scholarly journals Coral settlement and recruitment responses to reef fish foraging and trait diversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cher F Y Chow ◽  
Caitlin Bolton ◽  
Nader Boutros ◽  
Viviana Brambilla ◽  
Luisa Fontoura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Coral Recruitment ◽  
Coral Settlement ◽  
Trait Divergence ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Recruitment Success ◽  
Trait Diversity

The process of coral recruitment is crucial to the healthy functioning of coral reef ecosystems, as well as recovery following disturbances. Fishes are key modulators of this process by feeding on algae and other benthic taxa that compete with corals for benthic space. However, foraging strategies within reef fish assemblages are highly diverse and the effect of foraging diversity on coral recruitment success remains poorly understood. Here, we test how the foraging traits of reef fishes affect coral settlement and juvenile success at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Using a multi-model inference approach incorporating six metrics of fish assemblage foraging diversity (foraging rates, trait richness, trait evenness, trait divergence, herbivore abundance, and benthic invertivore abundance), we found that herbivore abundance had positive effects on both coral settlement and recruitment success. However, foraging trait diversity had a negative effect on coral settlement but not on recruitment. Coral settlement was higher at sites with less trait diverse fish assemblages, specifically in trait divergence and richness. Moreover, these two trait diversity metrics were stronger predictors of coral settlement success compared to herbivore abundance. Our findings provide evidence that impacts mediated by fish foraging on coral juveniles can potentially be harmful during settlement, but the space-clearing effect overall remains advantageous. We show here that the variation of fish biodiversity across reefs can be a partial driver to spatially uneven patterns of coral recruitment and reef recovery.

Spatial assemblage structure of shallow-water reef fish in Southwest Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 649 ◽  
pp. 125-140
Author(s):  
DS Goldsworthy ◽  
BJ Saunders ◽  
JRC Parker ◽  
ES Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Reef Fish Assemblage ◽  
Reef Type ◽  
Present Distribution ◽  
Southwest Australia

Bioregional categorisation of the Australian marine environment is essential to conserve and manage entire ecosystems, including the biota and associated habitats. It is important that these regions are optimally positioned to effectively plan for the protection of distinct assemblages. Recent climatic variation and changes to the marine environment in Southwest Australia (SWA) have resulted in shifts in species ranges and changes to the composition of marine assemblages. The goal of this study was to determine if the current bioregionalisation of SWA accurately represents the present distribution of shallow-water reef fishes across 2000 km of its subtropical and temperate coastline. Data was collected in 2015 using diver-operated underwater stereo-video surveys from 7 regions between Port Gregory (north of Geraldton) to the east of Esperance. This study indicated that (1) the shallow-water reef fish of SWA formed 4 distinct assemblages along the coast: one Midwestern, one Central and 2 Southern Assemblages; (2) differences between these fish assemblages were primarily driven by sea surface temperature, Ecklonia radiata cover, non-E. radiata (canopy) cover, understorey algae cover, reef type and reef height; and (3) each of the 4 assemblages were characterised by a high number of short-range Australian and Western Australian endemic species. The findings from this study suggest that 4, rather than the existing 3 bioregions would more effectively capture the shallow-water reef fish assemblage patterns, with boundaries having shifted southwards likely associated with ocean warming.

scholarly journals Olfactory responses of coral-reef fishes to coral degradation and crown-of-thorns (Acanthaster planci)

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy G. Coppock ◽  
Naomi M. Gardiner ◽  
Geoffrey P. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Acanthaster Planci ◽  
Olfactory Responses ◽  
Olfactory Stimuli ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems

Coral degradation is a major threat towards the biodiversity of coral-reef ecosystems, either through the physical effects of environmental change, or biological agents such as crown-of-thorns (Acanthaster planci). Coral loss is leading to significant declines in reef-fish assemblages, particularly those dependent on live coral as settlement sites. Most reef fishes use olfactory stimuli at settlement; however, their ability to detect chemical stimuli from degraded corals or A. planci is unknown. Here, olfactory responses of juvenile reef fishes to the presence of stressed corals and A. planci were tested. Juveniles of eight common coral-associated species were subjected to a series of pair-wise choice tests, where the period of time spent in two differing water sources was noted. All species demonstrated a significant attraction towards healthy coral (≥76%), avoiding cues emitted by stressed coral colonies. When given the choice between a control water (untreated reef water) and water containing chemical cues from A. planci, most species elicited no response. Finally, when given the choice between chemical cues derived from feeding A. planci or the control, all species avoided A. planci (≥70%). Our results indicated that juvenile reef fish are capable of distinguishing the state of coral health, but not directly from disturbance agents.

scholarly journals Tropical rhodolith beds are a major and belittled reef fish habitat

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo L. Moura ◽  
Maria L. Abieri ◽  
Guilherme M. Castro ◽  
Lélis A. Carlos-Júnior ◽  
Pamela M. Chiroque-Solano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Trophic Structure ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Fish Habitats ◽  
Energy Pathways

AbstractUnderstanding habitat-level variation in community structure provides an informed basis for natural resources’ management. Reef fishes are a major component of tropical marine biodiversity, but their abundance and distribution are poorly assessed beyond conventional SCUBA diving depths. Based on a baited-video survey of fish assemblages in Southwestern Atlantic’s most biodiverse region we show that species composition responded mainly to the two major hard-bottom megahabitats (reefs and rhodolith beds) and to the amount of light reaching the bottom. Both megahabitats encompassed typical reef fish assemblages but, unexpectedly, richness in rhodolith beds and reefs was equivalent. The dissimilar fish biomass and trophic structure in reefs and rhodolith beds indicates that these systems function based on contrasting energy pathways, such as the much lower herbivory recorded in the latter. Rhodolith beds, the dominant benthic megahabitat in the tropical Southwestern Atlantic shelf, play an underrated role as fish habitats, and it is critical that they are considered in conservation planning.

scholarly journals Reef fish communities are spooked by scuba surveys and may take hours to recover

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Emslie ◽  
Alistair J. Cheal ◽  
M. Aaron MacNeil ◽  
Ian R. Miller ◽  
Hugh P.A. Sweatman
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Ecological Monitoring ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Fish Length ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Monitoring Programs ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Initial Attraction

Ecological monitoring programs typically aim to detect changes in the abundance of species of conservation concern or which reflect system status. Coral reef fish assemblages are functionally important for reef health and these are most commonly monitored using underwater visual surveys (UVS) by divers. In addition to estimating numbers, most programs also collect estimates of fish lengths to allow calculation of biomass, an important determinant of a fish’s functional impact. However, diver surveys may be biased because fishes may either avoid or are attracted to divers and the process of estimating fish length could result in fish counts that differ from those made without length estimations. Here we investigated whether (1) general diver disturbance and (2) the additional task of estimating fish lengths affected estimates of reef fish abundance and species richness during UVS, and for how long. Initial estimates of abundance and species richness were significantly higher than those made on the same section of reef after diver disturbance. However, there was no evidence that estimating fish lengths at the same time as abundance resulted in counts different from those made when estimating abundance alone. Similarly, there was little consistent bias among observers. Estimates of the time for fish taxa that avoided divers after initial contact to return to initial levels of abundance varied from three to 17 h, with one group of exploited fishes showing initial attraction to divers that declined over the study period. Our finding that many reef fishes may disperse for such long periods after initial contact with divers suggests that monitoring programs should take great care to minimise diver disturbance prior to surveys.

Status Trofik Ikan Karang dan Hubungan Ikan Herbivora dengan Rekrutmen Karang di Perairan Pulau Pari, Teluk Jakarta

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Kunto Wibowo ◽  
Muhammad Abrar ◽  
Rikoh Manogar Siringoringo
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Trophic Status ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Coral Recruitment ◽  
Herbivorous Fishes ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Reef Recovery ◽  
Surrounding Areas

<strong>Trophic Status of Reef Fishes and Correlation between Herbivorous Fishes and Coral Recruitment in Pari Island Waters, Jakarta Bay.</strong> Species diversity and abundance of reef fishes is one of the indicators about the health of the reef ecosystem. Based on its trophic status, herbivorous fishes become an important group to control algae populations which are spatially coral competitors. This study aimed to determine the condition of reef fish species diversity in Pari Island waters and the relation between herbivorous fishes and coral recruitment. The study was conducted at five stations of coral reef ecosystems in Pari Island and surrounding areas in March 2014. Reef fish data collection was done by underwater observation using belt transects along 70 m length and 5 m width. Coral recruitment was recorded using transects of 1 x 1 m2, repeated 9 times. As many as 121 species of reef fishes belonging to 25 genera and 20 families were recorded. Pomacentridae, Labridae, and Chaetodontidae were three families with the highest species diversity. The abundance of herbivorous fishes varied among stations, from 4 to 52 individuals in each transect. Coral recruitment in Pari Island waters were low, i.e. 3.22 colonies/m2. However, the regression results indicated that the abundance of herbivorous fishes was positively correlated with the density of young corals. Herbivorous fish abundance and density of young corals in Pari Island waters have yet to show the maximum potential for reef recovery after damage. The low coral recruitment in the ecosystem of Pari Island waters was also caused by sedimentation, temperature, flow patterns, and salinity.<br /><br />

scholarly journals Incorporating reef fish avoidance behavior improves accuracy of species distribution models

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9246
Author(s):  
Kostantinos A. Stamoulis ◽  
Jade M.S. Delevaux ◽  
Ivor D. Williams ◽  
Alan M. Friedlander ◽  
Jake Reichard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Avoidance Behavior ◽  
Species Distribution Models ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Approach Distance ◽  
Fish Avoidance ◽  
Habitat Variables

Species distribution models (SDMs) are used to interpret and map fish distributions based on habitat variables and other drivers. Reef fish avoidance behavior has been shown to vary in the presence of divers and is primarily driven by spearfishing pressure. Diver avoidance behavior or fish wariness may spatially influence counts and other descriptive measures of fish assemblages. Because fish assemblage metrics are response variables for SDMs, measures of fish wariness may be useful as predictors in SDMs of fishes targeted by spearfishing. We used a diver operated stereo-video system to conduct fish surveys and record minimum approach distance (MAD) of targeted reef fishes inside and outside of two marine reserves on the island of Oʻahu in the main Hawaiian Islands. By comparing MAD between sites and management types we tested the assumption that it provides a proxy for fish wariness related to spearfishing pressure. We then compared the accuracy of SDMs which included MAD as a predictor with SDMs that did not. Individual measures of MAD differed between sites though not management types. When included as a predictor, MAD averaged at the transect level greatly improved the accuracy of SDMs of targeted fish biomass.

scholarly journals Comparing mesophotic and shallow reef fish assemblages in the 'Au'au Channel, Hawaii: fish size, feeding guild composition, species richness, and endemism

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-592
Author(s):  
Raymond C Boland ◽  
K David Hyrenbach ◽  
Edward E DeMartini ◽  
Frank A Parrish ◽  
John J Rooney
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Feeding Guild ◽  
Shallow Reef ◽  
Guild Composition ◽  
High Conservation ◽  
Herbivore Species ◽  
Foraging Guilds

Mesophotic (30–150 m) reef fish assemblages in the 'Au'au Channel, between the Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Lanai, were compared visually with neighboring shallow (<30 m depth) reef fish assemblages for differences in structure. Between 2007 and 2011, approximately 7000 mesophotic and 4000 shallow reef fishes were identified, sized (standard length), and assigned to seven foraging guilds. The shallow water zone had more species than the mesophotic zone (99 vs 80, respectively). Mesophotic planktivores and two herbivore species were significantly larger than their shallow reef counterparts. Shallow reef fish assemblages had a higher Chao1 estimated species richness for herbivores and corallivores but not the other five foraging guilds. The differences between mesophotic and shallow fish assemblages indicate that both have unique communities of high conservation importance.

scholarly journals Influence of Palythoa caribaeorum (Anthozoa, Cnidaria) zonation on site-attached reef fishes

2008 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
José P. Mendonça-Neto ◽  
Carlos E.L. Ferreira ◽  
Laís C.T. Chaves ◽  
Renato C. Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Distribution ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Benthic Organisms ◽  
Palythoa Caribaeorum ◽  
Chain Link ◽  
Space Limitation ◽  
Percentage Covering

This work aimed to test the influence of Palythoa caribeorum, a widely distributed zoanthid in the Atlantic, on site-attached reef fish in a subtropical rocky shore. Density, richness and vertical distribution of reef fish inside (ID) and outside (OD) previously chosen P. caribaeorum dominance patches were compared through stationary visual censuses along three different periods. Fishes were grouped in different trophic guilds to evidence differences in resources uses in both treatments. A complexity index was estimated by the chain link method and percentage covering of benthic organisms was obtained analyzing random points from replicated photo-quadrats. We observed thirty-eight species of fishes, belonging to twenty-five families. Reef fish communities between studied patches were similar,both in terms of species composition and vertical distribution. Considering only the most site-attached fishes, which were the most frequent and abundant species, data showed that ID sustains higher diversity and abundance than OD. Results showed that benthic composition differ significantly among patches whereas complexity remained without differences. Otherwise, results indicated that these areas might play an important role in space limitation, structuring neighboring benthic community and consequently reef fish assemblages.

Community changes of coral reef fishes in Bunaken National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Fakhrizal Setiawan ◽  
Janny D Kusen ◽  
Georis JF Kaligis
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
National Park ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Fish Community Structure ◽  
Reef Fish Community

In order to look at changes in coral and reef fish communities during the period of 2006 to 2013, this research was carried out at Bunaken National Park (BNP) with 26 observation sites. The existing data and information of reef fish communities in the park generally could not be used as representative for describing the whole region. Percentage of coral cover and fish abundance during the study period shows that Bunaken Island is more similar to other locations. Reef fish community structure as seen from ecological index (H' at all sites being categorized, E category labile and low category C) shows the condition of the reef fish community is still good. Changes in the structure of reef fish communities showed declining conditions compared to 2006, and coral cover continued to decrease compared to 1998 and 2007. Good overall reef fish and coral cover have decreased; it is thought to be related to the pressure in BNP. Some of the pressures in the region were (i) increasing numbers of domestic as well as foreign visitors, (ii) increasing number of residents in the region, as well as the burden of waste and trash from the Bay of Manado. Penelitian dilakukan di Taman Nasional Bunaken (Utara dan Selatan)   pada 26 lokasi  pengamatan untuk menganalisis perubahan struktur komunitas ikan karang melalui kajian dari suatu time series data dari beberapa penelitian sebelumnya. Data primer mengenai ikan-ikan karang diperoleh melalui visual sensus bawah air yang bersamaan dengan observasi terumbu karang menggunakan point intercept transect. Nilai persentase tutupan karang dan kelimpahan ikan menunjukkan bahwa pada lokasi pengamatan Pulau Bunaken paling baik dibandingan lokasi lainnya. Struktur komunitas ikan karang yang dianalisis dengan indeks ekologi menunjukkan indeks keanekaragaman (H’) di semua site masuk kategori sedang, indeks kesamaan (E) kategori labil dan indeks Dominansi (C) kategori rendah. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa kondisi komunitas ikan karang masih baik, sekalipun  perubahan struktur komunitas ikan karang menunjukkan kondisi yang menurun dibandingkan tahun 2006, begitu juga tutupan karang yang terus turun dibandingkan tahun 1998 dan 2007. Secara keseluruhan baik ikan karang maupun tutupan karang mengalami penurunan, hal ini diduga terkait dengan tekanan yang dialami kawasan TN. Bunaken. Salah satu tekanan terhadap kawasan adalah jumlah turis dari dalam maupun luar negeri yang semakin meningkat tiap tahunnya, penambahan jumlah penduduk di dalam kawasan, serta beban limbah dan sampah dari Teluk Manado.

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