This study used trapping and visual census surveys to assess whether a marine reserve in Barbados effectively protected coral reef fish stocks and whether there was evidence of emigration from the reserve. Fish abundance and sizes were higher in the reserve than in surrounding non-reserve areas. Relative differences in abundance and size between reserve and non-reserve of different taxa were positively correlated to vulnerability to traps (the most common fishing method) but not to mobility of fish. Gradients of abundance across the reserve boundaries (decreasing abundance with distance from the reserve center) were apparent for total abundance but not for individual taxa. These patterns suggest that the reserve does protect fish stocks and that emigration is of minor importance.

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Although much has been written on the benefits of hosting 'mega events' including the Olympic Games and the Football World Cup, smaller but still significant sport events of global significance such as the Golf World Cup have received hardly any attention by researchers. This dearth in knowledge has inspired the direction of this study, that is, to explore the stakeholder perspective of the Golf World Cup which was hosted in Barbados in 2006. This event was part of a national development strategy aimed at diversifying the tourism product in the light of the increasing competitiveness of the tourism industry. Consequently the research methodology adopted for this study was eclectic in nature as it sought to obtain a holistic understanding of the issues associated with hosting mega events on a small island microstate. An approach to data collection and analysis was therefore utilised including semi-structured interviews, participant observation and the examination of documents and promotional materials in order to understand the expectations and perceptions that specific stakeholder groups (including local tourism officials, international tourists and local residents) have of the Golf World Cup. The 85 participants in this study highlighted a diversity of views. From the tourism authorities' perspective, the reasons for staging the Golf World Cup were rather cliched. These included using the Golf World Cup as a tool to promote the island as an upmarket golfing destination. The authorities also expected that the Golf World Cup would stimulate tourism demand during a traditionally slow period and provide the island with much needed publicity in overseas tourism markets. However, the fieldwork revealed that the event was unsuccessful due to the poor attendance by both international tourists and local residents. From an international perspective many participants felt that the event was poorly attended due to a lack of awareness in overseas markets and the 'lack of atmosphere' and auxiliary attractions at the golf course. From the local perspective many participants felt that the event lacked appeal and cultural relevance to the host society. Locally, a significant finding is that the event projected an image of catering to an elitist clientele. This image created the perception among local residents that the event was socially exclusive and only served to perpetuate social divisions in society rather than to ameliorate them. Furthermore, many felt that the failure of the event authorities to solicit local participation was because local residents were not part of the decision-making process. This finding further augments the argument that events cannot be successful without local support and participation. The findings in this study can make a worthwhile contribution to the marketing, management and design of future events and the direction of policy formulation for sport events on the island of Barbados. It has illuminated many issues that direct the perceptions, expectations and subsequent purchase behaviour of international tourists and local visitors regarding a mega event on the island of Barbados.

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A reef-associated zooplankton community was monitored at weekly intervals for 53 weeks. Samples were collected from quadrats of dense coral cover using emergence net traps. The numerical and biomass fluctuations of 15 taxonomic groups, 7 size classes and 5 feeding groups of the community were determined both temporally and spatially. The community was composed of abundant and diverse taxa (81) with cyclopoid copepods being the most important taxon. Larger-sized fauna (e.g. amphipods, decapods, mysids, etc.) were the second most important abundance and biomass contributors. Size class analysis illustrated a bimodal size distribution spectrum. The well developed second mode of the spectrum was attributed to substratum characteristics which permitted an enhanced macrofaunal/detritivore presence. Although week to week fluctuations of the abundance/biomass data were marked, diversity indices indicated a persistent and resilient community. The nocturnal vertical migrations of the fauna did not show a persistent pattern with the varying phases of 12 sequentially monitored lunar cycles. Substratum heterogeneity was primarily responsible for the spatial distribution pattern of the fauna. Although the data variance suggested stochasticity, time-series procedures determined that cross-correlations between the numerical abundances of taxa, size classes and feeding groups occurred without a lead or lag. Similar analyses identified chlorophyll a as the important environmental variable and also as a leading indicator of particular taxonomic, size and feeding group abundances. It was concluded that reef-associated zooplankton communities are abundant, diverse assemblages structured by periodicities which in combination act to form important links between tropical, inshore benthic and pelagic ecosystems.

Factors influencing the stability of matrilineal dominance hierarchies were investigated in a feral troop of vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) in Barbados. Changes in the matrilineal dominance hierarchy were investigated over a 12-year period (1979-1991). Matrilineal ranks remained unchanged for the first 7 years (stable period), reversed on several occasions over the next 3.5 years (unstable period), and have re-stabilised for a further 3.5 years to present date. The frequency distribution of non-matrilineal supports in different social contexts, the lower support frequency in unstable than stable periods, and in particular the high reciprocity evident in non-matrilineal support exchanges, suggest that non-matrilineal support is better explained by reciprocal altruism than by mutualism in vervet monkeys. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)