Size-selectivity of predatory reef fish on juvenile prey

Holmes, Thomas H.; McCormick, Mark I.

doi:10.3354/meps08337

Cited by 87 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Upon returning to the reef to settle, larvae quickly become pigmented and adopt a coloration that, independent of the habitat background, appears cryptic from the perspective of their predators. The smallest adult dottybacks from our study were ∼43 mm, which coincides with the predicted minimum size at which dottybacks are capable of feeding on juvenile fish prey (Holmes and McCormick, 2010;Fig. 1A).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…The whiskers indicate Q1 and Q4 of the data, with dots marking outliers. * Holmes and McCormick, 2010. pectoral fin and were treated following the methods of Cortesi et al (2015a). Results from juvenile fish were subsequently compared with skin histological assessments previously attained from adult dottyback morphs (data taken from Cortesi et al, 2015a; N=8 morphs each, yellow 55.4±3.1 mm, brown 61.6± 2.8 mm; Fig.…”

Section: Skin Histological Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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From crypsis to mimicry: changes in colour and the configuration of the visual system during ontogenetic habitat transitions in a coral reef fish

Cortesi

Musilová

Stieb

et al. 2016

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Animals often change their habitat throughout ontogeny; yet, the triggers for habitat transitions and how these correlate with developmental changes -e.g. physiological, morphological and behavioural -remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated how ontogenetic changes in body coloration and of the visual system relate to habitat transitions in a coral reef fish. Adult dusky dottybacks, Pseudochromis fuscus, are aggressive mimics that change colour to imitate various fishes in their surroundings; however, little is known about the early life stages of this fish. Using a developmental time series in combination with the examination of wild-caught specimens, we revealed that dottybacks change colour twice during development: (i) nearly translucent cryptic pelagic larvae change to a grey camouflage coloration when settling on coral reefs; and (ii) juveniles change to mimic yellow-or brown-coloured fishes when reaching a size capable of consuming juvenile fish prey. Moreover, microspectrophotometric (MSP) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) experiments show developmental changes of the dottyback visual system, including the use of a novel adult-specific visual gene (RH2 opsin). This gene is likely to be co-expressed with other visual pigments to form broad spectral sensitivities that cover the medium-wavelength part of the visible spectrum. Surprisingly, the visual modifications precede changes in habitat and colour, possibly because dottybacks need to first acquire the appropriate visual performance before transitioning into novel life stages.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Skin Histological Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

From crypsis to mimicry: changes in colour and the configuration of the visual system during ontogenetic habitat transitions in a coral reef fish

Cortesi

Musilová

Stieb

et al. 2016

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…The main predators of this species occur at higher densities inside of N. pulcher colonies than in adjacent areas (29), and it is conceivable that within colonies these predators focus on small group members because they are easier prey. Sizedependent choice of prey by piscivore predators has been observed in other species, and optimal foraging theory explains this as resulting from selection on the highest yield per time spent foraging (47). In addition, selection of small prey may involve a lower injury risk to predators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation risk drives social complexity in cooperative breeders

Groenewoud

Frommen

Josi

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

128

136

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Predation risk is a major ecological factor selecting for group living. It is largely ignored, however, as an evolutionary driver of social complexity and cooperative breeding, which is attributed mainly to a combination of habitat saturation and enhanced relatedness levels. Social cichlids neither suffer from habitat saturation, nor are their groups composed primarily of relatives. This demands alternative ecological explanations for the evolution of advanced social organization. To address this question, we compared the ecology of eight populations of Neolamprologus pulcher, a cichlid fish arguably representing the pinnacle of social evolution in poikilothermic vertebrates. Results show that variation in social organization and behavior of these fish is primarily explained by predation risk and related ecological factors. Remarkably, ecology affects group structure more strongly than group size, with predation inversely affecting small and large group members. High predation and shelter limitation leads to groups containing few small but many large members, which is an effect enhanced at low population densities. Apparently, enhanced safety from predators by cooperative defense and shelter construction are the primary benefits of sociality. This finding suggests that predation risk can be fundamental for the transition toward complex social organization, which is generally undervalued. social evolution | social complexity | predation risk | ecological constraints | cooperative breeding

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“…The most common predators at our study site on the shallow (2 -3 m depth) coral reefs of Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia (14841 0 S, 145827 0 E) are the moon wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) a lizardfish (Synodus dermatogenys [19,20]) and an array of flatfishes (family Pleuronectidae). All predators can be seen striking at and occasionally capturing recently settled and juvenile reef fishes during the summer recruitment period.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learn and live: predator experience and feeding history determines prey behaviour and survival

et al. 2012

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Determining how prey learn the identity of predators and match their vigilance with current levels of threat is central to understanding the dynamics of predator-prey systems and the determinants of fitness. Our study explores how feeding history influences the relative importance of olfactory and visual sensory modes of learning, and how the experience gained through these sensory modes influences behaviour and survival in the field for a juvenile coral reef damselfish. We collected young fish immediately prior to their settlement to benthic habitats. In the laboratory, these predator-naïve fish were exposed to a high-or low-food ration and then conditioned to recognize the olfactory cues (odours) and/or visual cues from two common benthic predators. Fish were then allowed to settle on reefs in the field, and their behaviour and survival over 70 h were recorded. Feeding history strongly influenced their willingness to take risks in the natural environment. Conditioning in the laboratory with visual, olfactory or both cues from predators led fish in the field to display risk-averse behaviour compared with fish conditioned with sea water alone. Well-fed fish that were conditioned with visual, chemical or a combination of predator cues survived eight times better over the first 48 h on reefs than those with no experience of benthic predator cues. This experiment highlights the importance of a flexible and rapid mechanism of learning the identity of predators for survival of young fish during the critical life-history transition between pelagic and benthic habitats.

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Size-selectivity of predatory reef fish on juvenile prey

Cited by 87 publications

References 57 publications

From crypsis to mimicry: changes in colour and the configuration of the visual system during ontogenetic habitat transitions in a coral reef fish

From crypsis to mimicry: changes in colour and the configuration of the visual system during ontogenetic habitat transitions in a coral reef fish

Predation risk drives social complexity in cooperative breeders

Learn and live: predator experience and feeding history determines prey behaviour and survival

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