Mixed-species schooling behavior and protective mimicry involving coral reef fish from the genus Haemulon (Haemulidae)

Pereira, Pedro Henrique Cipresso; Feitosa, João Lucas Leão; Ferreira, Beatrice Padovani

doi:10.1590/s1679-62252011005000037

Cited by 22 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…Mulloidichthys martinicus (Mullidae), Sparisoma axillare (Scaridae) and Harengula clupeola (Clupeidae) appear to display protective mimicry with multiple species of grunt ( Haemulon sp., Haemulidae) on Brazillian coral reefs. The three minority species ( M. martinicus , S. axillare and H. clupeola ) were observed approaching and mimicing the behaviour of numerically abundant grunts when threatened by predators (Pereira, Feitosa, & Ferreira, ). Although this example provides only anecdotal evidence, it may be that predation avoidance benefits associated with inclusion in a large phenotypically similar shoal (Section 2, Figure ) may be afforded individuals that display protective mimicry, in addition to benefits associated with differences between species, in, for example, diet or vigilance.…”

Section: Mixed‐species Shoalingmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Protective mimicry, defined as situations in which individuals gain predation avoidance benefits by mimicking another species, can operate within mixed-species shoals (Dafni & Diamant, 1984). (Pereira, Feitosa, & Ferreira, 2011). Although this example provides only anecdotal evidence, it may be that predation avoidance benefits associated with inclusion in a large phenotypically similar shoal (Section 2, Figure 2) may be afforded individuals that display protective mimicry, in addition to benefits associated with differences between species, in, for example, diet or vigilance.…”

Section: Protective and Aggressive Mimicrymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Towards an ultimate explanation for mixed‐species shoaling

2019

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The formation of social groups has important impacts on fitness for many animal species, with differences in group compositions resulting in a range of fitness outcomes for individuals. Recent interest in mixed‐species grouping, which extends from a large body of literature invested in understanding single‐species grouping, highlights novel complexities of group formation which relate to phenotypic, behavioural and physiological differences that naturally exist between species. Among fishes, mixed‐species shoaling is a common form of social grouping behaviour displayed across a range of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Research explaining mixed‐species shoaling shows some overlap with explanations for single‐species shoaling; however, it also demonstrates that distinct differences between species give rise to unique cost‐benefit trade‐offs which need to be incorporated into conceptual models of mixed‐species shoaling behaviour. Unique predation related trade‐offs may arise from inefficiency of the confusion effect, variation in vigilance between species and unequal species‐preferences shown by predators, whilst unique foraging‐related trade‐offs may arise from diet partitioning, variations in foraging behaviour and differences in competitive abilities between species. We review the literature on fitness outcomes associated with mixed‐species shoaling and present a new theoretical framework to explain the cost‐benefit trade‐offs for individuals within mixed‐species shoals. The framework incorporates both trade‐offs arising from differences between species and those arising from group size, the former having been largely ignored due to a focus on single‐species shoaling. Our framework is designed to inform future research striving to explain mixed‐species shoaling behaviour.

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Section: Mixed‐species Shoalingmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Protective and Aggressive Mimicrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards an ultimate explanation for mixed‐species shoaling

2019

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“…The white grunt Haemulon plumierii (Lacépède 1801) is an invertebrate feeder that occurs in coastal waters from Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A. (36 ∘ N), to southern Brazil (Froese & Pauly, 2016) and may be a locally important commercial and recreational resource (Darcy, 1983;Palazón-Fernández, 2007). They form heterotypic schools that often numerically dominate shallow reef fish communities, from the shoreline to 30 m (Darcy, 1983;Pereira et al, 2010Pereira et al, , 2011. For H. plumierii, there are studies from across its north-western Atlantic Ocean range in Florida (Murie & Parkyn, 2005), Puerto Rico (D. S. Erdman, unpubl.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive biology of Haemulon plumierii in the south‐western Atlantic Ocean's most extensive reefs: implications for fisheries management

Hoffmann

Freitas

Moura

et al. 2017

Journal of Fish Biology

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The reproductive biology of the white grunt Haemulon plumierii was studied from 360 individuals obtained from artisanal fisheries landings in the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil, between August 2010 and March 2012. The overall sex-ratio did not differ significantly from 1:1, although males predominated in larger size classes. β-Binomial modelling of historical sex-ratio data indicated that the catch rate of females has increased in recent years. Females reached maturity at a smaller total length (L ; 214 mm) than males (235 mm L ) and the L at which 50% of all individuals are mature (L ) was 220 mm, corresponding to 41·5% of the maximum recorded L . Variation in the gonado-somatic index and in the relative frequency of reproductive stages indicates that reproduction occurs year round, with increased activity during the austral spring and summer. Fecundity was not size dependent. The reproductive parameters provided here can support management measures focussed on seasonal closures during spawning peaks (September to November and February to March) and minimum sizes (>L ) for the capture of this important artisanal fisheries resource in Abrolhos, the region with the largest and most biodiverse coralline reefs in the South Atlantic Ocean.

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“…Juveniles tend to feed in the water column, whereas adults forage primarily on sand and rock (Pereira and Ferreira 2013). Despite this knowledge, changes in the diet composition according to ontogeny and food partitioning have never been analysed for Haemulon species in the South Atlantic Ocean where they have ecological, economical, and social importance on tropical coral reefs (Rocha et al 2008;Pereira et al 2011.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogenetic diet changes and food partitioning of Haemulon spp. coral reef fishes, with a review of the genus diet

Pereira

Barros

Zemoi

et al. 2014

Rev Fish Biol Fisheries

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The genus Haemulon contains some of the most abundant and ecologically important reef fishes in the South Atlantic Ocean. However, their life history attributes have not been widely studied. Knowledge of ontogenetic changes in their resource use is critical to understanding the processes structuring natural communities. The present study analysed ontogenetic diet changes and food partitioning in Haemulon spp. We collected stomach contents from 276 individuals of four different size classes from four sympatric species (H. aurolineatum, H. parra, H. plumieri and H. squamipinna). There was a significant difference in the proportions of prey types between both species and size classes, providing evidence of food partitioning. Moreover, the Bray-Curtis similarity index revealed two distinct groups. The first consisted of larger-sized fish that consumed larger food items and the second group consisted of smaller individuals that fed on small invertebrates. There was an abrupt shift in the diet of Haemulon spp. at around 10.0 cm total length, a size that corresponds with the greatest morphological changes in the genus. Additionally, the diet overlap calculated by Pianka's index was more evident in smaller and larger size classes than in intermediate individuals. Together, these observations suggest Haemulon species undergo ontogenetic diet changes and food partitioning within species and size classes that are associated with changes in their habitat use, alongside morphological changes. Further research is needed to determine their ecomorphology and the competitive mechanisms that allow the coexistence of several sympatric and ecologically similar species of the genus Haemulon.

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Mixed-species schooling behavior and protective mimicry involving coral reef fish from the genus Haemulon (Haemulidae)

Cited by 22 publications

References 22 publications

Towards an ultimate explanation for mixed‐species shoaling

Towards an ultimate explanation for mixed‐species shoaling

Reproductive biology of Haemulon plumierii in the south‐western Atlantic Ocean's most extensive reefs: implications for fisheries management

Ontogenetic diet changes and food partitioning of Haemulon spp. coral reef fishes, with a review of the genus diet

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