Effects of algal grazing and aggressive behaviour of the fishes Pomacentrus lividus and Acanthurus sohal on coral-reef ecology

Vine, Peter

doi:10.1007/bf00389347

Cited by 208 publications

(143 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…These last conclusions are supported by the numerous grazer-reduction experiments in nutrient-replete systems but not in strictly oligotrophic environments that, for the most part, have reported an expansion of low-growing fleshy algal forms, algal turfs and/or filamentous forms (<3 cm high) rather than macroalgal blooms (as predicted in the RDM; see Lapointe, 1999). These include case studies in the Red Sea (Vine, 1974), Fiji , Belize (Littler et al, 2006a(Littler et al, , 2006b, the Great Barrier Reef (Sammarco, 1983) and St. Croix (Carpenter, 1988). Conversely, the combination of exceeded tipping points in the present study for both nutrients and herbivory led ultimately to dominance by undesirable frondose macroalgal blooms under all experimental and control conditions (see also Smith et al, 2001;Littler et al, 2006a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

The effects of nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment on algal community development: Artificial mini-reefs on the Belize Barrier Reef sedimentary lagoon

Littler

Brooks

2010

Harmful Algae

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

The effects of nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment on algal community development: Artificial mini-reefs on the Belize Barrier Reef sedimentary lagoon

Littler

Brooks

2010

Harmful Algae

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“…Territoriality can only arise where a stable, rich food supply can be economically defended, a principle illustrated in terrestrial systems (Horn 1968) as well as in the marine environment (Barlow 1974, Vine 1974. For Sparisoma viride, the favourable food resources are not distributed evenly over the reef.…”

Section: Sparisoma Viride Employs An Excavating Feedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foraging by the stoplight parrotfish Sparisoma viride. I. Food selection in different, socially determined habitats

Bruggemann¹,

Oppen²,

Breeman³

1994

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

178

164

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Food selection by the Canbbean stoplight parrotfish Spansoma vlrlde was lnvestlgated on a fnnging coral reef of Bonalre, Netherlands Antllles For different reef zones, the diet composition for each life phase was determined by descnption of randomly selected bites, and compared to the avallabllity of food resources, as determined w~t h the aid of chaln-llnk transects S viride employs an excavating grazing mode and feeds almost exclus~vely on algae associated with dead coral substrates Preferred food types are large and sparse turfs growlng on carbonate substrates inhabited by endohthic algae Crustose corallines, with or without algal turfs are not preferred Feeding forays were longer on the preferred food types Foraging preferences are related to nutntlonal quahty of the food types and their yleld, i e the amounts of blomass, proteln and energy that can be Ingested per bite, as calculated from the size of grazing scars and the biochemical composition of the algae In spite of selective foragIng, a large proportion of b~t e s is taken on infenor food types Endolithic algae constitute an Important food resource for scraping herbivores, such as S vlnde These algae have relatively hlgh energetic value, and allow a high yield as a result of weakening the carbonate matrix by thelr boring filaments The yield of algal resources also depends on the skeletal density of the limestone substrates On deeper reef parts ( > 3 5 m depth), low-density substrates predomnate, resulting in higher y~e l d s of algae per bite than are attalned from high-denslty substrates that predominate on shallower reef parts The increased availablllty of hlgh-yleld food and substrate types coinc~des w~t h the occurrence of harermc terrltorlal behavlour m S v i r~d e males on the deeper reef parts Terntones are defended agalnst conspeclflcs and have a n Important function as spawning sites It 1s argued that the access to supenor food resources on the deeper reef makes terntonal defence feaslble for S viride

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“…Other works deal with endolithic algae and their possible functions (Odum & Odum, 1955). The Crustose coralline algae have been studied in connection with their cementing capability and their role in preventing reef erosion (Littler, 1973;Dory, 1974;Vine, 1974;Littler & Dory, 1975). Benthic algae play a crucial role in a coral-reef maintenance: They assimilate energy consumed by herbivores (Odum & Odum, 1955;Bakus, 1972); they also play a crucial role in the carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphate cycles (Kinsey & Domm, 1974).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space partitioning by stony corals soft corals and benthic algae on the coral reefs of the northern Gulf of Eilat (Red Sea)

Benayahu

Loya

1977

Helgolander Wiss. Meeresunters

136

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The major faunistic and floristic components occupying space on the coral reefs of the northern Gulf of Eilat (Red Sea) are stony corals, soft corals and benthic algae. The percent living coverage of the three components and the relative abundance of the different species of each component were studied by line transects, on the reef flats and the upper forereef zones of nine localities. A wider and higher range of living coverage values of stony corals were recorded at the upper fore-reef zones (18.30-49.09 ~ compared with the reef flats (5.50-31.66 ~ at the different stations. The most abundant stony corals on the reef flats are Cyphastrea microphthalma, Stylophora pistillata, Favia favus, Porites lutea, Platygyra Iamellina and the hydrozoan Millepora dichotorna. The fire coral M. dichotorna dominates the upper fore-reef zone in most of the stations. The average percent living coverage of soft corals on the reef flats ranged between 0.20 and 17.06 %, and on the upper fore-reef zones between 1.68 and 15.13 %. Seventy percent of the total living coverage of the soft coral community is contributed by 2 to 3 species. They tend to form large monospecific "carpets", such as those composed of Sinularia sp., Sarcophyton glaucum and Lobophytum pauciflorurn.The common benthic algae on the coral reef studied occur as turfs or macroscopic noncalcareous algae. They play a significant role in occupying space, especially on the reef flats.The most abundant algae recorded in all localities are the turfs Sphacelaria tribuloides, Jania sp. and the macroscopic non-calcareous algae Turbinaria elatensis and Colpornenia sinuosa.Comparison between reef flats and upper fore-reef zones, in terms of average living cover of stony corals, shows that the variation among the reef flats is greater than the variation among the upper fore-reef zones. However, there is no significant variation in the average living coverage of soft corals between these two zones. Annual living-coverage values of algae on the reef flats are significantly higher than those of the upper fore-reef zones. Extremely low tides occurring periodically but unpredictably at Eilat cause mass mortality of the benthic communities on the reef flats reopening new spaces for settlement. The coexistence of stony corals, so~ corals and algae on the reef ecosystem is due to different biological properties of each component. Opportunistic life histories of certain stony corals and most algae enable quick colonization of newly opened spaces. Lack of predators, high tolerance against abiotic factors and ability to form large aggregates of colonies are suggested as possible factors supporting the existence of soft corals in shallow water. Biological factors such as competition, predation and grazing pressure play an increasingly important role in controlling space utilization by the components studied with the advancement of succession.

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Effects of algal grazing and aggressive behaviour of the fishes Pomacentrus lividus and Acanthurus sohal on coral-reef ecology

Cited by 208 publications

References 7 publications

The effects of nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment on algal community development: Artificial mini-reefs on the Belize Barrier Reef sedimentary lagoon

The effects of nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment on algal community development: Artificial mini-reefs on the Belize Barrier Reef sedimentary lagoon

Foraging by the stoplight parrotfish Sparisoma viride. I. Food selection in different, socially determined habitats

Space partitioning by stony corals soft corals and benthic algae on the coral reefs of the northern Gulf of Eilat (Red Sea)

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