Award: OCE-1405198

Aquatic consumers, for example fishes, do more than just feed in coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass beds and kelp forests - they also excrete nutrients that are critical for the health of these systems. We used a network of artifical reefs constructed from cinder blocks to demonstrate this dynamic in shallow seagrass beds of The Bahamas and Haiti. We demonstrate that fishes aggregating around these structures provide a concentrated supply of nutrients which, in turn, sets in motion a set of positive feedbacks that drive enhanced fish production: Fishes aggregate ~ Nutrients supplied by the fishes enhance seagrass productivity (to higher levels than if an equal number of individuals were spread across the seascape) ~ More invertebrates can thrive on the increased primary production and refugia provided by seagrass blades ~ This provides a larger food base for fishes ~ Higher nutrient supply results from larger fish aggregations.....and the process continues. Over time, dense seagrass beds continue to expand around reefs, supporting higher levels of secondary production of fishes (through increased biomass and growth rates) than would otherwise occur. Scaled up, this represents an expanded food base for larger predators, including humans, and thus a possible managment tool for coastal resource managers. Collectively, the research brought a novel perspective and extensive data to bear on the long-standing debate in ecology regarding the importance of biodiversity for the stability and functioning of ecosystems, albeit in a way that is not currently conceived as an aspect of biodiversity-ecosystem function theory. The research honed our understanding of the primary drivers of productivity in tropical coastal ecosystems, specifically through the quantification of production on the artificial reefs. By taking advantage of the reef systems we have in place, we explored the ability of ARs to enhance production at the ecosystem scale (addressing the long-standing artificial reef attraction-production debate), in a framework that with further theoretical understanding of marine protected areas. Thus, these findings can be directly applied in the implementation of the two most widely used conservation strategies in coastal ecosystems. Our research represents a step forward in terms of applying data to simultaneously test leading ecological theory while providing empirical findings that can inform urgently needed conservation in some of the world?s most impaired ecosystems. Further, we view scientific research and broader educational outreach efforts as an integrated whole. Over the course of the grant period, we have developed a multi-faceted outreach and education program, ranging from regional to local levels. At the regional level, we are actively involved with conservation planning in The Bahamas and Haiti in close collaboration with The Nature Conservancy?s (TNC) Caribbean Program. In Haiti, we worked jointly with TNC and the United Nations Environmental Program to conduct a scientific assessment that helped delineate the boundaries of the first marine national park. The extensive research we have conducted in The Bight of Old Robinson (a focal research site) provided scientific support for its designation as a national park in The Bahamas. Given our ongoing role as scientific advisors for marine spatial planning within this region, results generated from our research can be readily applied towards the management of existing, and the creation of new, protected areas in The Bahamas, Haiti and other Caribbean countries. At the local level, we have been heavily involved with outreach efforts in The Bahamas and Haiti. Central to these efforts are novel approaches that integrate science and education. PIs and their students have used various means for outreach including: school field trips, classroom lectures, science fairs, invasive lionfish derbies, meetings with community members and local government officials, serving as science advisors to three of the most influential environmental organizations in the The Bahamas (e.g., the Bahamas National Trust), and development of citizen science-based initiatives. We hope the combined research and outreach approach will further society's goals to conserve and protect the coastal resources that are essential for human well-being and progress. Last Modified: 08/07/2019 Submitted by: Craig A Layman