Damselfish Stegastes nigricans increase algal growth within their territories on shallow coral reefs via enhanced nutrient supplies

Blanchette, Allison; Ely, Taylor; Zeko, Anneke; Sura, Shayna A.; Turba, Rachel; Fong, Peggy

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2019.02.001

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Stegastes spp. form territories of * 1-8 m 2 (Hata and Kato 2004;Osorio et al 2006;Dromard et al 2018;Blanchette et al 2019) on and between Acropora colonies, upon which they cultivate gardens of filamentous algae, which form part of their omnivorous diet (Ceccarelli et al 2011). Stegastes spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outplanting of branching Acropora enhances recolonization of a fish species and protects massive corals from predation

et al. 2021

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Damselfish of the genus Stegastes inhabit territories and cultivate algal gardens on branching corals of the genus Acropora, aggressively protecting their territories from other fish and preventing predation upon corals within the territory. This behaviour has important ecological impacts and could also be useful in reducing predation on outplanted corals during reef restoration efforts. However, the degree of protection from predators may depend on the ability of Stegastes spp. to recolonise outplanted or newly established coral colonies. Protection of bleaching-resilient massive corals within territories may be of particular importance due to the role of these corals in maintaining coral cover following bleaching events. This study examined whether the presence of Stegastes spp. reduces predation on the massive bleaching-resilient coral Porites lutea in the Mauritian lagoon, and whether Stegastes spp. readily colonise outplanted branching coral fragments and provide adjacent massive corals with indirect protection from predation. Predation levels on wild-occurring and outplanted P. lutea within and outside Stegastes spp. territories were measured. In addition, Acropora muricata branches were outplanted adjacent to wild P. lutea colonies outside Stegastes spp. territories, and recolonisation of these outplants by Stegastes spp. and the impacts of recolonisation on predation were monitored. Both wild and outplanted P. lutea colonies within Stegastes spp. territories sustained less predation damage compared to colonies outside territories. Stegastes spp. recolonized outplanted A. muricata colonies within six months of outplanting, and in doing so returned predation protection to adjacent P. lutea colonies. The ability of Stegastes spp. to colonise outplanted corals and provide indirect protection to adjacent massive bleaching-resilient corals may inform coral outplanting efforts in systems where Stegastes spp. are common. Encouraging Stegastes spp. recolonisation may help to reduce predation damage to corals within territories and potentially improve the success of rehabilitation efforts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outplanting of branching Acropora enhances recolonization of a fish species and protects massive corals from predation

et al. 2021

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“…These territorial fish can actively bite and remove living coral tissue, cultivating dense algal lawns on coral skeletons (Kaufman, 1977), and are important mediators for interactions between corals, algae, and herbivores (Precht et al, 2010). This gardening activity has many feedbacks which amplify fleshy macroalgal abundance and domination, by provoking changes in coral composition (Precht et al, 2010), promoting coral predation (Schopmeyer and Lirman, 2015), increasing nutrient loads (Blanchette et al, 2019), acting as reservoirs for microbes related to coral diseases (Casey et al, 2014), decreasing coral recruitment and deterring predators and herbivores (Aronson and Precht, 2001;Eurich et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The loss of mesopredators can result in a greater number of algal-gardening damselfishes that cultivate more turf algae (Glaser et al, 2018). Damselfish gardening activity will increase nutrient loads and this mechanism will facilitate fleshy macroalgal cover (Blanchette et al, 2019), resulting in a decrease of hard corals and structural complexity (Glaser et al, 2018). Understanding these community drivers and feedbacks is valuable to support resilience-based management strategies, to develop practical tools for managers to anticipate ecosystem shifts (Norström et al, 2016) and promote strategic interventions to prevent undesirable processes that decrease coral reef resilience (Glaser et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Algal-Gardening Damselfish on the Resilience of the Mesoamerican Reef

et al. 2019

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The structures, functions, and services provided by coral reef ecosystems are deteriorating worldwide. However, not all coral reefs are affected the same way, with some showing signs of resistance and/or recovery from disturbances. Understanding the drivers and feedbacks that contribute to shifts in community structure is valuable to support resilience-based management. In this study, key community variables that influence the resilience of coral reef ecosystems were examined in 64 sites of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) monitored in both 2006 and 2016, as part of the Healthy Reef Initiative (HRI), using the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) monitoring protocol. Based on benthic cover thresholds, sites were classified into three different states: coral state (CS) with >10% live coral and <5% fleshy macroalgae; stressed coral state (SCS) with >10% live coral and >5% fleshy macroalgae and; depauperate coral state (DCS) <10% live coral. The associations between site states and the density of different fish functional groups were analyzed to determine their effects on coral reef resilience. The results highlight that territorial herbivores (algal-gardening damselfish) may play a key role in maintaining feedbacks toward macroalgae-stressed states. This supports the recommendation of reinforcing Marine Replenishment Zones (MRZ) in order to promote healthy populations of resident predator fish (like groupers and snappers), which could potentially regulate algalgardening damselfish populations and diminish negative cascade effects on coral reefs. Collaborative and resilience-based management will continue to be promoted by the HRI partners, supporting the establishment of additional MRZs along with ongoing efforts to directly protect herbivorous fish (surgeonfish and parrotfish) and to improve water quality, through better wastewater treatment, watershed management, and coastal development plans, with the purpose of continuing to build coral reef resilience in the MAR.

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“…In this study, we investigate the intestinal microbial diversity of ten species of planktivorous and algaefarming damsel shes, two guilds of damsel shes that signi cantly impact coral reef trophic dynamics. Planktivorous damsel shes play a key role transferring energy from the plankton to higher tiers of food chain, while algae-farming damsel shes in uence sediment and algae dynamics on coral reefs as well as increase the presence of coral disease associated pathogens within their territories [34,39,48,[51][52][53]. Thus, we hypothesise that differences in intestinal microbial communities will re ect the differences between these two feeding guilds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Kavazos

Leggat

Casey

et al. 2020

Preprint

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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.

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Damselfish Stegastes nigricans increase algal growth within their territories on shallow coral reefs via enhanced nutrient supplies

Cited by 20 publications

References 40 publications

Outplanting of branching Acropora enhances recolonization of a fish species and protects massive corals from predation

Outplanting of branching Acropora enhances recolonization of a fish species and protects massive corals from predation

The Effect of Algal-Gardening Damselfish on the Resilience of the Mesoamerican Reef

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

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