Abstract

Parrotfish (family: Scaridae) are the dominant herbivores and a major source of ecological resilience on present-day Caribbean reefs. Parrotfish limit the growth and colonization of macroalgae, therefore facilitating coral growth and recruitment. Unfortunately, parrotfish populations have been depleted on many Caribbean reefs by intense trap fishing. As a result, there are growing concerns about the maintenance of functional levels of herbivory on reefs that are facing a rapidly changing climate. This calls for increased knowledge on population dynamics of parrotfish for effective management of reef resilience in the Caribbean

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