Understanding the biodiversity ecosystem function relationships of herbivorous reef fish at the Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology

Hawaiian coral reefs are extremely diverse and host a suite of endemic species. This diversity is a key aspect of their resilience. Fishing is an important aspect of Hawaiian culture, providing food and livelihoods for local people. Most of the fishing within Hawai’i is non-commercial and occurs in the near-shore, where herbivores make up 21% of the total catch. Compared to historic levels, herbivore stocks in Hawai?i are depleted, especially on the most populated islands, making them vulnerable to algal overgrowth.

Herbivore management areas, where regulations are placed on the harvest of herbivorous fish, have been identified as a key tool to increase coral reef resilience within Hawai’i. Despite this, there has been little practical guidance on application and it remains unclear how much and which types of herbivory are needed to ensure desirable levels of algae. Protecting herbivore abundance and diversity may help maintain ecological function and improve resilience of coral reefs, but to act most effectively, we need to understand herbivorous fishes’ diets and whether herbivores work together, by targeting different types of algae, to prevent overgrowth.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mary O’Connor

Student:

Partner:

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: