Comparative analysis of foraging behavior and bite mechanics reveals complex functional diversity among Caribbean parrotfishes

Adam, Thomas C.; Durán, Alain; Fuchs, Corinne; Roycroft, Madelyn V.; Rojas, Maria C.; Ruttenberg, Benjamin I.; Burkepile, Deron E.

doi:10.3354/meps12600

Cited by 75 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 50 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

102

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…, Adam et al. ; Table ). To estimate total algal consumption for an individual fish, we used an empirically derived allometric relationship between fish mass and carbon consumption for coral reef herbivores (van Rooij et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For these species, we analyzed photographs of haphazardly selected bites to examine the probability of leaving a grazing scar and the size of scars that were made (Adam et al. ). From these data, we derived parameters describing how grazing scar size, bite rate, and the proportion of the diet comprised of different food items varied with fish size (Adam et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Burkepile and Hay , Adam et al. , ). Furthermore, species may also vary ontogenetically in their diet and habitat preferences; size‐specific differences in foraging suggest that the per unit biomass impact of a given species will vary with changes in size structure (Bonaldo and Bellwood , Lokrantz et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Adam et al. ). Thus, making broad assumptions about the equivalence of species within genera and individuals within species may poorly represent how species diversity contributes to herbivory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Identity of coral reef herbivores drives variation in ecological processes over multiple spatial scales

Ruttenberg

Adam

Durán

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Overexploitation of key species can negatively impact ecosystem processes, so understanding the ecological roles of individual species is critical for improving ecosystem management. Here, we use coral reefs and the process of herbivory as a model to examine how species identity of consumers influence ecosystem processes to inform management of these consumers. Herbivorous fishes can facilitate the recruitment, growth, and recovery of corals by controlling the fast‐growing algae that can outcompete corals for space. However, herbivorous fish guilds are species rich with important differences among species in diet, movement, and habitat preferences. Yet, we lack a general understanding of (1) how these species‐specific differences in feeding and behavior scale up to reef‐wide rates of ecosystem processes and (2) how species identity and diversity impact these processes. To address these knowledge gaps, we used field observations to derive key species‐ and size‐specific foraging parameters for nine herbivorous parrotfish species on coral reefs in the Florida Keys, USA. We then combined these foraging parameters with fish survey data spanning multiple spatial scales to estimate the rates of three ecosystem processes: area of reef grazed, amount of macroalgae removed, and rate of bioerosion. We found that predicted rates of ecological processes varied dramatically among habitats and among reef zones within habitats, driven primarily by variation in abundance among species with different foraging behaviors. In some cases, assemblages with similar levels of total biomass had different rates of ecological processes, and in others, assemblages with different biomass had similar rates of ecological processes. Importantly, our models of herbivory using species‐specific parameters differed from those using genus‐level parameters by up to 300% in rates of ecological processes, highlighting the importance of herbivore identity in this system. Our results indicate that there may be little overlap in the roles species play, suggesting that some systems may be vulnerable to loss of ecological function with the reduction or loss of just a few species. This work provides a framework that can be applied across the region to predict how changes in management may affect the ecological impact of these important herbivores.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Identity of coral reef herbivores drives variation in ecological processes over multiple spatial scales

Ruttenberg

Adam

Durán

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, recent evaluations of these groups have discovered serious shortcomings in our ability to capture the complexity of the ecological processes under examination (e.g. Adam et al, ; Brandl & Bellwood, ; Kelly et al, ; Tebbett, Goatley, & Bellwood, ). It is clear that the basic FGs have significant limitations.…”

Section: Functional Traits and Ecosystem Functions In A Changing Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

The meaning of the term ‘function’ in ecology: A coral reef perspective

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The inherent complexity of high‐diversity systems can make them particularly difficult to understand. The relatively recent introduction of functional approaches, which seek to infer ecosystem functioning based on species’ ecological traits, has revolutionized our understanding of these high‐diversity systems. Today, the functional structure of an assemblage is widely regarded as a key indicator of the status or resilience of an ecosystem. Indeed, functional evaluations have become a mainstay of monitoring and management approaches. But is the heavy focus on broad metrics of functional structure grounded in empirical research? On tropical coral reefs, the ocean’s most diverse ecosystems, remarkably few studies directly quantify ecosystem functions and the term ‘function’ is widely used but rarely defined, especially when applied to reef fishes. Our review suggests that most ‘functional’ studies do not study function as it relates to ecological processes. Rather, they look at easy‐to‐measure traits or proxies that are thought to have functional significance. However, these links are rarely tested empirically, severely limiting our capacity to extend results from community structure to the dynamic processes operating within high‐diversity ecosystems such as coral reefs. With rapid changes in global ecosystems, and in their capacity to deliver ecosystem services, there is an urgent need to understand and empirically measure the role of organisms in various ecosystem functions. We suggest that if we are to understand and manage transitioning coral reefs in the Anthropocene, a broad definition of the word ‘function’ is needed along with a focus on ecological processes and the empirical quantification of functional roles. In this review, we propose a universal operational definition of the term ‘function’ that works from a cellular to a global level. Specifically, it is the movement or storage of energy or material. Within this broad definitional framework, all functions are part of a continuum that is tied together by the process‐based unifier of material fluxes. With this universal definition at hand, we then present a path forward that will allow us to fully harness the power of functional approaches in understanding and managing high‐diversity systems such as coral reefs. A plain language summary is available for this article.

show abstract

Fine‐scale foraging behavior reveals differences in the functional roles of herbivorous reef fishes

Semmler

Brandl

Keith

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Comparative analysis of foraging behavior and bite mechanics reveals complex functional diversity among Caribbean parrotfishes

Cited by 75 publications

References 50 publications

Identity of coral reef herbivores drives variation in ecological processes over multiple spatial scales

Identity of coral reef herbivores drives variation in ecological processes over multiple spatial scales

The meaning of the term ‘function’ in ecology: A coral reef perspective

Fine‐scale foraging behavior reveals differences in the functional roles of herbivorous reef fishes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About