RESEARCH ARTICLE
A quantitative assessment of reef fish distribution and abundance within near-shore reef habitats of
Yap State, F. S. M.
Kenneth E. Clifton, Eva M.
Dubey & Elizabeth Woodburn
Abstract
We quantified
the distribution and abundance of reef fishes at nine
sites around the islands of Yap Proper, Micronesia.
These sites were chosen on the basis of location,
habitat type, and level of human impact. During more
than 158 hours of monitoring effort we encountered
a total of 346 species representing 51 families. Of
these fish, 114 had not been previously reported for
Yap, though many were expected given their biogeographic
distributions elsewhere. Herbivorous fishes (e.g.,
Acanthuridae, Scaridae, Pomacentridae) were the dominant
groups, with densities of the Bristletooth Surgeonfish
Ctenochaetus striatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) and
the Bullethead Parrotfish, Chlorurus sordidus (Forsskål,
1775) ranging from 25-50 fish /100 m2 in most locations.
The Moorish Idol, Zanclus cornutus (Linnaeus,
1758), Convict Surgeonfish, Acanthurus triostegus
(Linnaeus, 1758) and Bluehead Wrasse, Thalassoma
amblycephalum (Bleeker, 1856) were also notably
abundant. Diverse (27 species) and abundant populations
of butterflyfishes (Chaeteodontidae; often considered
as “indicator species” for reef health) were encountered
at all sites.
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CITATION:
Clifton, K.C., Dubey, E.M.
& Woodburn, E. (2009) A quantitative assessment
of reef fish distribution and abundance within near-shore
reef habitats of Yap State, F. S. M. Journal of
the Ocean Science Foundation, 2, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1034408
publication date:15 December
2009
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