Cleaning interactions by gobies on a tropical eastern Pacific coral reef

Quimbayo, Juan P.; Zapata, Fernando A.

doi:10.1111/jfb.13573

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The narrow geographical distribution of dedicated cleaners in tropical areas can be linked to high SST and low isolation from the refugia as these influence past and current diversity hotspots (Pellissier et al, 2014). Thus, dedicated cleaners of the genus Tigrigobius are restricted to the Eastern Pacific (Huie et al, 2020; Quimbayo & Zapata, 2018), Elacatinus to the Western Atlantic (Dunkley et al, 2019; Johnson & Ruben, 1988; Sazima et al, 2000; Whiteman & Côté, 2002), and Labroides to the Indo‐Pacific (Sims et al, 2014). On the other hand, sampling of dedicated cleaners using UVCs may tend to underestimate the abundance of cryptobenthic species such as small benthic cleaners.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity in the global cleaner reef fish fauna

Quimbayo

Mendes

Barneche

et al. 2021

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Several drivers explain the global distribution of all reef fish. However, whether these drivers also explain the distribution and traits of a functional subgroup involving cleaner fishes remain unclear. Here we examine the variation in traits of cleaner fishes and test whether historical, environmental, ecological and geographical drivers are correlated with cleaner species richness and abundance at global reefs. Location Tropical and subtropical reefs. Taxon Actinopterygii. Methods We tested whether species traits and trait space vary between facultative (i.e. species that clean only during the juvenile stages or sporadically) and dedicated (i.e. species that clean during their whole lives) cleaner types. We compiled data from local checklists (relative richness) and belt transects (standardized richness and abundance). We built four models to test whether past and current isolation (i.e. distance from Quaternary refugia and biodiversity centres), sea temperature, primary productivity, local species pool and abundance of potential clients influenced the relative richness and abundance of cleaners. Results Facultative cleaners had high trait variability that contributed disproportionally to the trait space, whereas dedicated cleaners exhibited low trait variability. Cleaner species richness was higher in the Indo‐Pacific and Caribbean provinces, but the relative richness and standardized abundance of cleaners were higher in the Atlantic (i.e. North Eastern and Southwestern) and Eastern Pacific. Isolation influenced the relative richness of facultative cleaners, whereas the distance to Quaternary refugia, sea temperature and isolation influenced the relative richness of dedicated cleaners. Local species richness and standardized abundance of cleaner fish exhibited a strong relationship with regional diversity. The standardized abundance of both facultative and dedicated cleaners was influenced by the abundance of potential clients and the local species pool. Main conclusions The small trait space occupied by cleaner fishes may reflect their restricted origin among lineages of reef fishes. Differences in the relative richness and standardized abundance of cleaner fishes across marine realms suggest a strong influence on biogeographical history. Our results also indicate that cleaner fishes originated mostly in peripheral areas in high latitudes due to the absence of dedicated cleaners. Our results imply that cleaner fishes do not follow the pattern of main centres of origin described for reef fishes due to opportunistic cleaning behaviour that originated with higher frequency at locations with low species richness.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, dedicated cleaners of the genus Tigrigobius are restricted to the Eastern Pacific (Huie et al, 2020;Quimbayo & Zapata, 2018),…”

Section: Biogeographical Patterns Of the Standardized Richness And Ab...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity in the global cleaner reef fish fauna

Quimbayo

Mendes

Barneche

et al. 2021

Journal of Biogeography

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“…For example, E. phthirophagus is a facultative cleaner with a subterminal mouth and partakes in longer and more frequent cleaning interactions compared to the closely related E. figaro or some of the facultative Tigrigobius spp., which all have terminal mouths (Sazima et al. ; Francini‐Filho and Sazima ; Quimbayo and Zapata ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With this in mind, the degree of mouth modification also appears to vary with the degree of trophic specialization among facultative cleaners. For example, E. phthirophagus is a facultative cleaner with a subterminal mouth and partakes in longer and more frequent cleaning interactions compared to the closely related E. figaro or some of the facultative Tigrigobius spp., which all have terminal mouths (Sazima et al 2000;Francini-Filho and Sazima 2008;Quimbayo and Zapata 2018).…”

Section: Morphology Of Cleaner Gobiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co‐evolution of cleaning and feeding morphology in western Atlantic and eastern Pacific gobies

2020

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Cleaning symbioses are mutualistic relationships where cleaners remove and consume ectoparasites from their clients. Cleaning behavior is rare in fishes and is a highly specialized feeding strategy only observed in around 200 species. Cleaner fishes vary in their degree of specialization, ranging from species that clean as juveniles or facultatively as adults, to nearly obligate or dedicated cleaners. Here, we investigate whether these different levels of trophic specialization correspond with similar changes in feeding morphology. Specifically, we model the evolution of cleaning behavior across the family Gobiidae, which contains the most speciose radiation of dedicated and facultative cleaner fishes. We compared the cranial morphology and dentition of cleaners and non‐cleaners across the phylogeny of cleaning gobies and found that facultative cleaners independently evolved four times and have converged on an intermediate morphology relative to that of dedicated cleaners and non‐cleaning generalists. This is consistent with their more flexible feeding habits. Cleaner gobies also possess a distinct tooth morphology, which suggests they are adapted for scraping parasites off their clients and show little similarity to other cleaner clades. We propose that evolutionary history and pre‐adaptation underlie the morphological and ecological diversification of cleaner fishes.

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“…Although reef animal communities harbor some of the most diverse microbial communities of the marine environment [42], it is estimated that the changes in host communities in a given location may impact microbial diversity in the entire reef [43]. Cleaner gobies inspect multiple client sh per day and engage in direct sh-to-sh contact [21,44]. Although this creates the opportunity for exchange of microbes, given the interspeci c nature of the interactions, actual exchange and persistence of microbes cannot be assumed.…”

Section: Goby Cleaning Activity Impacts Skin Microbial Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat and Client Diversity Influence the Skin Microbiome of the Caribbean Cleaner Goby Elacatinus Evelynae

Pereira

Soares

Santos

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Fish associated microorganisms are known to be affected by the environment and other external factors, such as microbial transfer between interacting partners. One of the most iconic mutualistic interactions on coral reefs are the cleaning interactions between cleanerfishes and their clients, during which direct physical contact occurs. Here, we characterized the skin bacteria of the Caribbean cleaner sharknose goby, Elacatinus evelynae, in four coral reefs of the US Virgin Islands using sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. We specifically tested the relationship between gobies’ level of interaction with clients and skin microbiota diversity and composition. Our results showed differences in microbial alpha- and beta-diversity in the skin of gobies from different reef habitats and high inter-individual variation in microbiota diversity and structure. Overall, the results showed that fish-to-fish direct contact and specifically, access to a diverse clientele, influences the bacterial diversity and structure of cleaner gobies’ skin. Because of their frequent contact with clients, and therefore, high potential for microbial exchange, cleanerfish may serve as models in future studies aiming to understand the role of social microbial transfer in reef fish communities.

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Cleaning interactions by gobies on a tropical eastern Pacific coral reef

Cited by 9 publications

References 40 publications

Patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity in the global cleaner reef fish fauna

Patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity in the global cleaner reef fish fauna

Co‐evolution of cleaning and feeding morphology in western Atlantic and eastern Pacific gobies

Habitat and Client Diversity Influence the Skin Microbiome of the Caribbean Cleaner Goby Elacatinus Evelynae

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