The Lion's Pride vol. 2 (Jun. 2014) | Page 39

32 different parts of the reefs, and measured the densities of how many species would come into view over an equal amount of time on both reefs. What he found was that the Rowley Shoals had nearly three times as many reef sharks as the Scott reefs. Along with the difference in shark population Ruppert et al (2013) found that, “Assemblages on the fished Scott Reefs had significantly greater numbers of mid-sized carnivores than the protected Rowley Shoals” (p.4). This is of course predictable since there are fewer sharks patrolling the waters at the Scott Reefs. The significance of this finding continues to trickle down as Ruppert et al (2013) also notices that there are considerably less herbivorous types of fish at the Scott Reefs, and explains the importance that they have on the reefs: “Herbivorous fishes are fundamental to the dynamics of communities on reefs since their feeding reduces algal cover and allows corals more space to colonize and grow” (p.7). So it is easy to see how the reduction of sharks in a reef area can start a chain reaction that will affect the entire marine environment; sharks help to maintain a balance of aquatic life in the ocean.