Abstract:
Marine reserves are known to directly replenish overfished species. However, the
community-wide effects of reserves are less clear. I examined the community of coralreef
fishes in a large, fully protected marine reserve in The Bahamas: the Exuma Cays
Land and Sea Park. Visual-transect surveys provided estimates and comparisons of the
density and size of all fishes on reefs located both inside and outside the reserve (n = 5
reefs each). Apex predators were larger and more abundant inside the reserve, resulting
in much greater biomass there. Mid-trophic-level species had somewhat higher biomass
outside of the reserve, where abundance of large predators was lower. Low-trophic-level
species showed trends of higher biomass in the reserve. Although the community-wide
effects of the reserve are complex, this general pattern is consistent with the existence of
a trophic cascade through strong top-down effects of apex predators.
I also considered how subsistence-level fishing communities interact with
protected marine life in a marine reserve in Ecuador: the Machalilla National Park. I
examined the conflicting interests of park protection, fishing, and tourism. By analyzing
these three categories, I summarized the needs and values of each group and how they
interacted with each other and the environment.
