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Declining coral health and fish diversity in the South Pacific
- Date Issued:
- 2007
- Summary:
- Coral reefs harbor ~1-9 million species, including 30% of all marine fish species. Reef health worldwide is declining due to many factors: e.g. pollution, sedimentation, dynamite fishing, and global warming. Working with the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation and the crew aboard the R/V Heraclitus, I examined coral health and fish diversity in the Solomon Islands, Melanesia. In 2006, I surveyed coral and fish on Sagharughombe reef, Solomon Islands using SCUBA and compared the results with surveys done in 2000 and 2002. Coral surveys indicated a significant decline in health over the six-year period. Fish surveys found no clear trend in species abundances and species richness, but a significant decline in species diversity over the years. The decline in coral health we observed may have contributed to diminished fish diversity. To protect marine biodiversity, coral reefs must be better protected and declines in coral health must be halted.
Title: | Declining coral health and fish diversity in the South Pacific. |
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Name(s): |
McCurdy, Paul. Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College |
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Type of Resource: | text | |
Genre: | Thesis | |
Issuance: | multipart monograph | |
Date Issued: | 2007 | |
Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
Physical Form: |
electronic electronic resource |
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Extent: | vi, 34 leaves : ill. | |
Language(s): | English | |
Summary: | Coral reefs harbor ~1-9 million species, including 30% of all marine fish species. Reef health worldwide is declining due to many factors: e.g. pollution, sedimentation, dynamite fishing, and global warming. Working with the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation and the crew aboard the R/V Heraclitus, I examined coral health and fish diversity in the Solomon Islands, Melanesia. In 2006, I surveyed coral and fish on Sagharughombe reef, Solomon Islands using SCUBA and compared the results with surveys done in 2000 and 2002. Coral surveys indicated a significant decline in health over the six-year period. Fish surveys found no clear trend in species abundances and species richness, but a significant decline in species diversity over the years. The decline in coral health we observed may have contributed to diminished fish diversity. To protect marine biodiversity, coral reefs must be better protected and declines in coral health must be halted. | |
Identifier: | 314667037 (oclc), 11615 (digitool), FADT11615 (IID), fau:1347 (fedora) | |
Note(s): |
by Paul McCurdy. Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Honors College, 2007. Bibliography: leaves 33-34. Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2007. Mode of access: World Wide Web. |
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Subject(s): |
Coral reef ecology -- Solomon Islands Fishes -- Ecology -- Solomon Islands Solomon Islands |
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Held by: | FBoU FAUER | |
Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/11615 | |
Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
Host Institution: | FAU |