefs in front of this study coral complexity did not influence the dis-
sgemg bays. tribution of the sampled nursery species along the coast.
Among the eight nursery species that did not occur in The results of the present study indicate that the
higher densities as mainly adults on reefs adjacent to distribution of Haemulon sciurus, Lutjanus apodus,
sgemg bays, two groups were distinguished: one in- Ocyurus chrysurus and Scarus coeruleus on the coral
cluding species with higher juvenile densities in seagrass reef along the coast of a single island is significantly
beds/mangroves than on the coral reef, and one in- related to the presence of sgemg bays. Lutjanus analis,
cluding species with similar juvenile densities in seagrass Lutjanus mahogoni and Sphyraena barracuda showed
beds/mangroves and on the reef. The first group in- a similar trend but densities at reefs adjacent to sgemg
cludes two species (Chaetodon capistratus and Haemulon bays were only significantly higher than those at two of
flavolineatum) for which local recruitment is probably the three reef categories. Six of these seven nursery
the main source of adults, because juveniles were found species showed much higher juvenile densities in
on the entire reef while no higher total density was seagrass/mangrove habitats than on the reef, but were
observed on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays. Nagelkerken nevertheless also found as adults on reef locations at
et al. (2000a) also found juveniles of both species on the some distance from these nursery habitats, suggesting
reef. Nagelkerken et al. (2001) showed a major nur- dispersal along the reef. Acanthurus chirurgus, Scarus
sery function of mud/sand bays for Gerres cinereus (see iserti and Sparisoma chrysopterum showed comparable
Table 1). And since mud/sand bays are present over a juvenile densities in seagrass/mangrove habitats and reef
large part of the coast, the observations of juveniles of habitats, and were also found as adults at various reef
this species at the various reef sites at great distance sites, suggesting that they can complete their entire life
from sgemg bays might be explained by the presence of cycle on the reef and are not highly dependent on
these bays. Juveniles of Lutjanus griseus and Haemulon seagrass beds and mangroves.
parra were predominantly observed in sgemg bays
(Table 1) and not on the coral reef. The presence of these
Acknowledgements
species on reefs at some distance to sgemg bays might
therefore be explained by dispersal along the coast.
The management and staff of the Carmabi Founda-
For the second group, local recruitment is thought to
x
tion Curacao is thanked for the use of their facilities and
be the main source of adults on reef sites other than reefs
for their support. Dr. A. Debrot provided information
adjacent to sgemg bays. Nagelkerken et al. (2002)
and literature. The manuscript benefited by the com-
described both Acanthurus chirurgus and Sparisoma
ments of two referees. This study was financially sup-
chrysopterum as species that do not depend on man-
ported by a grant from the Schure-Beijerinck-Popping
groves or seagrass beds as nurseries. However, the same
Foundation, The Netherlands.
study indicated that Scarus iserti depends heavily on the
presence of seagrass beds and mangroves as nurseries.
The results of the present study suggest that around References
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www.elsevier.com/locate/ECSS
The relationship of reef fish densities to the
proximity of mangrove and seagrass nurseries
M. Dorenbosch, M.C. van Riel, I. Nagelkerken), G. van der Velde
Department of Animal Ecology & Ecophysiology, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Received 20 May 2003; accepted 28 November 2003
Abstract
Visual census surveys were used to study the distribution of coral reef fishes that are associated with seagrass beds and mangroves
x
in their juvenile phase, on various coral reef sites along the coast of the Caribbean island of Curacao (Netherlands Antilles). The
hypothesis tested was that various reef fish species occur in higher densities on coral reefs adjacent to nursery habitats than on reefs
located at some distance to these habitats. Of 17 coral reef fish species that are known to use bays with seagrass beds and mangroves
as nurseries (nursery species), 15 were observed in quadrats on the reef. Four nursery species, Haemulon sciurus, Lutjanus apodus,
Ocyurus chrysurus and Scarus coeruleus occurred in significantly higher densities on coral reefs adjacent to bays with seagrass beds
and mangroves. Lutjanus analis, Lutjanus mahogoni and Sphyraena barracuda also had their highest densities on reefs adjacent to
these bays, although differences between the distinguished reef categories were not always significant. It is suggested that these seven
species are highly dependent on the presence of bays with seagrass beds and mangroves as nurseries on an island scale. Eight other
species that are known to use seagrass beds and mangroves as nurseries did not have their highest densities on reefs adjacent to bays
with seagrass beds and mangroves. For six of these species, juveniles were also observed on the reef. It is suggested that these species
are able to use the reef as an alternative nursery and do not depend strictly on the presence of bays with seagrass beds and
mangroves as nurseries.
Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: nursery grounds; mangrove swamps; seagrasses; coral reef fishes; migration; juveniles
`
2000a; Cocheret de la Moriniere et al., 2002; Adams and
1. Introduction
Ebersole, 2002; Nagelkerken and van der Velde, 2002).
x
In various parts of the world, shallow coastal areas On the island of Curacao (Netherlands Antilles),
containing mangroves and seagrass beds are considered Nagelkerken et al. (2000b) showed that an inland
important nurseries for juvenile fish (Pollard, 1984; marine bay with seagrass beds and mangroves served
Parrish, 1989; Baelde, 1990; Robertson and Blaber, as a nursery habitat for at least 17 coral reef species
1992). Pelagic fish larvae settle into these habitats, and (indicated below as nursery species). It has been shown
grow from juveniles to subadults or adults that leave on various islands that a reduced density of several of
these habitats by means of post-settlement migrations these nursery species on the coral reef is related to the
(Jones, 1991; Blaber, 2000). In the Caribbean, shallow absence of seagrass beds and mangroves (Nagelkerken
waters with mangroves and seagrass beds are charac- et al., 2002). This suggests that these nursery species
terised by the presence of high densities of juveniles of depend on the presence of seagrass beds and mangroves
several coral reef species that are assumed to migrate to as a nursery habitat. If this is the case, coral reefs ad-
the coral reef on reaching the (sub)adult stage (Austin, jacent to mangrove and seagrass nursery areas might be
1971; Louis and Guyard, 1982; Nagelkerken et al., expected to harbour higher densities of adults of these
nursery species than reefs located at greater distance to
these nursery areas, assuming that adult migration along
) Corresponding author.
the coast between reefs is limited.
E-mail address: i.nagelkerken@sci.kun.nl (I. Nagelkerken).
0272-7714/$ - see front matter Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2003.11.018
38 M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
x
The island of Curacao provides an opportunity to test of 80e90 m. The southwestern coast features eight large
this hypothesis along the coast of a single island. The inland bays (Fig. 1), which are dominated by man-
occurrence of both seagrass beds and mangroves is groves, seagrass beds and a muddy/sandy seabed
restricted to several shallow inland marine bays situated (Table 1). Rocky substratum, in the form of boulders
at the southwestern part of the island, allowing a clear and erosional notches, is present to some degree only in
distinction to be made between reefs adjacent to bays Spanish Water Bay. Notches are formed at and under
with seagrass beds and mangroves, reefs adjacent to the water line through biochemical solution of the fossil
´
bays without seagrass beds and mangroves, and reefs reef terrace along the shoreline (de Buisonje and
located at some distance from bays. In a pilot study, Zonneveld, 1960). Fringing mangroves grow in stands
Nagelkerken et al. (2000b) already observed reduced along the sandy shoreline of the bays and consist of
densities of six nursery species on the reef at an in- Rhizophora mangle (see Nagelkerken et al., 2000b and
creasing distance from a single bay with nursery ha- Nagelkerken et al., 2001 for a detailed description of
bitats. However, their study focused on only a few these habitats). Seagrass beds in Spanish Water Bay and
species and a small part of the reef, and did not consider Fuik Bay consist of Thalassia testudinum whereas those
the possible relation with fish size. in Piscadera Bay consist of Syringodium filiforme. All
While subadult or adult bay-to-reef migrations are bays have a narrow entrance from the open sea. The
likely to supply coral reefs adjacent to bays with nursery water of Zakito Bay is polluted with heavy metals from
species, reefs at some distance from these habitats can be a desalination plant and has an elevated temperature
colonised either by fish dispersal on reefs along the coast and salinity (Nagelkerken, unpubl. data). The average
x
or by small populations of juvenile fish larvae that settle daily tidal range in Curacao is about 30 cm (de Haan
and survive on these reefs. Several studies (Tulevech and and Zaneveld, 1959), and the bays are not subject to
Recksiek, 1994; Macpherson, 1998; Zeller, 1998) suggest strong tidal currents.
that it is predominantly the larger individuals that
undertake migrations along the reef over larger dis- 2.2. Study design
tances. Whereas the population of nursery species on
coral reefs adjacent to bays with seagrass beds and The distribution of the 17 nursery species (listed in
mangroves is represented by older juveniles, subadults Table 2) was studied at 11 coral reef sites in a gradient
and adults (Nagelkerken et al., 2000b; Cocheret de la along the southwestern coast at varying distances from
`
Moriniere et al., 2002; Nagelkerken and van der Velde, two types of bays. The 11 reef sites were subdivided into
2002), it might be expected that the population of nur- four ‘reef categories’ (Fig. 1): (1) three coral reef sites
sery species on coral reefs at great distances to bays with adjacent to bays featuring major seagrass beds and
seagrass beds and mangroves would consist predomi- mangrove habitats, indicated below as sgemg bays
nantly of adults. (distance to the bay !1 km); (2) three coral reef sites
The present study tested the hypothesis that juveniles adjacent to bays dominated by bare sediment without
and adults of nursery species occur in higher densities on marine vegetation (distance to the bay !1 km), but
coral reefs adjacent to nursery habitats than on reefs situated at some distance to sgemg bays, indicated
located at some distance to these habitats. In accordance below as mud/sand bays (distance to nearest sgemg bay
with this, reduced densities of adults and the absence of between 3.2 and 25.6 km); (3) two coral reef sites
juveniles on coral reefs away from these bays, are ex- situated between sgemg bays (distance to nearest
pected. The degree to which nursery species might utilise sgemg bay between 3.1 and 3.5 km, and to nearest
the coral reef as an alternative juvenile habitat instead of mud/sand bay between 8.0 and 15.5 km); and (4) three
seagrass and mangrove habitats was also investigated. coral reef sites located at greater distance to sgemg bays
(distance to nearest sgemg bay between 11.6 and
38.5 km, and to nearest mud/sand bay between 4.7
and 13.4 km). The reef at Holiday Beach was located
2. Materials and methods
close to a bay (St. Anna Bay), but was nevertheless
defined as a reef situated between sgemg bays (Fig. 1).
2.1. Study area
Due to industrial activities in St. Anna Bay (involving
The present study was carried out on the coral reef at the presence of a large harbour, oil refinery and
the leeward southwestern coast of the Caribbean island shipyards), all natural marine vegetation and muddy/
x
of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles (Fig. 1). The coast on sandy habitats have been destroyed, and the water is
this side of the island is characterised by the presence of highly polluted (van den Hoek et al., 1972). Therefore,
a continuous fringing coral reef that consists of a small the ecological function of this bay cannot be considered
surf zone and a reef flat that gradually slopes down to typical for a mud/sand bay, and the reef close to this bay
a ‘drop-off’ at 7e12 m (Bak, 1975). At the drop-off, the cannot be considered typical for a reef adjacent to an
reef slopes off steeply and ends in a sandy plain at depths unpolluted mud/sand bay.
39
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
x
Fig. 1. Locations of the eight largest bays and 11 reef sites sampled on the island of Curacao (latitude 12# N, longitude 68# W). The density pattern
x
of nursery species and their non-nursery congeners along the gradient of reef sites is shown below the map of Curacao. Separate patterns are shown
(a) for pooled densities of the seven nursery species that had their highest densities at reef sites adjacent to bays with seagrass beds and mangroves
(see Table 1) and their congeners, and (b) for pooled densities of the eight nursery species that did not have higher densities at reef sites adjacent to
bays with seagrass beds and mangroves (see Table 1) and their congeners. Error bars indicate SEM. The table shows the mean coral cover (%) of
each depth zone.
Besides the 17 nursery species, the densities of nine (2000b) it is assumed that juveniles of these congeners
common non-nursery congeners of the nursery species do not use seagrass and mangrove habitats as a nursery.
were also determined on the reef sites: Acanthurus Data on the reef fish community structure were
collected by visual census in quadrats using SCUBA and
bahianus, Acanthurus coeruleus, Chaetodon striatus,
a stationary point-count method (Polunin and Roberts,
Haemulon carbonarium, Haemulon chrysargyreum, Sca-
1993) by two independent observers. Square quadrats of
rus taeniopterus, Scarus vetula, Sparisoma aurofrenatum
and Sparisoma viride. Based on Nagelkerken et al. 10 ! 10 m were surveyed at four depth zones: shallow
40
Table 1
x
Main shallow-water habitats of the eight largest bays along the southwestern coastline of Curacao, and the abundance of nursery species
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Total Bay Bay area Length of Value as Lutjanus Lutjanus Lutjanus Lutjanus Gerres Chaetodon Haemulon Haemulon Haemulon Ocyurus Scarus Sparisoma Sphyraena
bay area consisting inundated nursery analis apodus griseus mahogoni cinereus capistratus flavolineatum sciurus parra chrysurus iserti chrysopterum barracuda
area covered of muddy/ mangroves
(m2) by sandy along
seagrass seabeds shoreline
beds (%) (m)
(%)
Sta. Martha 569,238 100 Low ** * * *** * ***
e e e e e e e e e
Bay
San Juan 159,060 100 60 Low * * * **
e e e e e e e e e e
Bay
St. Michiel 193,640 100 Very * *** *
e e e e e e e e e e e e
Bay low
Piscadera 726,168 2 98 3964 High *** *** *** ** * *** ** * *** *** ***
e e
Bay
Zakito 140,151 100 2267 Very *
e e e e e e e e e e e e e
Bay low
St. Anna 4,190,000 e 100 Very nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd
e
Bay low
ea ea ea ea ea
Spanish 2,846,511 15 82 8702 High * * * *** *** *** *** ***
Water
Bay
Fuik Bay 687,556 3 97 3200 High * * *** * ** * * * * * *
e e
The presence of 13 nursery species is based on Nagelkerken et al. (2001) and unpublished data (Nagelkerken) for which the bays were sampled using a beach seine net. Based on estimated total standing stocks of
juveniles on seagrass beds and muddy/sandy seabeds, presence of species is expressed as absent (e), low (*), high (**) or very high (***). Classes are distinguished per species by dividing the highest total standing
stock by three. Based on mean abundance and mean species richness of nursery species in the main nursery habitats of the bays, Nagelkerken (unpubl. data) classified the nursery function of the bays as high, low
or very low. No data are available for St. Anna Bay, but its nursery function is assumed to be very low (see text). nd, no data.
a
Presence in seagrass/mangrove habitats demonstrated by means of visual census (Nagelkerken et al., 2000b).
41
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
For each species, data were also analysed separately
Table 2
Size classes (cm) used to define juveniles for each nursery species, based for juveniles, based upon their maturation size (Table 2).
upon half the length of the smallest maturation sizes obtained from
Maturation sizes were obtained from FishBase World
FishBase World Wide Web (Froese and Pauly, 2002) and Munro
Wide Web (Froese and Pauly, 2002) and Munro (1983).
(1983) (for Lutjanus analis, the maturation size of Ocyurus chrysurus
If this database gave maturation size as a range, the
was used to distinguish the juveniles (see text))
smallest observed maturation size was used. Juveniles
Species Juveniles Species Juveniles
were defined as individuals smaller than half the ma-
0e10 0e10
Acanthurus chirurgus Lutjanus griseus
turation size (i.e., maturation size divided by two) to be
0e5 0e12.5
Chaetodon capistratus Lutjanus mahogoni
able to distinguish them from larger subadults. Matu-
0e10 0e12.5
Gerres cinereus Ocyurus chrysurus
ration size for Lutjanus analis was 37.5 cm, which is
0e5 0e15
Haemulon flavolineatum Scarus coeruleus
0e12.5 no data
Haemulon parra Scarus guacamaia much larger than that of the other Lutjanidae studied
0e10 0e10
Haemulon plumieri Scarus iserti
(i.e., 17.5e22.5 cm). This value was based on only one
0e10 0e12.5
Haemulon sciurus Sparisoma chrysopterum
study (quoted in FishBase World Wide Web), and may
0e12.5 0e30
Lutjanus analis Sphyraena barracuda
therefore not be very reliable. The same maturation size
0e12.5
Lutjanus apodus
for L. analis as for Ocyurus chrysurus was therefore
used. This was based on the fact that O. chrysurus and
L. analis have almost the same maximum length, and
reef flat (2.5 m), reef flat (5 m), drop-off (10 m) and reef
slope (15 m). A single 10 m line was used as a reference because for O. chrysurus a large number of studies have
for the size of a complete quadrat. At each site, ten determined the maturation size (quoted in FishBase
quadrats (placed in a direction parallel to the coastline) World Wide Web).
per depth zone were surveyed, to a total of 40 quadrats Since fish densities are often correlated to the degree
per site. These 40 quadrats were surveyed during three of coral cover (Luckhurst and Luckhurst, 1978; Hixon
visual census rounds: 16 quadrats at each site in and Beets, 1993; Grigg, 1994) the total hard coral cover
December 1999, 16 quadrats in January 2000 and 8 (both living and dead corals) at each site for each depth
zone was visually quantified. To estimate coral cover of
quadrats in February 2000. After placing the quadrat
line, the observer waited for 5 min to minimise fish the quadrat, the 10 ! 10 m quadrat was divided into
disturbance. All nursery species within or passing four quarters of 5 ! 5 m. For each quarter, coral cover
through the quadrat were then counted over a period was estimated separately and was averaged for the
of 10 min. During fish counting the observer was at the whole quadrat afterwards. The 10 m quadrat line was
edge of the quadrat for 8 min. After 8 min, the observer marked with a red label in the middle to visually
moved through the quadrats to search for and/or estimate the size of each quarter. Because the number of
estimate sizes of possible small juvenile fish hiding quadrats for which the cover was estimated was not
constant for each site (between 6 and 10 estimations per
behind or between coral boulders. Care was taken to
ensure that fishes that regularly moved in and out of the depth zone per site), cover was averaged for quadrats
quadrat were not counted twice. Fishes were classified and expressed as mean hard coral cover per depth zone
into size classes of 2.5 cm. Each reef site was visited by per site.
the two observers simultaneously and each observer
collected a total number of 20 quadrats. The location on 2.3. Statistical analysis
the reef, within a reef site, where an observer would
place the quadrats was randomly allocated to each of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to
the observers during each census round, making sure study the spatial distribution pattern of nursery species
not to recount the same area of reef. Species identifica- along the gradient of reef sites. PCA was carried out on
log10-transformed mean fish densities (with all size
tion and quantification were first thoroughly and
simultaneously practised by the two observers. Estima- classes pooled) per reef site, using the Canoco 4.0
tion of size classes was trained by repeatedly estimating ordination program (ter Braak and Smilauer, 1998).
the sizes of 40 pieces of electrical wires of known length Default options were used for the analysis: scaling was
(range 2.5e50 cm, in classes of 2.5 cm) under water. focused on inter-species correlations (to focus more on
Training was continued until differences in size-estima- the relationships between species), species scores were
tion were minimal (maximum difference of one size class divided by the standard deviation (to reduce the
of 2.5 cm for wire sizes !15 cm and two size classes for influence of species with a large variance in density),
sizes O15 cm) between the two observers. Training in and the data were centred by species (used for ordinary
fish species identification was continued until it was the PCA, where each species is weighted by its variance).
same between the observers. The training procedure To test the influence of coral cover on fish density,
started two weeks before the census and was repeated separate linear regressions were run for each species at
before each census round (three census rounds over each depth zone. Since Haemulon parra occurred only at
a period of three months). one reef site, no regression analysis could be performed
42 M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
for this species. For each species, mean fish density (with a fourth cluster, in which none of the species had their
all size classes pooled) at each site (N ¼ 11) was used as highest densities.
the dependent variable and mean hard coral cover was Generalized linear models were significant for 14
used as the regression. Regression analyses were species (Table 3). Post-hoc comparisons showed signif-
performed using SPSS version 11.5. icantly higher counts of Ocyurus chrysurus, Lutjanus
The influence of the presence of a bay nursery habitat apodus, Haemulon sciurus and Scarus coeruleus in the
on the occurrence of nursery species on the reef was category reefs adjacent to sgemg bays than in the other
tested using generalized linear models. Because the data three categories (Fig. 3a, Table 3). Ocyurus chrysurus
consisted of counts, a model based on a Poisson dis- had decreasing counts on reefs located at increasing
tribution was used. For each quadrat, visual census distances from sgemg bays. Lutjanus mahogoni and
counts of all size classes were pooled. Because the 10 Lutjanus analis also had their highest densities in the
quadrats of a depth zone were laid out in a line parallel category reefs adjacent to sgemg bays (Fig. 3a). For
to those in other depth zones, counts of quadrats dis- these two species, fish counts in the category reefs
tributed over the four depth zones were pooled to one adjacent to sgemg bays differed significantly from those
count. Therefore, data for each site consisted of 10 in the categories reefs between sgemg bays and reefs
counts (i.e., each a sum of counts over four depth adjacent to mud/sand bays, but not from reefs at great
zones). These fish counts were used as the dependent distance from sgemg bays. Sphyraena barracuda had its
variable in the model. The factor ‘reef category’ was highest density in the category reefs adjacent to sgemg
used as a fixed factor. Because data were collected bays, but a significant difference between counts was
during three time periods (visual census rounds), a three- only found between reefs adjacent to sgemg bays and
level block was added to the model, each level being one reefs at great distance from sgemg bays.
visual census round. The log link function and type 3 Of the other eight nursery species, two had their
analysis were used in the model. Post-hoc comparisons highest density in the category reefs between sgemg
between reef categories were made by calculating dif- bays (Chaetodon capistratus and Sparisoma chrysopte-
ferences of least squares means. Statistics were per- rum) and two in the category reefs adjacent to mud/
formed using the SAS system for Windows V8. sand bays (Haemulon flavolineatum and Scarus iserti)
(Table 3). Three species had their highest densities in
the category reefs at great distance from sgemg bays
(Gerres cinereus, Lutjanus griseus, and Haemulon parra).
3. Results
Densities of Acanthurus chirurgus were highest on reefs
adjacent to sgemg bays and on reefs adjacent to mud/
3.1. Total fish density
sand bays.
Pooled densities of the seven nursery species occur-
In the present study, 15 of the 17 known nursery
ring in higher densities on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays
species were observed in the quadrats on the reef.
were higher at all reef sites adjacent to sgemg bays than
Haemulon plumieri and Scarus guacamaia were not
at other reef sites (Fig. 1a). This pattern was not found
observed.
for the other eight nursery species observed on the reef
Of the 56 linear regressions between fish density and
(Fig. 1b). Non-nursery congeners of species with higher
coral cover, only three were significant: Haemulon
sciurus in the 15 m zone (P ! 0:01; R2 ¼ 0:63; Y ¼ densities on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays, had their
0:91 ÿ 1:20X), Scarus coeruleus in the 5 m zone (P ! highest densities on reef sites in the southwestern part of
0:01; R2 ¼ 0:65; Y ¼ 0:60C1:57X) and Lutjanus mahog- the gradient along the coast of the island, at great
oni in the 5 m zone (P ! 0:05; R2 ¼ 0:37; Y ¼ ÿ2:63C distance from bays with sgemg (Fig. 1a). Non-nursery
congeners of species without higher densities on reefs
11:08X).
adjacent to sgemg bays did not show higher densities in
PCA allowed the reef sites to be divided into four
any particular part of the gradient of reef sites examined
clusters (Fig. 2). One cluster was formed by the three
(Fig. 1b).
reef sites adjacent to sgemg bays and was characterised
by nine nursery species. Compared with the other reef
sites, the mean densities of seven of these species were 3.2. Juvenile fish density
highest on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays (Table 3). A
second cluster was formed by the reefs between sgemg For the seven nursery species which had their highest
bays and was characterised by high densities of densities (for the entire size range) on reefs adjacent to
Chaetodon capistratus. A third cluster was formed by sgemg bays, juveniles were also observed on the coral
two reefs adjacent to mud/sand bays and one reef at reef (Fig. 3b). An exception was Lutjanus analis, for
great distance from sgemg bays, and harboured five which only adults were observed on the reef. Juveniles of
species. Two reefs located at great distance from sgemg Haemulon sciurus were only observed on reefs adjacent
bays and one reef adjacent to a mud/sand bay formed to sgemg bays, and those of Sphyraena barracuda only
43
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Fig. 2. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of mean densities of the 15 nursery species at various reef sites. The horizontal axis represents the first
PCA axis, the vertical axis the second PCA axis. The first two axes accounted for 67.9% of the total variance. Abbreviations: sgemg bays: bays with
seagrass beds and mangroves; mud/sand bays: bays dominated by muddy/sandy seabeds; Achi: Acanthurus chirurgus; Ccap: Chaetodon capistratus;
Gcin: Gerres cinereus; Hfla: Haemulon flavolineatum; Hpar: Haemulon parra; Hsci: Haemulon sciurus; Lana: Lutjanus analis; Lapo: Lutjanus apodus;
Lgri: Lutjanus griseus; Lmah: Lutjanus mahogoni; Ochr: Ocyurus chrysurus; Scoer: Scarus coeruleus; Sise: Scarus iserti; Schr: Sparisoma chrysopterum;
Sbar: Sphyraena barracuda. On the basis of sites and species which showed the highest similarity in composition and density distribution (using PCA),
four clusters of sites and species were identified and bordered by lines.
on reefs between sgemg bays. Despite the presence of densities in seagrass/mangrove habitats and in reef
juveniles of six of these seven nursery species on the habitats (Fig. 4b).
coral reef, densities of their juveniles were much higher
in seagrass beds and mangroves than on the reef
(Fig. 3b). An exception was Scarus coeruleus, for which 4. Discussion
juvenile densities on the coral reef and those in seagrass
beds in Spanish Water Bay were similar. The present study showed significantly higher densi-
For the eight nursery species which did not show ties of four nursery species on reefs adjacent to sgemg
highest densities (for the entire size range) on reefs ad- bays than in all three other reef categories, whereas three
jacent to sgemg bays, juveniles were also found on the other nursery species showed significantly higher densi-
coral reef, except Lutjanus griseus and Haemulon parra ties at reefs adjacent to sgemg bays than in two of the
(Fig. 4a). The eight species can be divided into two three other reef categories. This is probably caused by the
groups. Densities of juveniles of Chaetodon capistratus, very high densities in the bays (summarised in Table 1)
Haemulon flavolineatum, Gerres cinereus, L. griseus, and of juveniles, which migrate to the adjacent reef when
H. parra were considerably higher in seagrass beds or reaching adulthood. This connectivity between nursery
mangroves in Spanish Water Bay than on the reef habitats in a bay and the reef adjacent to a bay has been
(Fig. 4a) whereas juveniles of Sparisoma chrysopterum, indicated before for Spanish Water Bay (Nagelkerken
Scarus iserti, and Acanthurus chirurgus showed similar et al., 2000b; Nagelkerken and van der Velde, 2002;
44 M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Table 3
Results of the generalized linear models with reef category as fixed factor and survey time as random block
Model Block Mean density per P-values of post-hoc comparisons
reef category
(# ind. 100 mÿ2)
X2 X2 1 2 3 4 1e2 1e3 1e4 2e3 2e4 3e4
P P
Species with highest density for reef category 1
654.50 !0.001 0.95 ns 1.9 1.3 0.5 !0.001 0.009
Ocyurus chrysurus 6.2 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
245.36 !0.001 1.20 ns 0.7 1.5 1.7 !0.001 ns
Lutjanus apodus 4.0 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
54.66 !0.001 9.39 0.009 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.006 !0.001 0.005 ns 0.001
Haemulon sciurus 0.7 !0.001
55.69 !0.001 13.25 0.001 0.0 0.2 0.001 0.026 0.020
Scarus coeruleus 0.4 e
23.13 !0.001 58.76 1.8 1.3 1.9 0.041 ns 0.026 ns 0.004
Lutjanus mahogoni 2.3
!0.001 !0.001
11.87 0.009 5.94 ns 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.033 0.011 ns ns ns ns
Lutjanus analis 0.2
10.47 0.015 9.13 0.010 0.1 0.1 ns ns 0.006 ns 0.045 ns
Sphyraena barracuda 0.2 0.2
Other species
501.77 !0.001 3.20 ns 1.8 1.1 2.2 0.027
Chaetodon capistratus 7.3 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
106.78 !0.001 3.36 ns 1.0 0.9 0.2 ns
Sparisoma chrysopterum 1.7 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
53.40 !0.001 3.08 ns 6.3 4.7 5.8 0.001 ns 0.003
Haemulon flavolineatum 7.6 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
210.51 !0.001 84.45 !0.001 9.3 6.0 5.0 ns 0.012
Scarus iserti 9.9 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001 !0.001
31.08 !0.001 0.90 ns 0.2 0.2 0.5 ns 0.006 0.002 ns
Gerres cinereus 0.6 !0.001 !0.001
22.52 !0.001 5.25 ns 0.1 0.1 ns ns ns
Lutjanus griseus 0.2
e
np
Haemulon parra 0.1
e e e
28.00 !0.001 91.24 !0.001 1.5 0.9 0.8 0.001 ns !0.001 0.002 ns
Acanthurus chirurgus 1.5 !0.001
np
Haemulon plumieri e e e e
np
Scarus guacamaia e e e e
P-values of post-hoc comparisons (differences of least mean squares) between the four types of reef categories are shown. Fish counts were converted
into mean fish densities per reef category; highest mean density is printed in bold. Abbreviations and symbols: np: not enough counts to perform the
test; ns: non-significant (P > 0:05); e: not observed; 1: reefs in front of bays with seagrass beds and mangroves; 2: reefs between bays with seagrass
beds and mangroves; 3: reefs in front of bays dominated by bare sediment; 4: reefs at great distances from bays with seagrass beds and mangroves.
`
Cocheret de la Moriniere et al., 2002). The present study new individuals on the reef, resulting in high densities on
suggests that all sgemg bays along the southwestern coast reefs adjacent to these bays.
x
of the island of Curacao show this type of connectivity An exception was Lutjanus mahogoni, for which den-
for certain coral reef fish species. A direct interlinkage sity differences between reefs adjacent to sgemg bays
between these habitats by fish life-cycle migration is and the other types of reef categories were not as large
difficult to show, but studies using otolith microchemistry as those for the other six species. A possible explanation
(Gillanders, 2002; Gillanders and Kingsford, 1996) have may be found in the ability of this species to spend its
confirmed the existence of these life-cycle migrations juvenile phase on the reef. Based on observations of
between juvenile habitats and adult habitats in temperate juveniles on the reef in the present study and by Wilson
marine fish species. (2001) and Nagelkerken et al. (2000a), ‘‘local recruit-
Regarding these seven species with the highest den- ment’’ on the reef may be an important source of new
sities on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays, Nagelkerken individuals. The higher densities on reefs adjacent to
et al. (2002) found that densities of Haemulon sciurus, sgemg bays might be a result of an additional input of
Lutjanus apodus and Ocyurus chrysurus were greatly individuals from these habitats onto the reef. Compar-
reduced on coral reefs of islands lacking seagrass and isons of densities of this species between islands with and
mangrove habitats relative to islands where these hab- without seagrass beds and mangroves did not reveal any
itats were present, indicating that these species are differences (Nagelkerken et al., 2002) and are consistent
highly dependent on these nursery habitats. For Lut- with this hypothesis.
janus analis, Sphyraena barracuda and Scarus coeruleus, If sgemg bays function as the main source of new
Nagelkerken et al. (2002) found a possible dependence individuals on the reef, the presence of these six species
on mangrove and/or seagrass nurseries. The present on reefs not adjacent to sgemg bays may partly result
study suggests that the presence of sgemg bays strongly from fish dispersal along the coast. This may explain
influences the distribution pattern of these six species on why the three types of reef located at great distance from
the coral reef along the coast of a single island. Since sgemg bays showed much lower densities for six of
mud/sand bays that lack seagrass and mangrove these nursery species. Studies have shown that fishes
habitats have a limited nursery function (Nagelkerken are able to migrate along reefs over distances ranging
et al., 2001; Table 1), sgemg bays are likely to function from hundreds of metres to several kilometres (Tulevech
as the main, and for some species the only, source of and Recksiek, 1994; Kanashiro, 1998; Mazeroll and
45
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Fig. 3. Mean densities of (a) the entire size range and (b) juveniles of the seven nursery species that had higher densities on reefs adjacent to bays with
seagrass beds and mangroves than at other locations (see Table 3). (b) Also shows densities of juveniles in mangroves and seagrass beds in Spanish
Water Bay (data recalculated from Nagelkerken and van der Velde, 2002), to allow comparison with densities on the reef. Note that the Y-axis of
(b) is on a log10-scale. Error bars indicate SEM. mg bay: mangrove habitat in Spanish Water Bay; sg bay: seagrass habitat in Spanish Water Bay;
Reef sgemg: reefs adjacent to bays with seagrass beds and mangroves; Reef between: reefs between bays with seagrass beds and mangroves; Reef
mud/sand: reefs adjacent to bays dominated by bare sediment; Reef distance: reefs at great distances to bays with seagrass beds and mangroves.
Montgomery, 1998; Zeller, 1998; Chapman and reefs, rather than in seagrass or mangrove habitats.
Kramer, 2000). Long-distance dispersal of Haemulon Although it has been shown, for example, that predation
pressure results in low survival of Haemulidae on reefs
sciurus, Lutjanus analis, Lutjanus apodus, Ocyurus chrys-
urus, and Sphyraena barracuda may have contributed to (Beets, 1997), some individuals may survive and con-
the presence of small fish populations on reefs located at tribute to small populations on reefs at some distance
some distance from their main nursery habitats. from seagrass and mangrove habitats (Shulman and
The presence of adults of species that had their highest Ogden, 1987). In the specific case of Scarus coeruleus,
densities on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays in the other which showed its highest densities on reefs adjacent to
reef categories may also be explained by the survival of sgemg bays, local recruitment can play a major role
juveniles that have settled and grown up directly on these because juvenile densities on the reef were comparable to
46 M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
Fig. 4. Mean densities of juveniles of the eight nursery species that did not have higher densities on reefs adjacent to bays with seagrass beds and
mangroves than at other locations. Densities are shown on a log10-scale for the coral reef (this study) and for the mangroves and seagrass beds of
Spanish Water Bay (data recalculated from Nagelkerken and van der Velde, 2002). Species with higher juvenile densities in seagrass beds/mangroves
than on the reef (a) are distinguished from species with similar densities in seagrass beds/mangroves and on the reef (b). Error bars indicate SEM. For
abbreviations see the legend to Fig. 3.
those in seagrass beds. Other studies have also observed a role, the influence of the presence/absence of nursery
juveniles of S. coeruleus on patch reefs (Overholtzer and bays on the fish community structure of various reef fish
Motta, 1999). These observations suggest that this spe- species is greater than these other factors. Firstly, and
cies can also use the coral reef as a nursery. most importantly, if other factors were primarily
One problem with the interpretation of the present responsible, then non-nursery congeners of the nursery
results is that all reefs in front of bays with seagrass bed species would also show significantly elevated densities
and mangrove nurseries were located on the southeast- at reefs in front of nursery bays. This was not the case.
ern part of the coast, whereas all reefs in front of mud/ Secondly, coral cover at 2, 5, and 10 m depth and overall
sand bays and reefs at great distances from bays with coral cover did not differ significantly between the
mangroves and seagrass beds were located on the north- southeastern and northwestern reefs (P > 0:213, t-test).
western part of the island. Factors other than absence/ Only at 15 m depth was the coral cover significantly
higher at the latter reefs than at the former (p ¼ 0:047,
presence of bays with mangrove and seagrass beds may
therefore also influence the reef fish communities at these t-test), but the data indicated that with the exception of
reef categories. It is argued that even if such factors play one fish species no high positive correlation was present
47
M. Dorenbosch et al. / Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60 (2004) 37e48
between coral cover and fish densities. Thirdly, Ocyurus reef sites. Ontogenetic migrations from sgemg bays to
chrysurus, Lutjanus apodus and Haemulon sciurus which reefs located much farther away are therefore not likely.
showed the highest difference in density between the Various studies have demonstrated a close correla-
reefs in front of the bays with nursery habitats and the tion between habitat complexity and total fish density
other three reef categories, were three of the four (Luckhurst and Luckhurst, 1978; Bell and Galzin, 1984;
nursery species for which Nagelkerken et al. (2002) Grigg, 1994). In the present study, however, the relation
indicated that they showed a very high dependence of between coral cover and fish density was only evident
mangrove/seagrass nurseries at various islands through- for Scarus coeruleus, suggesting that this species favours
out the Caribbean. Environmental factors such as water reefs with a high coral cover. For the two other species
temperature, salinity and turbidity do not vary in which showed a significant relation between density and
a systematic way at the two parts of the island, partly coral cover, the relation was only significant in one
due to the ocean currents which run straight along the depth zone, and was negative for Haemulon sciurus,
entire southwestern coast of the island. The island does whereas for Lutjanus mahogoni the degree of variation
not have any fishing reserves, and fishing takes place explained by the regression line was very low. Further-
along the entire sheltered southwestern coast. It is more, the non-nursery congeners of the nursery species
therefore concluded that the presence of nursery bays is showed different distribution patterns among the reef
in this case the best possible explanation for the elevated sites than the nursery species. It is therefore likely that in
densities of seven nursery species on reefs in front of this study coral complexity did not influence the dis-
sgemg bays. tribution of the sampled nursery species along the coast.
Among the eight nursery species that did not occur in The results of the present study indicate that the
higher densities as mainly adults on reefs adjacent to distribution of Haemulon sciurus, Lutjanus apodus,
sgemg bays, two groups were distinguished: one in- Ocyurus chrysurus and Scarus coeruleus on the coral
cluding species with higher juvenile densities in seagrass reef along the coast of a single island is significantly
beds/mangroves than on the coral reef, and one in- related to the presence of sgemg bays. Lutjanus analis,
cluding species with similar juvenile densities in seagrass Lutjanus mahogoni and Sphyraena barracuda showed
beds/mangroves and on the reef. The first group in- a similar trend but densities at reefs adjacent to sgemg
cludes two species (Chaetodon capistratus and Haemulon bays were only significantly higher than those at two of
flavolineatum) for which local recruitment is probably the three reef categories. Six of these seven nursery
the main source of adults, because juveniles were found species showed much higher juvenile densities in
on the entire reef while no higher total density was seagrass/mangrove habitats than on the reef, but were
observed on reefs adjacent to sgemg bays. Nagelkerken nevertheless also found as adults on reef locations at
et al. (2000a) also found juveniles of both species on the some distance from these nursery habitats, suggesting
reef. Nagelkerken et al. (2001) showed a major nur- dispersal along the reef. Acanthurus chirurgus, Scarus
sery function of mud/sand bays for Gerres cinereus (see iserti and Sparisoma chrysopterum showed comparable
Table 1). And since mud/sand bays are present over a juvenile densities in seagrass/mangrove habitats and reef
large part of the coast, the observations of juveniles of habitats, and were also found as adults at various reef
this species at the various reef sites at great distance sites, suggesting that they can complete their entire life
from sgemg bays might be explained by the presence of cycle on the reef and are not highly dependent on
these bays. Juveniles of Lutjanus griseus and Haemulon seagrass beds and mangroves.
parra were predominantly observed in sgemg bays
(Table 1) and not on the coral reef. The presence of these
Acknowledgements
species on reefs at some distance to sgemg bays might
therefore be explained by dispersal along the coast.
The management and staff of the Carmabi Founda-
For the second group, local recruitment is thought to
x
tion Curacao is thanked for the use of their facilities and
be the main source of adults on reef sites other than reefs
for their support. Dr. A. Debrot provided information
adjacent to sgemg bays. Nagelkerken et al. (2002)
and literature. The manuscript benefited by the com-
described both Acanthurus chirurgus and Sparisoma
ments of two referees. This study was financially sup-
chrysopterum as species that do not depend on man-
ported by a grant from the Schure-Beijerinck-Popping
groves or seagrass beds as nurseries. However, the same
Foundation, The Netherlands.
study indicated that Scarus iserti depends heavily on the
presence of seagrass beds and mangroves as nurseries.
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