Biodiversity and resilience of coral reefs
With over 3000 fish species, Indo-Pacific coral reefs represent one of the most diverse ecosystems on the globe. It is easy to assume that the loss of one or two species from these systems would have little impact. However, in an article in the April issue of Ecology Letters, Bellwood and colleagues document major changes in Indo-Pacific coral... view more... (2003-04-08)
The Pied Piper of Fish
Fishy noises could be the answer for improved reef fisheries management according to an international team of researchers. Some juvenile coral reef fish are attracted by sounds they would have heard while they were in the egg. By using these sounds, the fish can be led to artificial reefs where they will start new colonies. It may be possible in... view more... (2003-06-03)
Overfishing and evolution
Using snorkelers and SCUBA divers is not the best way to monitor fish populations, if we want to know the evolutionary effects of overfishing. view more (2009-07-21)
Coralreef fish desperately need mangrove forests and seagrass fields
Biologists from the University of Nijmegen have demonstrated that some coral fish really do choose nursery grounds before heading for the coral reef. According to the researchers, managers of the waters around the Caribbean islands must devote more attention to the coast as a whole and not just to the protection of coral reefs. Up until now... view more... (2002-11-15)
Which sex is best for coral reef fish
Puberty blues: goby fish choose their sex to find a mate Research on the Great Barrier Reef has revealed that some young reef fish can choose when they mature and which sex they want to be when they grow up. Research conducted by JP Hobbs, an honours student at James Cook University, Townsville, focused on a colourful goby that lives in bushy... view more... (2003-08-29)
Longest study finds reef fish need longer break
In the longest running study on how fish populations in coral reef systems recover from heavy exploitation, researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and others have found that the fish can recover, but they need lots of time - decades in some cases. view more (2007-07-12)
Rabbits to the rescue of the reef
While rabbits continue to ravage Australia's native landscapes, rabbit fish may help save large areas of the Great Barrier Reef from destruction. view more (2008-03-19)
The coward of the coral reef
The broad barred goby is a coward. A sweeping statement you may say, but even though the goby is poisonous to its predators, the cowardly fish still spends almost all its time cowering in an inaccessible coral home 20-30 cm in diameter. A new study, to be presented to the Society for Experimental biology on Wednesday 3rd April, reveals how the... view more... (2003-04-01)
Researchers appeal for new regulations to save coral reefs from live fish trade
Researchers are calling for tighter controls on the live reef fish trade, a growing threat to coral reefs, in letters to the international journal Science. view more (2006-08-07)
NOAA Scientists Map Fish Habitat and Movements at Gray's Reef Marine Sanctuary
Two related research expeditions by NOAA scientists to track the habitat preferences and movements of fish at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary may help managers protect overfished species such as red snapper and grouper. view more (2009-09-03)
How marine reserves are giving coral reefs a helping hand
It may be no surprise that marine reserves protect the fish that live in them, but now scientists from the University of Exeter have shown for the first time that they could also help improve the health of coral reefs. view more (2006-01-06)
Help for climate-stressed corals
Banning or restricting the use of certain types of fishing gear could help the world's coral reefs and their fish populations survive the onslaughts of climate change according to a study by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and other groups. view more (2009-06-18)
There's no scent like home
Tiny larval fish living among Australia's Great Barrier Reef spend the early days of their lives swept up in ocean currents that disperse them far from their places of birth. view more (2007-01-09)
Coral Reef Fish Make Their Way Home
Coral reef fish hatchlings dispersed by ocean currents are able to make their way back to their home reefs again to spawn, says a groundbreaking study published today in the journal Science. view more (2007-05-04)
Gear Bans
Banning or restricting the use of certain types of fishing gear could help the world's coral reefs and their fish populations survive the onslaughts of climate change. view more (2009-06-18)
Coral reef fish harbor an unexpectedly high biodiversity of parasites
IRD researchers showed that Epinephilus maculates, a fairly abundant species of grouper off New Caledonia, was parasitized by 12 species of microscopic monogenean worms. view more (2007-09-06)
Lionfish decimating tropical fish populations, threaten coral reefs
The invasion of predatory lionfish in the Caribbean region poses yet another major threat there to coral reef ecosystems - a new study has found that within a short period after the entry of lionfish into an area, the survival of other reef fishes is slashed by about 80 percent. view more (2008-07-21)
Fish species plays surprise role in aiding coral reef recovery
In a study that marks progress in understanding the basis of coral reef recovery, researchers have revealed the critical importance of a rare batfish, Platax pinnatus, in promoting the return to health of a disturbed coral reef overgrown with algae. view more (2006-12-19)
New light trap captures larval stage of new species; DNA barcode technology used
When David Jones, a fisheries oceanographer at the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) located at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School, set out to design a better light trap to collect young reef fishes, he never imagined his invention would contribute to the discovery of a new species. view more (2007-10-24)
Scientists discover new reefs teeming with marine life in Brazil
Scientists announced today the discovery of reef structures they believe doubles the size of the Southern Atlantic Ocean's largest and richest reef system, the Abrolhos Bank, off the southern coast of Brazil's Bahia state. The newly discovered area is also far more abundant in marine life than the previously known Abrolhos reef system, one of the... view more... (2008-07-09)
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