Demographic dynamics of the smallest marine vertebrates fuel coral reef ecosystem functioning

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 364 (6446) ◽  
pp. 1189-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J. Brandl ◽  
Luke Tornabene ◽  
Christopher H. R. Goatley ◽  
Jordan M. Casey ◽  
Renato A. Morais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Pelagic Zone ◽  
Fish Biomass ◽  
Demographic Dynamics ◽  
Pelagic Environment

How coral reefs survive as oases of life in low-productivity oceans has puzzled scientists for centuries. The answer may lie in internal nutrient cycling and/or input from the pelagic zone. Integrating meta-analysis, field data, and population modeling, we show that the ocean’s smallest vertebrates, cryptobenthic reef fishes, promote internal reef fish biomass production through extensive larval supply from the pelagic environment. Specifically, cryptobenthics account for two-thirds of reef fish larvae in the near-reef pelagic zone despite limited adult reproductive outputs. This overwhelming abundance of cryptobenthic larvae fuels reef trophodynamics via rapid growth and extreme mortality, producing almost 60% of consumed reef fish biomass. Although cryptobenthics are often overlooked, their distinctive demographic dynamics may make them a cornerstone of ecosystem functioning on modern coral reefs.

scholarly journals Comment on “Demographic dynamics of the smallest marine vertebrates fuel coral reef ecosystem functioning”

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 366 (6472) ◽  
pp. eaay9321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob E. Allgeier ◽  
Timothy J. Cline
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Fish Biomass ◽  
Fish Production ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystem ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Demographic Dynamics ◽  
Reef Ecosystem

Brandl et al. (Reports, 21 June 2019, p. 1189) report that cryptobenthic fishes underpin coral reef ecosystem function by contributing ~60% of “consumed fish” biomass and ~20% of production. These results are artifacts of their simulation. Using their data and model, we show that cryptobenthic species contribute less than 4% to fish production, calling into question the extent to which they contribute to the high productivity of coral reefs.

6. Reef fish and other major predators

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Sheppard
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Symbiotic Relationships ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Reef Communities

Healthy reefs provide a habitat for an immense number of fish that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. No other natural habitat in the ocean shows this diversity and abundance. About a quarter of all marine species may be found on coral reefs even though this habitat occupies only one or two per cent of the area of the earth. ‘Reef fish and other major predators’ describes the diverse feeding ecology of reef fishes; coral reef predators such as the colourful crown of thorns starfish, Acanthaster plancii; symbiotic relationships between different species of fish or with different invertebrates; and the dangers of overfishing in reef communities.

scholarly journals Reconstructing baselines for Caribbean predatory reef fishes

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Valdivia ◽  
Courtney Cox ◽  
John Bruno
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Human Impacts ◽  
Marine Reserves ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Coastal Development ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Fish Biomass ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Natural Factors

The natural, pre-human, abundance of most large predators is unknown due to the lack of historical data and the poor understanding of the natural factors that control their populations. We assessed the relationship between the biomass of predatory reef fishes and several anthropogenic and environmental variables to (1) predict among site variability in predator abundance in response to both human impacts and natural factors, and (2) estimate historical baselines of fish predator biomass in the absence of humans. We hypothesized that predatory fish abundance declines with human influence but is also strongly associated with natural environmental variability. We assessed the biomass structure of reef fishes at 39 sites over three years across the greater Caribbean. Using generalized linear mixed effect models, we examined the relationships between the biomass of predatory reef fishes and a comprehensive set of 29 anthropogenic, physical, spatial, biotic, and management-related covariates. We used the best explanatory models to predict the biomass of fish predators in the absence of humans. Predatory reef fish biomass was higher in marine reserves but strongly negatively related to human impacts, especially coastal development. Over 50% of the variability in predator biomass, however, was also explained by non-human factors including reef complexity, ocean productivity, and prey abundance. Comparing site-specific predicted values to field observations suggests predatory reef fish biomass has declined by 80-95% in most sites, even within most marine reserves. Bottom-up forces are critical (yet often overlooked) drivers of reef fish communities across gradients of human exploitation. This suggests that we could underestimate historical biomass at sites that provide ideal conditions for predators or greatly overestimate that of seemingly predator-depleted sites that may have never supported large predator populations due to suboptimal environmental conditions. We highlight areas that are natural “hot spots” of predator biomass that can be targeted for strategic protection and restoration.

scholarly journals Struktur Komunitas Ikan Karang dan Tutupan Karang pada Terumbu Buatan Artificial Patch Reef (APR)

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-340
Author(s):  
Munasik Munasik ◽  
Aldion Adin Nugroho ◽  
Retno Hartati ◽  
Agus Sabdono ◽  
Sugiyanto Sugiyanto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Patch Reef ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Artificial Reef ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
Natural Coral

Artificial Patch Reef (APR) have been applied as a new method for Biodiversity Conservation Program at Panjang Island, Jepara since 2015. Previous study suggested that design and location of artificial reefs installation affected to abundance of reef fishes, associated with the artificial reef.  This study aims to investigated community structure of reef fishes associated to artificial patch reef comparing to reef fishes in nearby natural reefs. Assessment of coral reef condition on two habitats were conducted on July 2019, after 4 years deployment.  The results show that artificial patch reefs with a percentage of live coral cover are less than half of natural coral reefs, and have succeeded in increasing the abundance of reef fish with nearly the same density and community structure resembling reef fish in natural coral reefs. The similarity in community structure of the two habitats is probably due to the similarity in habitat type and morphology of the hard corals. The results indicate that Artificial Patch Reef (APR) reefs have increased the coral cover of Acropora branching and resulted in increased reef fish abundance which is compatible with reef fish communities associated with natural coral reefs around it. Aplikasi metode baru terumbu buatan Artificial patch Reef (APR) pada Program Konservasi Bioiversitas Pulau Panjang, Jepara telah dilakukan sejak 2015. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa pemilihan desain dan lokasi pemasangan terumbu buatan yang tepat akan meningkatkan kelimpahan ikan karang. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui keberhasilan penerapan terumbu buatan APR melalui kelimpahan ikan karang yang berasosiasi pada terumbu buatan dan terumbu karang alami di sekitarnya. Penilaian kondisi terumbu karang tersebut telah dilakukan pada Juli 2019 setelah 4 (empat) tahun pemasangan terumbu buatan. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa terumbu buatan dengan persentase tutupan karang hidup lebih kecil, separuhnya dari tutupan pada terumbu karang alami telah berhasil meningkatkan kelimpahan ikan karang dengan densitas hampir sama dan struktur komunitasnya menyerupai ikan karang yang berasosiasi dengan terumbu karang alami. Kesamaan struktur komunitas kedua habitat kemungkinan akibat kesamaan tipe habitat dan morfologi karang keras penyusunya. Hasil ini mengindikasikan bahwa terumbu buatan Artificial patch Reef (APR) telah meningkatkan tutupan karang bercabang Acropora dan berakibat terhadap meningkatnya kelimpahan ikan karang yang sesuai dengan komunitas ikan karang yang berasosiasi dengan terumbu karang alami di sekitarnya.

Global gut content data synthesis and phylogeny delineate reef fish trophic guilds

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeriano Parravicini ◽  
Jordan M. Casey ◽  
Nina M. D. Schiettekatte ◽  
Simon J. Brandl ◽  
Chloé Pozas-Schacre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Coral Reef Fishes ◽  
Misclassification Error ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Trophic Guilds ◽  
Gut Content ◽  
Viable Approach

AbstractThe diversity of life on our planet has produced a remarkable variety of biological traits that characterize different species. Such traits are widely employed instead of taxonomy to increase our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. However, for species’ trophic niches, one of the most critical aspects of organismal ecology, a paucity of empirical information has led to inconsistent definitions of trophic guilds based on expert opinion. Using coral reef fishes as a model, we show that experts often disagree on the assignment of trophic guilds for the same species. Even when broad categories are assigned, 60% of the evaluated trait schemes disagree on the attribution of trophic categories for at least 20% of the species. This disagreement greatly hampers comparability across studies. Here, we introduce a quantitative, unbiased, and fully reproducible framework to define species’ trophic guilds based on empirical data. First, we synthesize data from community-wide visual gut content analysis of tropical coral reef fishes, resulting in trophic information from 13,961 individuals belonging to 615 reef fish species across all ocean basins. We then use network analysis to cluster the resulting global bipartite food web into distinct trophic guilds, resulting in eight trophic guilds, and employ a Bayesian phylogenetic model to predict trophic guilds based on phylogeny and maximum body size. Our model achieved a misclassification error of 5%, indicating that our approach results in a quantitative and reproducible trophic categorization scheme, which can be updated as new information becomes available. Although our case study is for reef fishes, the most diverse vertebrate consumer group, our approach can be applied to other organismal groups to advance reproducibility in trait-based ecology. As such, our work provides an empirical and conceptual advancement for trait-based ecology and a viable approach to monitor ecosystem functioning in our changing world.

scholarly journals HUBUNGAN PERSENTASE TUTUPAN KARANG DENGAN KELIMPAHAN IKAN KARANG DI PULAU MENJANGAN KECIL, KEPULAUAN KARIMUNJAWA, KABUPATEN JEPARA,JAWA TENGAH (Relationship of Coral Cover Percentage with Reef Fishes Abundance in Menjangan Kecil Island, Karimunjawa Island, Jepara)

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-338
Author(s):  
Fahmi Fahmi ◽  
Supriharyono Supriharyono ◽  
Abdul Ghofar
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Live Coral ◽  
East Side ◽  
Visual Census ◽  
West Side

Ekosistem terumbu karang merupakan kekayaan sumberdaya laut yang memiliki peranan penting dalam mendukung kehidupan berbagai organisme perairan. Salah satu organisme yang memiliki ketergantungan hidup pada terumbu karang adalah ikan karang. Hal ini dikarenakan ikan karang melalui fase hidup sebagian atau seluruhnya di terumbu karang, sehingga terumbu karang menjadi tempat tinggal, tempat mencari makan, tempat berlindung dan tempat berkembang biak.  Penelitian dilaksanakan pada bulan Mei 2017, dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui persentase tutupan karang hidup dan kelimpahan ikan. Serta hubungan persentase tutupan karang dengan kelimpahan ikan karang pada sisi Barat dan Timur Pulau Menjangan Kecil kedalaman 1 dan 3 meter. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode observasi lapangan, dengan metode sampling menggunakan transek garis (line transect) pada data karang dan visual census untuk data ikan sepanjang 25m. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Persentase rata-rata tutupan karang yang diperoleh pada kedalaman 1 meter sisi Barat adalah 73,39%, sedangkan pada kedalaman 3 meter adalah 85,97%. Persentase tutupan karang pada kedalaman 1 meter sisi Timur adalah 63,73%, sedangkan pada kedalaman 3 meter adalah 77,61%. Secara keseluruhan kondisi terumbu karang masih tergolong baik. Kelimpahan rata-rata ikan pada sisi Barat kedalaman 1 meter adalah 70 individu/125 m2, sedangkan pada kedalaman 3 meter adalah 232 individu/125 m2. Kelimpahan ikan sisi Timur kedalaman 1 dan 3 meter masing-masing adalah 49 dan 138 individu/125 m2. Hasil perhitungan indeks korelasi secara keseluruhan menghasilkan nilai 0,8415 dengan koefesien determinasi sebesar 0,7081. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa pola hubungan persentase tutupan karang dengan kelimpahan ikan karang kuat (signifikan) dan positif (searah). Coral reef ecosystem is a wealth of marine resources that have an important role in supporting the life of various aquatic organisms. One of the organisms that has a living dependence on coral reefs is reef fish. This is because coral fish through a partial or complete life phase on the coral reef, so that coral reefs become a place to live, a place to find food, shelter and breeding ground. The study was conducted in May 2017, with the objective of knowing the percentage of live coral cover and fish abundance. And the correlation of percentage of coral cover with abundance of reef fish on West and East side of Menjangan Kecil Island depth of 1 and 3 meters. The method used is field observation method, with sampling method using line transect on coral data and visual census for fish data along 25m. The results of this study indicate that the average percentage of coral cover obtained at a depth of 1 meter west side is 73.39%, while at a depth of 3 meters is 85.97%. The percentage of coral cover at depth of 1 meter East side is 63,73%, while at depth 3 meter is 77,61%. Overall the condition of coral reefs is still quite good. The average abundance of fish on the west side of 1 meter depth is 70 individuals / 125 m2, while at 3 meters depth is 232 individuals / 125 m2. The abundance of fish on Eastern side, depth of 1 and 3 meters respectively were 49 and 138 individu / 125 m2. Result of calculation of correlation index as a whole yield value 0,8415 with coefficient of determination equal to 0,7081. This shows that the pattern of correlation of percentage of coral cover with abundance of reef fish is strong (significant) and positive (unidirectional).

scholarly journals Condition of Coral Fish in Tapanuli Tengah Waters

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Sasanti Retno Suharti ◽  
Isa Nagib Edrus
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Coral Reef ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
The Other ◽  
Human Being ◽  
The World ◽  
Coral Fish ◽  
Complex Architecture

Coral reefs is a center for biodiversity in the world with a complex architecture and has an aesthetics value. It also offers beneficial for human being in many aspects such as economics, social and culture. Research was conducted in July 2016 and aim to understand community structure and biomass of coral reef fishes in Tapanuli Tengah waters. Result from all stations in Tapanuli Tengah waters showed that 49 species from seven families of economically reef fish i.e.  Acanthuridae, Serranidae, Haemulidae, Lutjanidae, Lehtrinidae, Siganidae and Scaridae were found. Density average of those seven families was 163 individual/350 m<sup>2</sup> or 4668 individual/ha with biomass average of 1.564 ton/ha. Moreover, biomass from other target fishes from nine families was accounted as 0.56 ton/ha. On the other hand, over all coralifore fish represented by Chaetodontidae was eight species from two genus, namely <em>Chaetodon</em> and <em>Heniochus </em>with four species. The density from family Chaetodotidae varies among station between 3-28 individual/350 m<sup>2</sup>

Variable and spatially explicit response of fish larvae to the playback of local, continuous reef soundscapes

2020 ◽  
Vol 653 ◽  
pp. 131-151
Author(s):  
JJ Suca ◽  
A Lillis ◽  
IT Jones ◽  
MB Kaplan ◽  
AR Solow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Virgin Islands ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Us Virgin Islands ◽  
Fish Catch ◽  
Ecological Importance ◽  
Subsurface Light

Understanding the cues that drive larval fish settlement is critical for managing reef systems under stress. Reef sound is increasingly reported to influence fish recruitment, yet the physical and acoustic environment in which larval fish settle varies in space and time. Accordingly, testing potential settlement cues under different conditions is vital for understanding their ecological importance. We conducted 2 sets of field playback experiments in St. John, US Virgin Islands, one nearshore (10 m depth) and the second ‘offshore’ (25 m depth), to assess the effects of reef soundscape playback on settlement rates of multiple reef fish families. In each experiment, nightly currents were quantified and we replicated the diel soundscape cycle using high, low, and control (silent) amplitude recordings from nearby reefs. The first experiment revealed significant current-based, down-stream reduction in larval fish catches in subsurface light traps and a significant effect of increasing amplitude of reef playbacks on larval lizardfish (Synodontidae) catches. In the second, offshore experiment which had no current effect, increasing reef playback amplitude led to a significantly greater catch of parrotfish (Scaridae) larvae and decreased larval pelagic fish catch. Total reef fish larvae only showed attraction to reef playbacks at the most nearshore site. This work demonstrates that while sound can play a role in the settlement of certain reef fishes, responses are influenced by multiple factors, including larger-scale physical processes, underscoring the need to consider the scale of soundscape cues for reef fish settlement within an oceanographic context.

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

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.

scholarly journals Coral reef fish smell leaves to find island homes

2008 ◽  
Vol 275 (1653) ◽  
pp. 2831-2839 ◽  
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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