Decadal changes in parrotfish assemblages around reefs of Guam, Micronesia

Abstract Modern coral reefs face substantial threats that endanger their capacity to function and provide resources for human populations. Chronic pressure through exploitation land-based pollution has led reef degradation lower productivity. More recently, this is compounded with successive episodes of bleaching across the tropical oceans. However, response trajectories exploitation, habitat degradation, local management may not be straightforward, as these ecosystems are incredibly complex. We employed a comprehensive standardized survey parrotfish assemblages within systems in Guam examine biomass decade change. Parrotfishes represent one most commercially ecologically important coastal throughout Micronesia. found declined by nearly 30% over course ten years, concomitant decreases grazing bioerosion rates at similar magnitude. There was evidence fishery playing role, but overall patterns were always aligned hypothesis fishery-induced decline. For example, two-thirds marine-protected area sites mean body length stable several highly targeted species. Further, decline stemmed from small species higher resilience whereby three vulnerable target either maintained or increased total biomass. The ultimate drivers assemblage likely complex mixture change multiple stressors, responses measures. potential future production ecological merits continuous monitoring proactive management.