Testing the conceptual and operational underpinnings of field herbivory assays: Does variation in predictability of resources, assay design, and deployment method affect outcomes?

Fong, Caitlin R.; Sura, Shayna A.; Ford, Ashlyn T.; Howard, Hunter B.; Molina, Nury E.; Smith, Nefertiti N.; Fong, Peggy

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2020.151469

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Similarly, macroalgal removal may decrease with higher macroalgal density due to higher predation risk and/or the reduced ability of herbivores to detect predators [65,69,76]. However, variation in initial algae biomass in single-choice assays may have influenced feeding rates as resource quantity can influence herbivory [77], hence leading to a difference in observed patterns between the single-choice assays at different sites.…”

Section: Identification Of Key Browsers and Macroalgae Removalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only a few studies have been able to find a relationship between feeding intensity and biomass loss of macroalgae ( [39], but see [38]). However, the variation of initial weights in algae assays needs to be considered as well, as it can influence the rate of herbivory and lead to lower biomass removal [77].…”

Section: Selection and Avoidance Of Macroalgae In Multiple-choice Assaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Rabbitfish Siganus virgatus as Key Macroalgae Browser in Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Thailand

et al. 2021

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Coral reef resilience is greatly influenced by herbivory. There is a need to identify key fish species fulfilling this critical function in biogeographically distinct regions. This experimental in situ study investigated fish herbivory in coral reefs of the lower Gulf of Thailand characterized by a considerably low herbivorous fish biomass and diversity, but high live coral and low macroalgal cover. This provided an intriguing situation for macroalgal browsing research. Visual census techniques assessed the abundance of local herbivorous fish species, and filmed single-choice assays using the macroalga Turbinaria evaluated mass-standardized bites (ms-bites) and biomass removal. Multiple-choice assays offering four locally abundant macroalgae identified specific biomass removal and ms-bites to uncover selection and avoidance patterns of observed fish species. The rabbitfish Siganusvirgatus constituted only 39% of herbivore biomass but accounted for 90% of ms-bites. In multiple-choice assays, fishes took most (61%) bites on Sargassum, followed by Padina (28%) and Turbinaria (11%), while Lobophora was avoided. S. virgatus exhibited the most generalized browsing pattern of all species observed. Coinciding with recent studies, our findings suggest that S. virgatus plays a key functional role in reefs characterized by low diversity of herbivores and low functional redundancy.

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Section: Identification Of Key Browsers and Macroalgae Removalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Selection and Avoidance Of Macroalgae In Multiple-choice Assaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Rabbitfish Siganus virgatus as Key Macroalgae Browser in Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Thailand

et al. 2021

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Selective consumption of macroalgal species by herbivorous fishes suggests reduced functional complementarity on a fringing reef in Moorea, French Polynesia

Sura

Molina

Blumstein

et al. 2021

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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Exploring intraspecific and interspecific variation of coral reef algae using a novel trait‐based framework

Cosca,

Kong,

Mar

et al. 2024

Journal of Ecology

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The development of trait‐based approaches has accelerated our understanding of how communities assemble, respond to environmental change and may best be managed in the Anthropocene. Understanding the magnitude and pattern of interspecific variability forms a critical underpinning of trait‐based approaches while exploring intraspecific variability can identify the potential of species to adapt to changing environmental drivers. Our work is motivated by the critical need for a novel conceptual framework for understanding the functional ecology of macroalgae, as the current paradigm is still mired in functional group models developed in the 1980s. Our objective was to quantify interspecific and intraspecific functional trait variability in three common and morphologically diverse species of tropical marine macroalgae by exploring traits relating to the ecological functions of resource acquisition, resistance to herbivory, and resistance to physical disturbance and the trade‐offs between them. We quantified intraspecific and interspecific variability of 11 functional traits for three common and morphologically diverse species of tropical macroalgae from five fringing reefs of Mo'orea, French Polynesia that were likely to capture a wide range of environmental variability. Differences in traits among species and sites were determined with PERMANOVA, visualised with non‐metric multidimensional scaling, and trade‐offs between pairs of traits explored with correlation. Finally, spatial patterns among select traits across all species were quantified. Species clustered together in distinctly different trait spaces driven by trade‐offs among suites of functional traits. Two of three species had considerable intraspecific variability, though this variability occurred at different scales, while one clustered tightly. Exploration of individual traits across species and sites revealed trade‐offs between two strategies for resource acquisition, growing tall and strong versus investing in large surface area. Synthesis. We captured novel patterns of interspecific and intraspecific variability for tropical marine macroalgae. We found fundamental differences in traits between species that may represent ecological strategies while considerable intraspecific variability demonstrates a wide range in abilities to respond to environmental drivers. Overall, our work provides novel insights into intra and interspecific trait variation that form an essential underpinning for using a trait‐based framework in a taxon that is increasingly dominant on tropical reefs.

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Testing the conceptual and operational underpinnings of field herbivory assays: Does variation in predictability of resources, assay design, and deployment method affect outcomes?

Cited by 3 publications

References 42 publications

The Rabbitfish Siganus virgatus as Key Macroalgae Browser in Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Thailand

The Rabbitfish Siganus virgatus as Key Macroalgae Browser in Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Thailand

Selective consumption of macroalgal species by herbivorous fishes suggests reduced functional complementarity on a fringing reef in Moorea, French Polynesia

Exploring intraspecific and interspecific variation of coral reef algae using a novel trait‐based framework

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