Correlation between Coral Reef Condition and the Diversity and Abundance of Fishes and Sea Urchins on an East African Coral Reef

Coral reefs are one of the most diverse marine ecosystems, providing numerous ecosystem services. This present study investigated relationship between coral reef condition and diversity abundance fishes, on a heavily fished East African at Gazi Bay, Kenya. Underwater visual censuses were conducted thirty 50 × 5 m belt transects to assess fishes. In parallel, 25-m length each same was recorded with photo-quadrats community structure benthic characteristics. For statistical analyses, multi-model inference based Akaike Information Criterion used evaluate support for potential predictor variables fish diversity. We found that genus richness negatively correlated macroalgae, whereas cover positively both herbivorous invertebrates (sea urchins) family richness. Similarly, appeared mainly invertebrate abundance, although no correlates could be identified. very low, but it appears that, contrary some locations coast, sea urchin not high enough having negative influence assemblages. Due increasing threats reefs, is important understand among components overfished such as Bay.