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The effects of a cyclonic storm on coral reef fish assemblages

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Visual censusing techniques were used to monitor the fish assemblages on eight shallow water coral patch reefs at Lizard Island (northern Great Barrier Reef) over a 27 month period. Larval settlement was distinctly seasonal with peaks occurring in December or January. Cyclones are most prevalent at this time of year. Three cyclones passed close to Lizard Island during the study period. Fish assemblages were censused before and immediately after one cyclone that struck at the time of peak larval settlement. The cyclone had little effect on adults but caused high juvenile mortality and re-distribution of sub-adult individuals. Because settlement strongly influences the diversity and density of adults, cyclones have marked effects on the fish assemblages as a whole. The high frequency of tropical storms in many coral reef areas and the depths to which their effects penetrate suggest that physical disturbances may be an important determinant of coral reef fish assemblage structure.

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  1. Centre for Environmental Studies, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia

    Brian R. Lassig

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  1. Brian R. Lassig
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Lassig, B.R. The effects of a cyclonic storm on coral reef fish assemblages. Environ Biol Fish 9, 55–63 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001058

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001058

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