The relative importance of nutrient enrichment and herbivory on macroalgal communities near Norman’s Pond Cay, Exumas Cays, Bahamas: a ‘‘natural’’ enrichment experiment

The simultaneous effects of grazing and nutrient enrichment on macroalgal communities were experimentally investigated using plastic mesh enclosure/exclosure cages along a natural nutrient (DIN, SRP) gradient from the discharge of a tidal mangrove creek on the west side of Norman’s Pond Cay, Exumas Cays, Bahamas. Nutrient enrichment was the only factor affecting total biomass of macroalgae whereas selective herbivory moderated species composition.

This is the author’s version of a work accepted for publication byElsevier. Changes resulting from the publishing process, including peer review, editing,corrections, structural formatting and other quality control mechanisms, may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. The definitive version has been published at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jembe and may be cited as Lapointe, Brian E., Peter J. Barile, Charles S. Yentsch, Mark M. Littler, Diane S. Littler, Brian Kakuk (2003) The relative importance of nutrient enrichment and herbivory on macroalgal communities near Norman’s Pond Cay, Exumas Cays, Bahamas: a ‘‘natural’’ enrichment experiment, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 298(2):275-301 doi:10.1016/S0022-0981(03)00363-0

Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #1488.