scholarly journals DNA-based identification of predators of the corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) from fish faeces and gut contents

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederieke J. Kroon ◽  
Carine D. Lefèvre ◽  
Jason R. Doyle ◽  
Frances Patel ◽  
Grant Milton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Fish Predation ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Reef Fish Species

Abstract The corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) has been linked with the widespread loss of scleractinian coral cover on Indo-Pacific reefs during periodic population outbreaks. Here, we re-examine CoTS consumption by coral reef fish species by using new DNA technologies to detect Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) in fish faecal and gut content samples. CoTS DNA was detected in samples from 18 different coral reef fish species collected on reefs at various stages of CoTS outbreaks in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, nine of which had not been previously reported to feed on CoTS. A comprehensive set of negative and positive control samples confirmed that our collection, processing and analysis procedures were robust, although food web transfer of CoTS DNA cannot be ruled out for some fish species. Our results, combined with the (i) presence of CoTS spines in some samples, (ii) reported predation on CoTS gametes, larvae and settled individuals, and (iii) known diet information for fish species examined, strongly indicate that direct fish predation on CoTS may well be more common than is currently appreciated. We provide recommendations for specific management approaches to enhance predation on CoTS by coral reef fishes, and to support the mitigation of CoTS outbreaks and reverse declines in hard coral cover.

scholarly journals Decoding diversity in a coral reef fish species complex with restricted range using metagenomic sequencing of gut contents

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 3413-3423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverly J. French ◽  
Yan Wei Lim ◽  
Brian J. Zgliczynski ◽  
Robert A. Edwards ◽  
Forest Rohwer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Metagenomic Sequencing ◽  
Restricted Range ◽  
Reef Fish Species

scholarly journals Individual back-calculated size-at-age based on otoliths from Pacific coral reef fish species

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabien Morat ◽  
Jérémy Wicquart ◽  
Nina M. D. Schiettekatte ◽  
Guillemette de Sinéty ◽  
Jean Bienvenu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Individual Growth ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Size At Age

Abstract Somatic growth is a critical biological trait for organismal, population, and ecosystem-level processes. Due to its direct link with energetic demands, growth also represents an important parameter to estimate energy and nutrient fluxes. For marine fishes, growth rate information is most frequently derived from sagittal otoliths, and most of the available data stems from studies on temperate species that are targeted by commercial fisheries. Although the analysis of otoliths is a powerful tool to estimate individual growth, the time-consuming nature of otolith processing is one barrier for collection of comprehensive datasets across multiple species. This is especially true for coral reef fishes, which are extremely diverse. Here, we provide back-calculated size-at-age estimates (including measures of uncertainty) based on sagittal otoliths from 710 individuals belonging to 45 coral reef fish species from French Polynesia. In addition, we provide Von Bertalanffy growth parameters which are useful to predict community level biomass production.

Length‐weight relationships of 4 coral‐reef fish species encountered in Gilbert Islands coastal artisanal fisheries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastien Gislard ◽  
Pauline Bosserelle ◽  
George Shedrawi ◽  
Rateiti Vaimalie ◽  
Liliana Iotebatu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Artisanal Fisheries ◽  
Reef Fish Species

scholarly journals Assessment of Coral Reef Fish Stocks From the Nansha Islands, South China Sea, Using Length-Based Bayesian Biomass Estimation

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kui Zhang ◽  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Dengfu Shi ◽  
Zuozhi Chen
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
South China Sea ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
South China ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Nansha Islands ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Reef Fish Species

The South China Sea (SCS) is one of the world’s main centers for coral reef diversity, with more than one-third of all reef fish species being found in this area. Some indications of overfishing have appeared in typical coral reefs of the SCS, as fish diversities have declined and the average body lengths of dominant fish species have decreased. However, only few assessments of coral reef fish stocks have been conducted, due to insufficient available data. In this study, we applied a newly developed length-based Bayesian biomass (LBB) estimation method to assess 10 dominant coral reef fish species from three main reefs (Yongshu Reef, Zhubi Reef, and Meiji Reef) of the Nansha Islands, SCS. Simulations indicated the estimated parameters were not sensitive to sample sizes (more than 100) using the LBB method. Our results showed that the relative biomass levels (B/BMSY) of Cephalopholis spiloparaea, Cephalopholis urodeta, Lutjanus gibbus, Gnathodentex aureolineatus, Pentapodus caninus, and Cheilinus fasciatus were between 0.16 and 0.45, suggesting an overfishing status; the relative biomass levels of Epinephelus merra, and Parupeneus crassilabris were 0.98 and 1.1, respectively, indicating that they were fully exploited; and the relative biomass levels of Lutjanus kasmira and Melichthys vidua were 1.3 and 2.5, respectively, indicating the populations were in good conditions. The estimates of Lc/Lc_opt were less than one for seven stocks, suggesting that the stocks were suffering from growth overfishing. Therefore, we emphasize the need to reduce fishing mortality and increase the mesh size of the coral reef fishery in the Nansha Islands, to achieve a sustainable yield and biomass.

scholarly journals REEF FISHES BIODIVERSITY IN MARINE SANCTUARY AT MINAHASA UTARA DISTRICT, NORTH SULAWESI

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fakhrizal Setiawan ◽  
Sonny Tasidjawa ◽  
Efra Wantah ◽  
Hendri Johanis
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
North Sulawesi ◽  
Reef Fish Community ◽  
Reef Fish Species

<p align="center"><strong><em>ABSTRACT</em></strong></p><p><em>There are </em><em>some marine sanctuaries (DPL) which are managed together by its societies in North Minahasa regency. From 19 villages with DPL, we conducted surveys using point intercept transect in 14 villages both inside and outside DPL in the subdistrict West Likupang and East Likupang, North Minahasa. Result showed that l</em><em>ive coral cover was in general in moderate to excellent conditions both inside and outside DPL. Reef fish recorded in the study areas consisted of 267 reef fish species which categorized into 40 families. Bahoi village had the highest abundance and biomass within the DPL due to a very good condition of coral reef ecosystemn (&gt;75% coral cover) both inside and outside DPL. Biomass of reef fish outside DPL of Bahoi was small but its abundance was the highest. This conditions indicated that the size of reef fish outside of Bahoi DPL was small and this gave a positive perspective to supply fishes into the outside region of Bahoi DPL. Overall, marine sanctuary in North Minahasa contained reef fish community structure in good condition, moderate diversity, relatively labile of evenness index, and low dominance. </em><em>Grouping</em><em> by similarity, reef fish species were generally similar in all locations. The separation of DPL locations produced some different fishes group due to its different location, oceanographic conditions, and characters.</em><em></em></p><p> </p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong><em>: Marine sanctuary, reef fish community, North Minahasa.</em></p>

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