A functional analysis of grazing in parrotfishes (family Scaridae): the ecological implications

Bellwood, David R.; Choat, J. H.

doi:10.1007/978-94-009-2065-1_11

Cited by 141 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Herbivore species were placed into one of four functional groups based on their feeding method and their impact on the benthos, gleaned from published information (e.g. Bellwood and Choat 1990;Froese and Pauly 2009;Green and Bellwood 2009) and from Weld observations. The functional groups were (1) Scrapers-parrotWshes that scrape hard substrate, ingesting the epilithic algal matrix (EAM, Wilson et al 2003) and often leaving some organisms in the feeding scrapes, (2) Excavators-parrotWshes that excavate hard substrate deeply, ingesting the EAM and considerable amounts of substrate, leaving few organisms in the feeding scar, (3) Grazer/detritivores-surgeonWshes that feed in the EAM, leave few distinctive feeding marks and ingest a range of items including sediment, detritus, algal turf, microalgae, and may also remove macroalgae before it becomes established, and (4) Algal browsers-rabbitWshes and surgeonWshes that speciWcally crop turf and/or macroalgae, ingesting little of the other components of the EAM.…”

Section: Target Taxa and Functional Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The distribution of herbivorous fishes on the Great Barrier Reef

et al. 2012

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The composition and functionality of ecologically important herbivorous Wsh assemblages were examined throughout much of Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Diversity and abundance of surgeonWshes (Acanthuridae), parrotWshes (Labridae) and rabbitWshes (Siganidae) were strongly associated with position on the continental shelf, whilst eVects of latitude were weaker and inconsistent. Species distributions varied considerably amongst taxonomic groups; parrotWshes were mostly widespread whilst distributions of surgeonWshes were often restricted. Most inshore environments supported depauperate herbivore assemblages dominated by diVerent taxa and functional groups compared with assemblages in oVshore environments. There were also strong cross-shelf transitions in the main taxa performing each functional role. Overall, this study show that the functional contributions of herbivorous Wsh assemblages to important ecosystem processes and the contributing taxa vary considerably amongst diVerent GBR environments. Additionally, the two most numerically dominant herbivores actively select detritus, not algae, supporting increasing evidence for the importance of detritus in coral reef ecology.

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Section: Target Taxa and Functional Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The distribution of herbivorous fishes on the Great Barrier Reef

et al. 2012

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“…Surprisingly, there have been general ecomorphological surveys of only a few tropical reef systems (e.g . Davis & Birdsong 1973, Emery 1973, Motta 1988, Bellwood & Choat 1990, Purcell & Bellwood 1993, Wainwright & Richard 1995, Westneat 1995 . This effort pales in comparison to the challenge of understanding the interrelationships among the diverse, complex faunas present in modern reef systems .…”

Section: The Future Of Ecomorphological Research In Fishesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of ecomorphological studies in the comparative biology of fishes

1995

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SynopsisThe goal of an ecomorphological study is to understand the interactions between the morphology of organisms and their ecology. Both the morphology and the ecology presented by an organism are directly or indirectly under the influence of the environmental conditions that the organism experiences and its heritable composition. The development and interpretation of the central element of ecomorphological studies, the comparison between patterns of variation of morphological and ecological characters, depends heavily on the mechanistic framework provided by functional morphological and biomechanical studies. The cause-andeffect hypotheses derived from this comparison can be tested with performance trials . Ecomorphology forms an integral part of comparative biology, along with ecophysiology, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary ecology. Current issues in ecomorphological research that are addressed in this volume include application of a more functional approach to the choice of characters, integration of morphological, behavioral, and physiological information to address adaptation, and the expansion of spatial and temporal (ontogenetic and evolutionary) scales of ecomorphological questions . Future directions for ecomorphology include broadening the knowledge base, further integration of information from other disciplines, examination of the role of environmental and genetic factors in producing and maintaining ecological and morphological diversity, and application of ecomorphological insights to questions of community structure.

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“…These refined groupings are based on studies considering both behaviour (e.g., microhabitat utilization of biting) and morphology, especially jaw-shape, dentition, jaw articulation, and musculature (Bellwood and Choat 1990;Ceccarelli et al 2005;Konow et al 2008;Bellwood et al 2014). While all of these grazing fishes may facilitate the removal of algae from turfs, they have different dietary targets and means of ingestion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding characteristics reveal functional distinctions among browsing herbivorous fishes on coral reefs

2015

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The removal of macroalgal biomass by fishes is a key process on coral reefs. Numerous studies have identified the fish species responsible for removing mature macroalgae, and have identified how this varies spatially, temporally, and among different algal types. None, however, have considered the behavioural and morphological traits of the browsing fishes and how this may influence the removal of macroalgal material. Using video observations of fish feeding on the brown macroalga Sargassum polycystum, we quantified the feeding behaviour and morphology of the four dominant browsing species on the Great Barrier Reef (Kyphosus vaigiensis, Naso unicornis, Siganus canaliculatus, and Siganus doliatus). The greatest distinction between species was the algal material they targeted. K. vaigiensis and N. unicornis bit on the entire macroalgal thallus in approximately 90 % of bites. In contrast, Si. canaliculatus and Si. doliatus avoided biting the stalks, with 80-98 % of bites being on the macroalgal leaves only. This distinctive grouping into 'entire thallusbiters' versus 'leaf-biters' was not supported by size-standardized measures of biting morphology. Rather, speciesspecific adult body sizes, tooth shape, and feeding behaviour appear to underpin this functional distinction, with adults of the two larger fish species (N. unicornis and K. vaigiensis) eating the entire macroalgal thallus, while the two smaller species (Si. canaliculatus and Si. doliatus) bite only leaves. These findings caution against assumed homogeneity within this, and potentially other, functional groups on coral reefs. As functional redundancy within the macroalgal browsers is limited, the smaller 'leaf-biting' species are unlikely to be able to compensate functionally for the loss of larger 'entire thallus-biting' species.

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A functional analysis of grazing in parrotfishes (family Scaridae): the ecological implications

Cited by 141 publications

References 24 publications

The distribution of herbivorous fishes on the Great Barrier Reef

The distribution of herbivorous fishes on the Great Barrier Reef

The role of ecomorphological studies in the comparative biology of fishes

Feeding characteristics reveal functional distinctions among browsing herbivorous fishes on coral reefs

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