[Coral-List] 12th ICRS mini-symposium: The changing role of fishes in coral reef ecosystems

[Graham, Nick]

Dear colleagues,

With abstract submissions for the 12th ICRS closing in 2 and a half weeks, we would like to invite you to submit abstracts to session 13b:


The Changing Role of Fishes in Coral Reef Ecosystems
David Bellwood, Alan Friedlander, Nick Graham

Fishes support numerous ecosystem processes. In their roles as herbivores, detritivores and predators they may be critical functional groups. Human exploitation, and the impacts of climate change, have altered the community structure of reef fishes and reef ecosystems. What does the future hold for fishes and their role on reefs? This symposium examines the roles that fishes play and their importance in supporting resilience. We are particularly interested in, but not restricted to, submissions addressing the following topics:

1) To what extent do fishes mediate benthic cover and composition, and how does this vary in space and time?
2) Do fishes control the transition among multiple alternate stable states on coral reefs?
3) Do predatory fishes influence the abundance and composition of lower trophic levels, including outbreaking invertebrate species?
4) What are the ecological implications of changing size structures of reef fishes? And
5) Are there novel approaches to managing fishes in a functional context.

Abstract submissions:  http://www.coralcoe.org.au/icrs2012/AbstractSubmission.htm


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Nicholas A J Graham, PhD
Senior Research Fellow (APD & SFF)
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
James Cook University
Townsville,
QLD 4811 Australia
ph: +61 7 4781 6291
fax: +61 7 4781 6722
email: nick.graham at jcu.edu.au<mailto:nick.graham at jcu.edu.au>
Web: http://www.coralcoe.org.au/research/nickgraham.html
ISRS: http://www.coralreefs.org/index.htm
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