Microhabitat use of juvenile coral reef fish in Palau

Ticzon, Victor S; Mumby, Peter J.; Samaniego, Badi R.; Bejarano, Sonia; David, Laura T.

doi:10.1007/s10641-012-0010-9

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These results indicate that the coverage of live corals did not necessarily have positive associations with the spatial distribution of groupers. Ticzon et al (2012) showed similar results, indicating that a greater density of C. argus, C. urodeta, and V. louti was found on non-coralline substrates than live corals. Thus, larger-scale habitat characteristics (exposed reefs vs. inner reefs) might be better explanatory factor influencing the species-specific spatial distribution of groupers.…”

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Groupersmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…A higher density of benthic crustaceans was primarily found on non-coralline substrates (dead coral and coral rubble) rather than live corals ( Kramer, Bellwood & Bellwood, 2014 ), and predators of crustaceans ( e.g ., wrasse) also used non-coralline substrates as feeding microhabitats ( Kramer, Bellwood & Bellwood, 2016 ). Some studies have shown that smaller-sized fish, which are potential prey items for groupers ( e.g ., pomacentrids and juveniles of other taxa), are associated with both live corals and non-coralline substrates ( Wilson et al, 2008 , 2010 ; Ticzon et al, 2012 ; Giffin, Rueger & Jones, 2019 ). These results suggest that foraging sites for the seven grouper species are not restricted to live corals and this might be why the spatial distribution of groupers was not necessarily associated with the coverage of live corals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Spatial distribution of parrotfishes and groupers in an Okinawan coral reef: size-related associations in relation to habitat characteristics

Nanami¹

2021

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Parrotfishes (Labridae: Scarini) and groupers (Epinephelidae) are important fish groups that are regarded as the fisheries targets of primary importance in coral reefs. In order to establish ecosystem-based management of these two fish groups, clarifying the spatial distribution relative to habitat characteristics is of central importance. The present study investigated the spatial distributions of 12 parrotfishes species and seven groupers species in relation to environmental characteristics in an Okinawan coral reef. Ten out of the 12 parrotfish species and all seven grouper species showed species-specific spatial distributions. Four substrate types in the inner reefs (branching Acropora, bottlebrush Acropora, dead branching Acropora, and dead bottlebrush Acropora), three substrate types in the exposed reefs (massive coral, other coral, and calcium carbonate substratum), and water depth showed significant associations with the spatial distribution of fishes. Among the 12 parrotfish species, two species (Scarus spinus and S. forsteni) and four species (S. psittacus, S. hypselopterus, S. dimidiatus and S. ghobban) were primarily found in exposed reefs and inner reefs, respectively. Among the seven grouper species, two species (Cephalopholis argus and C. urodeta) and two other species (C. miniata and Epinephelus ongus) were primarily found in exposed reefs and inner reefs, respectively. Size-related spatial distribution was also found for three parrotfish species (Chlorurus microrhinos, Scarus rivulatus and S. hypselopterus), indicating that smaller-sized and larger-sized individuals were respectively found at sites with greater coverage of substrates with fine structure (live bottlebrush Acropora and dead bottlebrush Acropora) and coarse structure (live branching Acropora, dead branching Acropora and calcium carbonate substratum). The present study suggested that the spatial distribution of parrotfishes and groupers is not necessarily associated with the higher coverage of living corals, but positively associated with high substrate complexity. Thus, actual spatial distributional patterns of species should be considered to select candidate sites for protection and conservation for the two fish groups.

show abstract

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Groupersmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of parrotfishes and groupers in an Okinawan coral reef: size-related associations in relation to habitat characteristics

Nanami¹

2021

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Change in coral assemblage structure as Acropora lost alters size distribution and abundance of shelter for prey fish [115]. Selection acts on prey that are better adapted to the new refuge environment which in turn leads to selection of predators able to forage for such prey [116].…”

Section: Ecological Inheritancementioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of Ecological, Evolutionary and Biogeochemical Uncertainty for Coral Reef Responses to Climatic Stress

Mumby

Woesik

2014

Current Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Coral reefs are highly sensitive to the stress associated with greenhouse gas emissions, in particular ocean warming and acidification. While experiments show negative responses of most reef organisms to ocean warming, some autotrophs benefit from ocean acidification. Yet, we are uncertain of the response of coral reefs as systems. We begin by reviewing sources of uncertainty and complexity including the translation of physiological effects into demographic processes, indirect ecological interactions among species, the ability of coral reefs to modify their own chemistry, adaptation and trans-generational plasticity. We then incorporate these uncertainties into two simple qualitative models of a coral reef system under climate change. Some sources of uncertainty are far more problematic than others. Climate change is predicted to have an unambiguous negative effect on corals that is robust to several sources of uncertainty but sensitive to the degree of biogeochemical coupling between benthos and seawater. Macroalgal, zoanthid, and herbivorous fish populations are generally predicted to increase, but the ambiguity (confidence) of such predictions are sensitive to the source of uncertainty. For example, reversing the effect of climate-related stress on macroalgae from being positive to negative had no influence on system behaviour. By contrast, the system was highly sensitive to a change in the stress upon herbivorous fishes. Minor changes in competitive interactions had profound impacts on system behaviour, implying that the outcomes of mesocosm studies could be highly sensitive to the choice of taxa. We use our analysis to identify new hypotheses and suggest that the effects of climatic stress on coral reefs provide an exceptional opportunity to test emerging theories of ecological inheritance.

show abstract

“…Numerous coral reef fish species utilize substrates with a high structural complexity as habitats and refuge spaces ( Luckhurst & Luckhurst, 1978 ; Ménard et al, 2012 ; Richardson et al, 2017 ; Oren et al, 2023 ). Species-specific habitat associations to specific substrates or structural complexities have also been reported ( Wilson et al, 2008 ; Ticzon et al, 2012 ; Untersteggaber, Mitteroecker & Herler, 2014 ; Nanami, 2023 ). Such species-specific habitat associations have been shown to influence populations through survivorship ( Fakan et al, 2024 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Nocturnal substrate association of four coral reef fish groups (parrotfishes, surgeonfishes, groupers and butterflyfishes) in relation to substrate architectural characteristics

Nanami

2024

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although numerous coral reef fish species utilize substrates with high structural complexities as habitats and refuge spaces, quantitative analysis of nocturnal fish substrate associations has not been sufficiently examined yet. The aims of the present study were to clarify the nocturnal substrate associations of 17 coral reef fish species (nine parrotfish, two surgeonfish, two grouper and four butterflyfish) in relation to substrate architectural characteristics. Substrate architectural characteristics were categorized into seven types: (1) eave-like space, (2) large inter-branch space, (3) overhang by protrusion of fine branching structure, (4) overhang by coarse structure, (5) uneven structure without large space or overhang, (6) flat and (7) macroalgae. Overall, fishes were primarily associated with three architectural characteristics (eave-like space, large inter-branch space and overhang by coarse structure). The main providers of these three architectural characteristics were tabular and corymbose Acropora, staghorn Acropora, and rock. Species-specific significant positive associations with particular architectural characteristics were found as follows. For the nine parrotfish species, Chlorurus microrhinos with large inter-branch space and overhang by coarse structure; Ch. spilurus with eave-like space and large inter-branch space; Hipposcarus longiceps with large inter-branch space; Scarus ghobban with overhang by coarse structure; five species (Scarus forsteni, S. niger, S. oviceps, S. rivulatus and S. schlegeli) with eave-like space. For the two surgeonfish species, Naso unicornis with overhang by coarse structure; N. lituratus with eave-like space. For the two grouper species, Plectropomus leopardus with eave-like space; Epinephelus ongus with overhang by coarse structure. For the four butterflyfish species, Chaetodon trifascialis with eave-like space and large inter-branch space; C. lunulatus and C. ephippium with large inter-branch space; C. auriga showed no significant associations with any architectural characteristics. Four species (Ch. microrhinos, H. longiceps, S. niger and N. unicornis) also showed clear variations in substrate associations among the different fish size classes. Since parrotfishes, surgeonfishes and groupers are main fisheries targets in coral reefs, conservation and restoration of coral species that provide eave-like space (tabular and corymbose Acropora) and large inter-branch space (staghorn Acropora) as well as hard substrates with coarse structure that provide overhang (rock) should be considered for effective fisheries management in coral reefs. For butterflyfishes, coral species that provide eave-like space (tabular Acropora) and large inter-branch space (staghorn Acropora) should also be conserved and restored for provision of sleeping sites.

show abstract

Microhabitat use of juvenile coral reef fish in Palau

Cited by 12 publications

References 53 publications

Spatial distribution of parrotfishes and groupers in an Okinawan coral reef: size-related associations in relation to habitat characteristics

Spatial distribution of parrotfishes and groupers in an Okinawan coral reef: size-related associations in relation to habitat characteristics

Consequences of Ecological, Evolutionary and Biogeochemical Uncertainty for Coral Reef Responses to Climatic Stress

Nocturnal substrate association of four coral reef fish groups (parrotfishes, surgeonfishes, groupers and butterflyfishes) in relation to substrate architectural characteristics

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About