Return of the Queen: ueen Conch Repopulation Study in The Bahamas

摘要

In the crystal blue waters of Florida, The Bahamas and the Caribbean lives a keystone herbivore species in need of saving: the queen conch Aliger gigas (formerly Strombus gigas) (Fig. 1). These iconic gastropods spend their days grazing in shallow seagrass beds and sand fiats, helping to keep the ecosystem clean and in balance. They are economically valuable throughout the Caribbean for culinary delicacies such as conch salad, chowder and fritters, and for their beautiful pink-lipped shell and rare pearls.