There exists a lack of information about many of the
ecological structuring processes within Indo-Pacific
seagrass ecosystems; such knowledge is pertinent to
the future sustainable exploitation and management of
these systems. This thesis considers aspects of the
functions of seagrass ecosystems in supporting the
faunal productivity of Indo-Pacific coastal marine
systems. The Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia
is used as an example of seagrass habitats throughout
the Indo-Pacific bioregion. Research is split into
three separate major aims; this firstly considered
the major environmental influences on seagrass
primary production, and investigated how the seagrass
is utilised as habitat and as a direct food resource.
The second half of the thesis considers the role and
extent of the impacts of habitat connectivity on
seagrass fauna by considering how tidal and diel
cycles, and the availability of mangrove and reef,
influence seagrass fish assemblages.
ecological structuring processes within Indo-Pacific
seagrass ecosystems; such knowledge is pertinent to
the future sustainable exploitation and management of
these systems. This thesis considers aspects of the
functions of seagrass ecosystems in supporting the
faunal productivity of Indo-Pacific coastal marine
systems. The Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia
is used as an example of seagrass habitats throughout
the Indo-Pacific bioregion. Research is split into
three separate major aims; this firstly considered
the major environmental influences on seagrass
primary production, and investigated how the seagrass
is utilised as habitat and as a direct food resource.
The second half of the thesis considers the role and
extent of the impacts of habitat connectivity on
seagrass fauna by considering how tidal and diel
cycles, and the availability of mangrove and reef,
influence seagrass fish assemblages.