Abstract. The feeding diets of 18 Chaetodontid fishes from a coral reef of Moorea (French Polynesia) were studied by quantitative analysis of their stomach contents. Three major types of feeding behaviours were distinguished. Sixteen species essentially ingested coral polyps. Among these species, 5 were exclusive coral browsers and the others displayed more heterogeneous diets. One species was a plankton feeder and the other consumed benthic invertebrates other than corals. The importance of coral consumption on the reef by Chaetodontid fishes was estimated knowing the feeding diets and density of species in the various biota. Moreover, the species which were previously observed as quantitatively dominant in the different reef zones, were found to be exclusive coral browsers. Besides, the proportion between obligative and facultative coral feeders was found to be relatively constant on the reef, emphasizing that a balance is established among the Chaetodontid species occupying the same habitat for the resource partitioning.

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SynopsisThe relationships existing between the chaetodontid fishes and the surrounding coral communities were investigated in the Gulf of Aqaba. Quantitative data were analysed by a correspondence and a cluster analysis. The results demonstrated a similarity in the spatial distribution of both communities. Significant correlations were found between the density of chaetodontid fishes and the diversity of the coral community as well as the substratum coverage by the coral colonies. The density of exclusive coral browsers was also correlated to the abundance of branching colonies. Among the different genera of branching corals, correlations were significant only for the genus Acropora. These results suggested the existence of strong links between coral and chaetodontid fish assemblages.

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taeniopterus and Sparisoma viride appeared to share a similar trophic niche characterized by the contribution of live coral and fleshy macroalgae to their diet. The resource use among herbivorous fishes was partially related to the nutritional quality of food sources, but also to their physical structure and the capacity of fish to process them efficiently.These results showed that the ten species occupy distinct trophic niches, indicating a high functional diversity among the Caribbean herbivorous fishes.

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