| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication: | 2003 |
| Authors: | Béné, C, Tewfik, A |
| Journal: | Marine Ecology |
| Volume: | 24 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Date Published: | 2003 |
| ISBN Number: | 1439-0485 |
| Keywords: | Caribbean, Corvidae, Corvus, Corvus corone, Density-dependent growth rate, gastropods, marine reserves, spillover effect, Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Abstract: | Abstract This study provides a first evaluation of the biological impact of a marine fishery reserve on the stock of queen conch (Strombus gigas) in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The density and the shell length of the population living in the reserve are compared with those of the individuals living in the surrounding fished areas. The results show that the adult density is six times higher in the reserve than in the fished areas. The shell length analysis shows that both adults and juveniles are significantly smaller in the reserve than in the fished area. This unexpected result suggests the existence of a crowding effect (i. e. a high density-induced reduction in growth rate) within the reserve. It is hypothesised that this crowding effect is due to the superimposition of two factors leading to very high density values in the reserve: (a) the reduced fishing mortality following the creation of the reserve, (b) the existence of natural barriers that impede the emigration of adults outside the reserve. These results are then discussed in relation to current considerations on marine fisheries reserves. |
| URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0485.2003.03782.x |
| Short Title: | Marine Ecology |
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