Since opening to scientists in mid-1997, research conducted at the station has focused on investigating the following objectives:
• The status and trends in biological communities at Glovers Reef Atoll
• The effect of marine reserve protection on various components of the system
• The Abundance, spawning site fidelity, rate of return, and fishing mortality of reproductive groupers at the spawning aggregations at Glovers Reed Atoll
• The importance of the atoll as habitat for a broad diversity of marine animals
Below is a list of all the research projects conducted at Glovers Reef that have been published or are currently in press. For more information about each project use the links to download the PDF file of the publication.
Citations for Research Conducted at Glovers Reef, Belize
McClanahan, T.R. and Muthiga, N.A. (1998) An ecological shift in a remote coral atoll Belize over 25 years. Environmental Conservation 25:122-130
McClanahan, T.R. (1999) Predation and the control of the sea urchin Echinometra viridis and fleshy algae in the path reefs of Glovers Reef, Belize. Ecosystem 2:511-523
McClanahan, T.R., Aronson, R.B., Precht, W.F., and Muthiga, N.A. (1999) Fleshy algae dominate remote coral reefs of Belize. Coral Reefs 18:61-62
McClanahan, T.R., Bergman, K., Huitric, M., McField, M., Elfwing, T., Nystrrom, M., Nordemar, I. (2000) Response of fishes to algae reduction on Glovers Reef, Belize. Marine Ecology Progress Series 206:273-282
McClanahan, T.R., McField, M., Huitric, M., Bergman, K., Sala, E., Nystrrom, M., Nordemar, I., Elfwing, T., and Muthiga, N.A. (2001) Responses of algae, corals and fish to the reduction of macroalgae in fished and unfished patch reefs of Glovers Reef Atoll , Belize. Coral Reefs 19:367-379
McClanahan, T.R., Cokos, B.A., and Sala, E. (2002) Algal growth and species composition under experimental control of herbivory, phosphorus and coral abundance in Glovers Reef, Belize. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44:441-451
McClanahan, T.R. (2002) A comparison of the ecology of subtidal gastropods between western Indian Ocean and Caribbean coral reefs. Coral Reefs 21:399-406
McClanahan, T.R., Sala, E., Stickels, P, Cokos, B.A., Baker, A., and Starger, C.J. (2003) Interaction between nutrients and herbivory in controlling algal communities and coral condition in Glovers Reef, Belize. Marine Ecology Progress Series 261:135-147
McClanahan, T.R., Sala, E., Mumby, P.J., and Jones, S. (2004) Phosphorus and nitrogen enrichment do not enhance brown frondose “macroalgae”. Marine Pollution Bulletin 48:196-199
McClanahan, T.R. (In press) Recovery of carnivores, trophic cascades, and diversity in coral reef marine parks. Large Carnivores and Biodiversity: Does Conserving One Save the Other?
Carriero-Silva, M, McClanahan, T., and Kiene, W. (2003) The role of inorganic nutrients and herbivory in controlling microbioerosion of carbonate substrate. Coral Reefs (In press)
Acosta, C.A.(1999) Benthic dispersal of Caribbean spiny lobsters among insular habitats: implication for the conservation of exploited marine species. Conservation Biology 13:603-612
Acosta, C.A. and Robertson, D.N. (2002) Diversity of reef fish communities: the effect of habitat patchiness revisited. Marine Ecology Progress Series 227: 87-96
Acosta, C.A.(2002) Dispersal dynamics and equilibrium population sizes in marine harvest refuges. ICES Journal of Marine Science 59:458-468
Acosta, C.A. and Robertson, D.N. (2002) Comparative spatial ecology of fished spiny lobsters Panulirus argus and an unfished congener P. guttatus in an isolated marine reserve at Glover's Reef, Belize. Coral Reefs 22:1-9.
Mumby, P.J.(1999) Bleaching and hurricane disturbances to populations of coral recruits in Belize. Marine Ecology Progress Series 190:27-35.
Mumby, P.J. and Wabnitz, C.C.C. (2001) Spatial patterns of aggression, territory size, and harem size in five sympatric Caribbean parrotfish species. Environmental Biology of Fishes 63:265-279.
Mumby, P.J., Edwards, A.J., Arias-Gonzalez, J.E., Lindeman, K.C., Blackwell, P.G., Gall, A., Gorczynska, M.I., Harborne, A.R., Pescod, C.L., Renken, H., Wabnitz, C., and
Llewellyn, G. (2004) Mangroves enhance the biomass of coral reef fish communities in the Caribbean. Nature 427:533-536
Carter, J. and Sedberry, G.R. (1997) The design, function and use of marine fishery reserves as tools for the management and conservation of the Belize barrier reef. Proc. 8th Int. Coral Reef Symp. 2:1911-1916
Sedberry, G.R., Carter, J., and Barrick, P.A. (1999) A comparison of fish communities between protected and non-protected areas of the Belize Barrier Reef ecosystem: implications for conservation and management. Carib. Fish. Inst 45:95-127
Sala, E., Ballesteros, E., and Starr, R.M. (2001) Rapid decline of Nassau grouper spawning aggregations in Belize: Fishery management and conservation needs. Fisheries 26:23-30.