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.