Award: OCE-2210202

Coral reefs are the oceans most diverse ecosystems, and their ability to sustain a tremendous number of large fishes has long been considered an ecological enigma. This project sought to quantify links between the three-dimensional architecture of coral reefs, their fish communities, and the dominant sources and pathways of energy and nutrients. As part of the project, a conceptual framework to model these dynamics was introduced, which can be applied to coral reef communities worldwide as well as other marine ecosystems where fishes are the dominant group of consumers. Furthermore, data on the structural complexity of seafloor patches and their resident small, bottom-dwelling fish communities was collected on Long Reef in Belize, along with information on each patchs depth, wave exposure, and habitat type. These data show a clear relationship between the reefs three-dimensional architecture and the number and identity of fish species that live there. Ongoing collaborative work is still underway to analyze whether these differences also translate to differences in sources (e.g., algae, detritus, coral) and pathways (e.g., small plankton-feeding fishes, invertebrates, herbivores) of energy that can then sustain larger fish species. In addition, using the relationship between each patchs physical characteristics and the small fish communities, current efforts are made to scale up the estimates of energy fluxes to the area of the entire reef using larger-scale three-dimensional reconstructions and drone-based aerial surveys that were conducted on the same reef. This will permit an estimate of reef-wide energy fluxes based on the recovered relationships, an approach that can be implemented across different reefs and regions to foster a more general understanding of why, where, and when coral reefs can sustain such a large amount of fish biomass. The outcomes of this work will be reflected in the lead PIs final report (following a no-cost extension). As part of the project, two Belizean undergraduate students have been given opportunities to partake in a collaborative research project, providing exposure to a wide range of field- and lab-based techniques. Furthermore, the project has supported two graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin and has provided valuable field experiences for four other graduate students and one postdoctoral researcher. Finally, the data and findings from the project (including the 3D-reconstructions) have been used for K12-education during the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institutes Summer Science Camp. Overall, the project has paved the way for a deeper understanding of the complexity and productivity of coral reefs, while providing opportunities for young aspiring scientists to immerse themselves in research surrounding one of Earths most fascinating and threatened ecosystems. Last Modified: 06/25/2024 Submitted by: ElizabethPMadin