Reproductive ecology of rabbit fish, <i>Siganus fuscescens</i> in the coastal waters off Jeju Island of Korea

Threats to a Temperate Kelp Forest Species, Ecklonia cava, through Tropical Fish Herbivory Associated with Sea Surface Warming in the East China Sea

“…The significant increase in rabbitfish feeding on local kelp forests coincides with the sea surface warming around the northern East China Sea and the Korean Peninsula, which was recorded along with a strengthened positive SST anomaly from August to November The species of rabbitfish observed were identified as Siganus canaliculatus (whitespotted spinefoot) and Siganus fuscescens (mottled spinefoot). These species are primarily tropical or subtropical, frequently appearing in the southern parts of Korean waters, including Jeju waters, which is currently the northernmost limit of their distribution [13][14][15][16]. In Jeju waters, they spawn in July and August when water temperature reaches its annual maximum while, in fall, their occurrence drops to less than 10% of that of the spawning season [15].…”

“…These species are primarily tropical or subtropical, frequently appearing in the southern parts of Korean waters, including Jeju waters, which is currently the northernmost limit of their distribution [13][14][15][16]. In Jeju waters, they spawn in July and August when water temperature reaches its annual maximum while, in fall, their occurrence drops to less than 10% of that of the spawning season [15]. Reports from Japanese waters on the feeding behavior of S. fuscescens indicate the highest feeding rate at water temperatures of 26-29 • C [17].…”