Caribbean Damselfish Recolonize Reefs Following Coral Restoration

摘要

Reef-building corals are foundation species that create habitats for themselves and other organisms. For this reason, coral declines over the past 30 years (Gardner et al. 2003) have triggered widespread declines in fishes that occupy coral reefs (Paddack et al. 2009). Coral restoration thus has the potential to both rebuild coral populations and recreate habitat for fishes (Rinkevich 2005), but few studies have tested whether fish populations respond to coral restoration (Caibatan 2008, Yap 2009). In this study, we document the colonization of a degraded reef in the British Virgin Islands by a common reef fish, the 3-spot damsel (Stegastes planifrons), following the restoration of an important reef-building coral, the elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata), to the site.