Core Intestinal Microbiome Richness of Coral Reef Damselfishes (Actinopterygii: Pomacentridae) Reflects Trophic Guild

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Ronald James Kavazos ◽  
William Leggat ◽  
Jordan Casey ◽  
John Howard Choat ◽  
Tracy D. Ainsworth
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Intestinal Microbiome ◽  
Trophic Guilds ◽  
Trophic Guild ◽  
Coral Reef Ecosystems ◽  
Reef Fish Species

Abstract Background: Fish harbour diverse microbiomes within their gastro-intestinal system that affect the host’s digestion, nutrition and immunity and facilitate resource partitioning in coral reef ecosystems. Despite the great taxonomic diversity of fish, little is understood about fish microbiome diversity and the factors that determine its structure and composition. Damselfish are important coral reef fish species that play a strong role in determining algae and coral structure of reefs. Broadly, damselfish belong to either of two trophic guilds based on whether they are planktivorous or algae-farming. In this study, we use 16s rRNA sequencing to interrogate the intestinal microbiome of 10 damselfish species (Pomacentridae) from the Great Barrier Reef to compare the composition of their intestinal bacterial assemblages across the planktivorous and algae-farming trophic guilds.Results: We identify core intestinal bacterial taxa for each host fish species. Gammaproteobacteria, belonging to the genus Actinobacillus, were detected in 80 % of sampled individuals and suggests a possible core member of pomacentrid microbiomes. Core microbiomes of algae-farming species were more diverse than planktivorous species with farming species sharing 35 ± 22 ASVs and planktivorous sharing 7 ± 3 ASVs. We also provide evidence for significant shifts in bacterial community composition along the intestines. We show that Bacteroidia, Clostridia and Mollicutes bacteria are more abundant in the anterior intestinal regions while Gammaproteobacteria are generally highest in the stomach. Finally, we highlight differences in microbiomes associated with both trophic guilds. Algae-farming and planktivorous damselfish host species significantly differed in their composition of bacteria belonging to Vibrionaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Pasteurellaceae.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the richness of the core intestinal bacterial communities of damselfish reflects host species diet and trophic guild, whereby algae-farming hosts have larger and more diverse core microbiomes than planktivorous hosts. We suggest that algae-farming damselfish within the same species share bacterial taxa that reflect their specialised diets.

Core intestinal microbiomes of planktivorous and algae-farming coral reef damselfishes (Actinopterygii: Pomacentridae) reflects feeding behaviour

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Ronald James Kavazos ◽  
William Leggat ◽  
Jordan Casey ◽  
John Howard Choat ◽  
Tracy D. Ainsworth
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Intestinal Microbiome ◽  
Trophic Guilds ◽  
Host Fish ◽  
Reef Fish Species

Abstract Background: Fish harbour diverse microbiomes within their gastro-intestinal system that effect the host’s digestion, nutrition and immunity. Despite the great taxonomic diversity of fish, little is understood about fish microbiome diversity and the factors that determine its structure and composition. Damselfish are important coral reef fish species that play a strong role in determining algae and coral structure of reefs. Broadly, damselfish belong to either of two trophic guilds based on whether they are planktivorous or algae-farming. In this study, we use 16s rRNA sequencing to interrogate the intestinal microbiome of 10 damselfish species (Pomacentridae) from the Great Barrier Reef to compare the composition of their intestinal bacterial assemblages across the planktivorous and algae-farming trophic guilds.Results: We identify core intestinal bacterial taxa for each host fish species. Gammaproteobacteria, belonging to the genus Actinobacillus, were detected in 80 % of sampled individuals and suggests a possible core member of pomacentrid microbiomes. Core microbiomes of algae-farming species were more diverse than planktivorous species with farming species sharing 35 ± 22 ASVs and planktivorous sharing 7 ± 3 ASVs. We also provide evidence for significant shifts in bacterial community composition along the intestines. We show that Bacteroidia, Clostridia and Mollicutes bacteria are more abundant in the anterior intestinal regions while Gammaproteobacteria are generally highest in the stomach. Finally, we highlight differences in microbiomes associated with both trophic guilds. Algae-farming and planktivorous damselfish host species significantly differed in their composition of bacteria belonging to Vibrionaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Pasteurellaceae.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that core intestinal bacterial communities of damselfish reflect host species diet and feeding behaviour, whereby algae-farming hosts have larger and more diverse core microbiomes than planktivorous hosts. We suggest that the trophic guild of a host fish species is a strong determinant of microbiome structure.

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 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 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 The threatened status of restricted-range coral reef fish species

2000 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie P. Hawkins ◽  
Callum M. Roberts ◽  
Victoria Clark
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Coral Reef Fish ◽  
Restricted Range ◽  
Reef Fish Species ◽  
Threatened Status

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.

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