Common coral reef fishes of St. Lucia
Published: October 7, 2009, 6:45 pm
Updated: October 7, 2009, 6:45 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
J. Emmett Duffy Introduction
St. Lucia is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea located north/northeast of the islands of
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, northwest of
Barbados and south of
Martinique. Over 255 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in St. Lucia.
25 most common species in St. Lucia
The following ranking is based on the results of 298 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 354 hours and 46 minutes. (REEF Gopgraphic Zone Report, May 30, 2009). The species are ranked by the percentage of surveys in which a species was observed. Abundance of fishes in REEF Fish Surveys are estimated using the following categories: 1- single =1 individual, 2-few = 2- 10 individuals, 3-many = 11-100 individuals, and 4-abundant > 100 individuals. The mean numeric abundance (ranging from 1 - 4) was calculated for each species.. The mean abundance category is determined as follows: mean abundance category 0 - 1.49 = single, 1.50 - 1.99 = single-few, 2.0 - 2.49 = few, 2.5 - 2.99 = few-many, 3.0 - 3.49 = many, 3.5 -3.99 = many-abundant, and 4.0 = abundant.
Bicolor Damselfish- the most frequently observed reef fish in St. Lucia. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species % of surveys observed Mean abundance category
1. Bicolor damselfish 89.6 many
2. Trumpetfish 86.9 few
3. Brown chromis 86.9 many-abundant
4. Stoplight parrotfish 85.6 few
5. Sergeant major 85.6 many
6. Bluehead 83.9 few-many
7. Banded butterflyfish 80.5 few
8. Blue chromis 80.2 many
9. Yellowhead wrasse 80.2 few-many
10. Blackbar soldierfish 79.2 many
11. Yellowtail damselfish 79.2 few
12. Yellow goatfish 79.2 few-many
13. Harlequin bass 78.2 few
14. Blue tang 76.2 few
15. Ocean surgeonfish 74.8 few
16. Yellowtail snapper 71.1 few
17. Foureye butterflyfish 70.1 few
18. Sharpnose puffer 69.1 few
19. Smooth trunkfish 65.1 single-few
20. Barred hamlet 63.1 single-few
21. French grunt 62.4 few
22. Creole wrasse 62.1 many
23. Princess parrotfish 60.4 few
24. Redband parrotfish 59.7 few
25. Graysby 58.7 single-ew
Browm Chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean abundance in St. Lucia. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
References and Further Reading
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Citation
Mark McGinley (Lead Author);J. Emmett Duffy (Topic Editor) "Common coral reef fishes of St. Lucia". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth October 7, 2009; Last revised Date October 7, 2009; Retrieved May 24, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_St._Lucia>
The Author
Mark McGinley is an Associate Professor in the Honors College and Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University. He has conducted research in the evolutionary, behavioral, and community ecology of animals and plants. Dr. McGinley’s recent scholarly interests focus on educating the general public about scientific (particularly environmental) issues. He is currently working closely with students in an interdisciplinary degree program, Natural History and Humanities, which combine ... (Full Bio)
Introduction
St. Lucia is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea located north/northeast of the islands of
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, northwest of
Barbados and south of
Martinique. Over 255 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in St. Lucia.
25 most common species in St. Lucia
The following ranking is based on the results of 298 REEF Fish Surveys covering a bottom time of 354 hours and 46 minutes. (REEF Gopgraphic Zone Report, May 30, 2009). The species are ranked by the percentage of surveys in which a species was observed. Abundance of fishes in REEF Fish Surveys are estimated using the following categories: 1- single =1 individual, 2-few = 2- 10 individuals, 3-many = 11-100 individuals, and 4-abundant > 100 individuals. The mean numeric abundance (ranging from 1 - 4) was calculated for each species.. The mean abundance category is determined as follows: mean abundance category 0 - 1.49 = single, 1.50 - 1.99 = single-few, 2.0 - 2.49 = few, 2.5 - 2.99 = few-many, 3.0 - 3.49 = many, 3.5 -3.99 = many-abundant, and 4.0 = abundant.
Bicolor Damselfish- the most frequently observed reef fish in St. Lucia. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
Species % of surveys observed Mean abundance category
1. Bicolor damselfish 89.6 many
2. Trumpetfish 86.9 few
3. Brown chromis 86.9 many-abundant
4. Stoplight parrotfish 85.6 few
5. Sergeant major 85.6 many
6. Bluehead 83.9 few-many
7. Banded butterflyfish 80.5 few
8. Blue chromis 80.2 many
9. Yellowhead wrasse 80.2 few-many
10. Blackbar soldierfish 79.2 many
11. Yellowtail damselfish 79.2 few
12. Yellow goatfish 79.2 few-many
13. Harlequin bass 78.2 few
14. Blue tang 76.2 few
15. Ocean surgeonfish 74.8 few
16. Yellowtail snapper 71.1 few
17. Foureye butterflyfish 70.1 few
18. Sharpnose puffer 69.1 few
19. Smooth trunkfish 65.1 single-few
20. Barred hamlet 63.1 single-few
21. French grunt 62.4 few
22. Creole wrasse 62.1 many
23. Princess parrotfish 60.4 few
24. Redband parrotfish 59.7 few
25. Graysby 58.7 single-ew
Browm Chromis- the reef fish with the highest mean abundance in St. Lucia. ''Reef Fish Identification'', New World Publications © 1994.
References and Further Reading
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