This study explored patterns of spatial and temporal variability in the structure of coral reef fish assemblages around San Salvador Island, The Bahamas. For 25 years, students from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire have conducted reef surveys, generating a long-term dataset that provides a unique opportunity to assess reef fish community changes in response to ecological disturbances. Surveys across six reefs were conducted in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2014, and 2025, generating quantitative presence-absence data. These surveys captured the effects of two major stressors: the invasion of Pterois volitans (lionfish) in 2007 and a severe coral bleaching event in 2023. The six reefs varied in size, depth, and visitation patterns, enabling comparisons of fish assemblages across different environmental conditions. All observed fish species were recorded during snorkeling surveys, and multivariate analyses were applied to assess changes in fish community composition over time and across reef sites. Coral bleaching was quantified using a standardized assessment protocol. By examining how reef fish communities respond to disturbances, this study enhances our understanding of reef resilience and ecosystem shifts.
