Coral reef fish association and behaviour on the fire coralMilleporaspp. in north-east Brazil

The branching structure of the coral colonies from the genusMilleporaprovides substrate, shelter, and food resources for several reef organisms, such as fish and invertebrates. The present work analysed the association and behaviour of reef fish on the fire coralMillepora alcicornisandM. brasiliensisfrom September 2010 to February 2011, on the coastal reefs of Tamandaré, north-east Brazil. A total of 473 reef fish individuals of 27 species were sighted associated with the coral colonies, mainly composed of juveniles (65%). The most frequently observed behaviours were sheltered/stationary and swimming close to the coral; however, individuals were also observed foraging and breeding amongMilleporaspp. branching colonies. The agonistic behaviour performed byStegastes fuscusindividuals was highlighted in the present study, especially againstChaetodon striatus, Diodon holacanthusandOphioblennius trinitatisindividuals.Milleporaspp. hydrocorals are ecologically important for juvenile and adult reef fish belonging to several trophic guilds. The complex structure of the coral colonies provides a wide variety of ecological functions on coral reefs (e.g. shelter, reproduction area, food and even territory). Nevertheless, the abundance of branching fire coral in Brazilian reefs have been declining over the past years; therefore, efforts must be made to protect this key habitat.

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The influence of fire-coral colony size and agonistic behaviour of territorial damselfish on associated coral reef fish communities

Marine Environmental Research ◽

10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.04.009 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 108 ◽

pp. 45-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Isabela Carolina Silva Leal ◽

Maria Elisabeth de Araújo ◽

Simone Rabelo da Cunha ◽

Pedro Henrique Cipresso Pereira

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Colony Size ◽

Fish Communities ◽

Agonistic Behaviour ◽

Coral Colony ◽

Territorial Damselfish

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Coral reef fishes in the banks and rocky islands in the offshore waters of Binh Thuan province

Tạp chí Khoa học và Công nghệ Biển ◽

10.15625/1859-3097/19/4a/14590 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (4A) ◽

pp. 259-271

Author(s):

Mai Xuan Dat

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Average Density ◽

Coral Reef Fishes ◽

South Central ◽

Fish Group ◽

Coast Of Vietnam

Binh Thuan province is located in the South Central Coast of Vietnam with favorable conditions for living coral reefs. The coral reefs were mainly investigated in coastal water areas and Phu Quy island, meanwhile other areas such as the banks and rocky islands seem to lack information. This study was conducted to evaluate the species composition and distribution of coral reef fish communities in the Royal Bishop banks and around rocky islands in Julia shoal in the offshore waters of Binh Thuan province in April 2019. A total of 151 species belonging to 86 genera and 33 families of coral reef fishes were recorded. Among them, 4 species for the first time recorded in Vietnam are Helcogramma striata (Hansen, 1986) (Tripterygiidae), Pseudanthias squamipinnis (Peters, 1855) (Serranidae), Bodianus bilunulatus (Lacepède, 1801) and Coris aygula (Lacepède, 1801) (Labridae). The total average density of coral reef fish in the offshore waters of Binh Thuan is quite high at 1,104.9 ± 617 individuals/250 m2, most of them are small sized fish and ornamental fish group, the large sized fish and target fish group accounts for a relatively low rate, but their density here is much higher compared to that in the coastal waters of Binh Thuan province. The comparative analysis also shows that sites in coral reef around rocky islands have species richness and density of coral reef fish higher than the bank area.

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Coral reef fish smell leaves to find island homes

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2008.0876 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 275 (1653) ◽

pp. 2831-2839 ◽

Cited By ~ 98

Author(s):

Danielle L Dixson ◽

Geoffrey P Jones ◽

Philip L Munday ◽

Serge Planes ◽

Morgan S Pratchett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Fish Larvae ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Strong Association ◽

Olfactory Cues ◽

Olfactory Stimuli ◽

Series Of Experiments

Recent studies have shown that some coral reef fish larvae return to natal reefs, while others disperse to distant reefs. However, the sensory mechanisms used to find settlement sites are poorly understood. One hypothesis is that larvae use olfactory cues to navigate home or find other suitable reef habitats. Here we show a strong association between the clownfish Amphiprion percula and coral reefs surrounding offshore islands in Papua New Guinea. Host anemones and A. percula are particularly abundant in shallow water beneath overhanging rainforest vegetation. A series of experiments were carried out using paired-choice flumes to evaluate the potential role of water-borne olfactory cues in finding islands. Recently settled A. percula exhibited strong preferences for: (i) water from reefs with islands over water from reefs without islands; (ii) water collected near islands over water collected offshore; and (iii) water treated with either anemones or leaves from rainforest vegetation. Laboratory reared-juveniles exhibited the same positive response to anemones and rainforest vegetation, suggesting that olfactory preferences are innate rather than learned. We hypothesize that A. percula use a suite of olfactory stimuli to locate vegetated islands, which may explain the high levels of self-recruitment on island reefs. This previously unrecognized link between coral reefs and island vegetation argues for the integrated management of these pristine tropical habitats.

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What are reef fishes? - Comment on the report by D. R. Robertson: Do coral-reef fish faunas have a distinctive taxonomic structure? ( Coral Reefs 17: 179-186)

Coral Reefs ◽

10.1007/s003380050114 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 187-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

D. R. Bellwood

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Reef Fishes ◽

Taxonomic Structure

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Unravelling Seascape Patterns of Cryptic Life Stages: Non-Reef Habitat Use in Juvenile Parrotfishes

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d12100376 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 376

Author(s):

Katie T. Sievers ◽

Rene A. Abesamis ◽

Abner A. Bucol ◽

Garry R. Russ

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

Coral Reefs ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Coral Reef Fish ◽

Dna Analysis ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Juvenile Fish ◽

The Philippines ◽

Integral Group ◽

Underwater Visual Census

Juvenile fish often use alternative habitats distinct from their adult phases. Parrotfishes are an integral group of coral reef fish assemblages, are targeted in fisheries, are sensitive to reef disturbances, and have been documented as multiple-habitat users. Considering the abundance of research conducted on parrotfishes, very little is known about their juvenile ecology at the species level due to their cryptic and variable coloration patterns. We collected juvenile parrotfishes in non-reef habitats (macroalgal beds, seagrass beds, and lagoons) in the Philippines and used DNA analysis to determine species composition. The results were then compared with data on adult parrotfish abundance from underwater visual census (UVC) surveys in coral reef and non-reef habitats. Collections identified 15 species of juvenile parrotfishes in non-reef habitats, and of these, 10 were also recorded in UVCs as adults. Informed by adult surveys, 42% of the 19 parrotfish species observed as adults were classified as multi-habitat users based on their presence in coral reef and non-reef habitats. When accounting for the occurrence of species as juveniles in non-reef habitats, 93% of the species collected as juveniles would be considered multi-habitat users. Species identified as juveniles in non-reef habitats comprised 50% of the average adult parrotfish density on coral reefs and 58–94% in non-reef habitats. The species richness of juveniles in non-reef habitats was greater than that of adults occupying the same habitats, and the most common adult species observed in UVCs was not collected as juveniles in non-reef habitats. Finally, UVC suggested that 97% of juvenile parrotfish <10-cm total length was present in non-reef habitats compared to coral reefs. These results provide further evidence for ontogenetic movement across habitat boundaries for parrotfish species in a diverse and highly connected tropical seascape. This is one of the few studies to quantify links between nursery and adult habitat in parrotfishes, highlighting the importance of including non-reef habitats in ecological studies of an iconic group of coral reef fish.

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