scholarly journals Effects of hypoxia and ocean acidification on the upper thermal niche boundaries of coral reef fishes

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 20170135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasmus Ern ◽  
Jacob L. Johansen ◽  
Jodie L. Rummer ◽  
Andrew J. Esbaugh
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Thermal Range ◽  
Thermal Limits ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Progressive Hypoxia ◽  
Poleward Shift ◽  
Supply Capacity

Rising ocean temperatures are predicted to cause a poleward shift in the distribution of marine fishes occupying the extent of latitudes tolerable within their thermal range boundaries. A prevailing theory suggests that the upper thermal limits of fishes are constrained by hypoxia and ocean acidification. However, some eurythermal fish species do not conform to this theory, and maintain their upper thermal limits in hypoxia. Here we determine if the same is true for stenothermal species. In three coral reef fish species we tested the effect of hypoxia on upper thermal limits, measured as critical thermal maximum (CT max ). In one of these species we also quantified the effect of hypoxia on oxygen supply capacity, measured as aerobic scope (AS). In this species we also tested the effect of elevated CO 2 (simulated ocean acidification) on the hypoxia sensitivity of CT max . We found that CT max was unaffected by progressive hypoxia down to approximately 35 mmHg, despite a substantial hypoxia-induced reduction in AS. Below approximately 35 mmHg, CT max declined sharply with water oxygen tension ( P w O 2 ). Furthermore, the hypoxia sensitivity of CT max was unaffected by elevated CO 2 . Our findings show that moderate hypoxia and ocean acidification do not constrain the upper thermal limits of these tropical, stenothermal fishes.

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 Endemic and widespread coral reef fishes have similar mitochondrial genetic diversity

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1797) ◽  
pp. 20141068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwan Delrieu-Trottin ◽  
Jeffrey Maynard ◽  
Serge Planes
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Nucleotide Diversity ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Reef Fish Species

Endemic species are frequently assumed to have lower genetic diversity than species with large distributions, even if closely related. This assumption is based on research from the terrestrial environment and theoretical evolutionary modelling. We test this assumption in the marine environment by analysing the mitochondrial genetic diversity of 33 coral reef fish species from five families sampled from Pacific Ocean archipelagos. Surprisingly, haplotype and nucleotide diversity did not differ significantly between endemic and widespread species. The probable explanation is that the effective population size of some widespread fishes locally is similar to that of many of the endemics. Connectivity across parts of the distribution of the widespread species is probably low, so widespread species can operate like endemics at the extreme or isolated parts of their range. Mitochondrial genetic diversity of many endemic reef fish species may not either limit range size or be a source of vulnerability.

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 Assessing the impact of static and fluctuating ocean acidification on the behavior of Amphiprion percula

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Vaughan ◽  
Danielle L. Dixson
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Amphiprion Percula ◽  
Behavioral Abnormalities ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Ground Truthing ◽  
Chemosensory Behavior ◽  
The Impact

AbstractCoral reef organisms are exposed to both an increasing magnitude of pCO2, and natural fluctuations on a diel scale. For coral reef fishes, one of the most profound effects of ocean acidification is the impact on ecologically important behaviors. Previous behavioral research has primarily been conducted under static pCO2 conditions and have recently come under criticism. Recent studies have provided evidence that the negative impacts on behavior may be reduced under more environmentally realistic, fluctuating conditions. We investigated the impact of both present and future day, static (500 and 1000 μatm) and diel fluctuating (500 ± 200 and 1000 ± 200 μatm) pCO2 on the lateralization and chemosensory behavior of juvenile anemonefish, Amphiprion percula. Our static experimental comparisons support previous findings that under elevated pCO2, fish become un-lateralized and lose the ability to discriminate olfactory cues. Diel-fluctuating pCO2 may aid in mitigating the severity of some behavioral abnormalities such as the chemosensory response, where a preference for predator cues was significantly reduced under a future diel-fluctuating pCO2 regime. This research aids in ground truthing earlier findings and contributes to our growing knowledge of the role of fluctuating conditions.

scholarly journals Turtle cleaners: reef fishes foraging on epibionts of sea turtles in the tropical Southwestern Atlantic, with a summary of this association type

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Sazima ◽  
Alice Grossman ◽  
Ivan Sazima
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Southwestern Atlantic ◽  
Cleaning Symbiosis ◽  
Turtle Species ◽  
Fernando De Noronha ◽  
Reef Fish Species

In the present study we record several instances of reef fish species foraging on epibionts of sea turtles (cleaning symbiosis) at the oceanic islands of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and near a shipwreck, both off the coast of Pernambuco State, northeast Brazil. Nine reef fish species and three turtle species involved in cleaning are herein recorded. Besides our records, a summary of the literature on this association type is presented. Postures adopted by turtles during the interaction are related to the habits of associated fishes. Feeding associations between fishes and turtles seem a localized, albeit common, phenomenon.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document