Fishes on coral reefs: changing roles over the past 240 million years

Paleobiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher H. R. Goatley ◽  
David R. Bellwood ◽  
Orpha Bellwood
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
Nocturnal Feeding ◽  
Fossil Fish ◽  
Changing Roles ◽  
Fossil Reef ◽  
Over Time

Key morphological traits reveal changes in functional morphospace occupation of reef fish assemblages over time. We used measurements of key functional attributes (i.e., lower jaw length and orbit diameter) of 208 fossil fish species from five geological periods to create bivariate plots of functional morphological traits through time. These plots were used to examine possible function and ecological characteristics of fossil reef fish assemblages throughout the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. A previously unknown trend of increasing orbit diameter over time became apparent. The Teleostei are the principal drivers of this change. The Eocene appears to mark a dramatic increase in two previously rare feeding modes in fishes: nocturnal feeding and high-precision benthic feeding. Interestingly, members of the Pycnodontiformes had relatively large eyes since the Triassic and appear to be the ecological precursors of their later teleost counterparts and may have been among the earliest nocturnal feeding fishes. Our results highlight potential changes in the roles of fishes on coral reefs through time.

A comparison of coral reef and coral community fish assemblages in Pacific Panama and environmental factors governing their structure

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (7) ◽  
pp. 1331-1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Benfield ◽  
Laura Baxter ◽  
Hector M. Guzman ◽  
James M. Mair
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Coral Community ◽  
Percentage Cover ◽  
Dimensional Scaling ◽  
Coral Communities ◽  
Habitat Variables

We compared the reef fish assemblages of two habitats, coral reefs and coral communities (rocky substratum with coral colonies), in the Las Perlas Archipelago in Pacific Panama and attempted to determine associations with habitat variables. We used a modified Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) survey to record fish species and quadrat transects to determine benthic composition. Multivariate non-parametric multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) ordinations were performed in PRIMER and univariate correlations were used to determine relationships. The reef fish of coral communities were significantly more diverse and species rich than those of coral reefs. The two habitats had significantly different species and size composition, but trophic and family groups overlapped between habitats. Topography, exposure, and the percentage cover of branching and massive corals correlated significantly with differences in fish parameters. The reef fish assemblages of this region appear to be determined more by the larger scale structural features that characterize the two habitats than by features that vary over small scales within the habitats.

Spatial and temporal changes in reef fish assemblages on disturbed coral reefs, north Pacific coast of Costa Rica

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. e12532
Author(s):  
Gustavo Arias‐Godínez ◽  
Carlos Jiménez ◽  
Carlos Gamboa ◽  
Jorge Cortés ◽  
Mario Espinoza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Temporal Changes ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Changes

scholarly journals Evaluating the efficacy of management zones in the FKNMS: Integrating visual and photogrammetric surveys, and passive acoustics to characterize reef fish assemblages and spawning activity across coral reef management regimes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayelyn Simmons ◽  
DelWayne Bohnenstiehl ◽  
David Eggleston
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Florida Keys ◽  
Marine Ecology ◽  
Reef Management ◽  
Passive Acoustics ◽  
Low Frequencies

New technological approaches in marine ecology, such as (1) passive acoustics to characterize underwater soundscapes, and (2) habitat photogrammetry, which provides high-res, 3D images of habitats, can facilitate efficient and accurate assessments of coral reefs. In collaboration with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) and NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), multidisciplinary, non-invasive research approaches provide transformative ways to characterize reef fish biodiversity as well as the ecological function of essential, hard-bottom habitats. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) is an ideal study system due to several replicate marine reserve types in addition to existing historical data on reef fish and benthic communities. Underwater soundscape results show significantly different spectral patterns for each site, such that protected sites displayed higher average spectra in low frequencies than fished sites. Additionally, species and family-specific fish chorusing was identified during crepuscular hours at several protected sites. Photogrammetry surveys produced a 3D elevation model used to characterize differences in coral composition contributing to vertical relief. Initial results suggest biodiversity and other ecosystem metrics generally increase with level of protection. These data provide critical baseline evaluations for Post- Hurricane Irma impacts and may assist in monitoring the recovery of coral reefs.

scholarly journals Volatility in coral cover erodes niche structure, but not diversity, in reef fish assemblages

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Han Tsai ◽  
Hugh PA Sweatman ◽  
Löic M Thibaut ◽  
Sean R Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Coral Cover ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Deterministic Processes ◽  
Diversity Systems ◽  
Commonness And Rarity

Environmental fluctuations are becoming increasingly volatile in many ecosystems, highlighting the need to better understand how stochastic and deterministic processes shape patterns of commonness and rarity, particularly in high-diversity systems like coral reefs. Here, we analyse reef fish time-series across the Great Barrier Reef to show that approximately 75% of the variance in relative species abundance is attributable to deterministic, intrinsic species differences. Nevertheless, the relative importance of stochastic factors is markedly higher on reefs that have experienced stronger coral cover volatility. By contrast, alpha diversity and species composition are independent of coral cover volatility but depend on environmental gradients. Our findings imply that increased environmental volatility on coral reefs erodes assemblage's niche structure, an erosion that is not detectable from static measures of biodiversity.

scholarly journals Evaluating the efficacy of management zones in the FKNMS: Integrating visual and photogrammetric surveys, and passive acoustics to characterize reef fish assemblages and spawning activity across coral reef management regimes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayelyn Simmons ◽  
DelWayne Bohnenstiehl ◽  
David Eggleston
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Florida Keys ◽  
Marine Ecology ◽  
Reef Management ◽  
Passive Acoustics ◽  
Low Frequencies

New technological approaches in marine ecology, such as (1) passive acoustics to characterize underwater soundscapes, and (2) habitat photogrammetry, which provides high-res, 3D images of habitats, can facilitate efficient and accurate assessments of coral reefs. In collaboration with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) and NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), multidisciplinary, non-invasive research approaches provide transformative ways to characterize reef fish biodiversity as well as the ecological function of essential, hard-bottom habitats. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) is an ideal study system due to several replicate marine reserve types in addition to existing historical data on reef fish and benthic communities. Underwater soundscape results show significantly different spectral patterns for each site, such that protected sites displayed higher average spectra in low frequencies than fished sites. Additionally, species and family-specific fish chorusing was identified during crepuscular hours at several protected sites. Photogrammetry surveys produced a 3D elevation model used to characterize differences in coral composition contributing to vertical relief. Initial results suggest biodiversity and other ecosystem metrics generally increase with level of protection. These data provide critical baseline evaluations for Post- Hurricane Irma impacts and may assist in monitoring the recovery of coral reefs.

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

Diversity ◽  
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.

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.

STABILITY OF CORAL REEF FISH ASSEMBLAGES IMPACTED BY NUCLEAR TESTS

Ecology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 2578-2585 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Planes ◽  
R. Galzin ◽  
J-P. Bablet ◽  
P. F. Sale
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Nuclear Tests
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document