The present study was undertaken to assess the diversity and abundance of elasmobranch fishes in coral reef and sand flat environments on the eastern Caicos Bank, with a view to informing marine spatial planning as the island of South Caicos and its environs transition to a tourism-based economy. Using baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS), the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum, Caribbean reef shark Carcharhinus perezi, spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari, southern stingray Hypanus americanus, lemon shark Negaprion brevirostris, tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier, blacknose shark Carcharhinus acronotus, and great hammerhead shark Sphyrna mokarran were observed to use these waters, with G. cirratum and C. perezi being particularly abundant. Species diversity and overall abundance was greater in the reef environment than on the sand flats, but G. cirratum was equally abundant in both environments. Furthermore, even reef-associated species such as C. perezi were occasionally encountered on the flats a considerable distance from the reef. This indicates that although marine conservation efforts in the Turks and Caicos Islands should continue to focus on coral reef areas, less dramatic environments such as sand flats should not be ignored.

中文翻译：

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对东凯科斯银行（特克斯和凯科斯群岛）的弹鳃多样性和丰度进行诱饵远程水下视频系统 (BRUVS) 评估；转型中的环境

本研究旨在评估凯科斯海岸东部珊瑚礁和沙滩环境中的软骨鱼的多样性和丰度，以期在南凯科斯岛及其周边地区过渡到以旅游为基础的环境中为海洋空间规划提供信息。经济。使用诱饵远程水下视频系统 (BRUVS)，护士鲨 Ginglymostoma cirratum、加勒比礁鲨 Carcharhinus perezi、斑点鹰鳐 Aetobatus narinari、南黄貂鱼 Hypanus americanus、柠檬鲨 Negaprion brevirostris、虎鲨 Galeocerdo cuvier、黑鼻鲨 Carcharhinus观察到双髻鲨 Sphyrna mokarran 使用这些水域，其中 G. cirratum 和 C. perezi 特别丰富。珊瑚礁环境中的物种多样性和总体丰度高于沙滩，但 G. cirratum 在这两种环境中的数量同样丰富。此外，即使是与珊瑚礁相关的物种，如 C. perezi，也偶尔会在距离珊瑚礁相当远的平地上遇到。这表明，尽管特克斯和凯科斯群岛的海洋保护工作应继续关注珊瑚礁地区，但不应忽视沙滩等不太引人注目的环境。