WAMSI Node 3.2.2c - Spatial variation in algal-herbivore interactions on the Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia: Regional differences in the piscine drivers of macroalgal herbivory in a coral-reef marine park (Honours thesis)

The process of herbivory is particularly intense in coral-reef ecosystems, where herbivorous fishes play a key role in promoting the resilience of coral reefs by mediating competition between corals and benthic macroalgae. Understanding and quantifying the species-specific roles of herbivores in ecosystem processes is critical for the proactive management of coral-reef systems, particularly in the context of their ability to overcome disturbance. This study investigated variation in herbivory on macroalgae by coral-reef fishes at small (within-reef;