Cleaning behavior ofBodianus rufus, Thalassoma bifasciatum, Gobiosoma evelynae, andPericlimenes pedersoni along a depth gradient at Salt River Submarine Canyon, St. Croix

Abstract

SynopsisCleaning activity at specific cleaning stations was monitored over a depth range of 15-45 m at Salt River Submarine Canyon, St. Croix using the HYDROLAB underwater habitat. We observed over 4600 cleaning events involving 32 host species. Cleaners included the fishes Gobiosoma evelynae (cleaning goby), juvenile Bodianus rufus (Spanish hogfish) and juvenile Thalassoma bifasciatum (bluehead wrasse) and the shrimp Periclimenespedersoni, often active simultaneously at the same stations. Although cleaning was observed to depths of 30 m, the greatest density of cleaning fishes occurred at a sharp break in the bottom contour at 15 m. Clepticus parrae was the dominant fish cleaned by fishes (80% of events), and the graysby, Petrometopon cruentatum, was most frequently cleaned by Periclimenes. Cleaning was initiated by Gobiosoma at 0600 to 0630 h and continued throughout the day as intense bouts of cleaning activity were interspersed with periods of relative calm. Bodianus patrolled areas of several meters and would sometimes rise over a meter above the substrate to initiate cleaning. In contrast, gobies were much more restricted in both lateral and vertical movements. Gobiosoma and Bodianus cleaned 3104 and 1346 hosts during the study compared to only 207 for Thalassoma. This study of a deeper reef area shows significantly more cleaning activity by Bodianus and much less by Thalassoma than has been reported from other studies in shallower water.

Atividade de limpeza e clientes de Elacatinus figaro (Pisces: Gobiidae) nos recifes de coral dos Parrachos de Muriú, Nordeste do Brasil

“…O número de interações de limpeza por estação de E. figaro foram baixos quando comparados aos valores encontrados por Grutter (1997) e Johnson & Ruben (1988). Para o limpador Labroides dimidiatus a variação diária de frequência de limpeza foi de 2297 ± 83 interações e 256 ± 11 minutos por dia gastos nessa atividade (Grutter 1997).…”

“…Esta informação foi usada para estimar o tempo total utilizado pelos limpadores em atividades da limpeza por estação da limpeza durante o dia. As interações de limpeza foram consideradas como o período da associação entre E. figaro e os clientes, desde o começo do contato físico até a retirada do cliente ou do limpador (Johnson & Ruben 1988). O Comprimento Total (CT) de cada cliente foi estimado através de uma régua de 50 cm de comprimento graduada em 1 cm e presa a um bastão ou através de objetos de tamanho conhecido (e.g.…”

“…11, no. 1 Johnson & Ruben (1988) para E. evelynae (24 espécies) excede o número de espécies registradas no presente estudo (21 espécies). O número reduzido de clientes registrados no presente estudo se deve possivelmente à pressão antrópica observada na área de estudo, que sofre influência da pesca ornamental artesanal e também é utilizada para fins recreativos devido a sua facilidade de acesso e proximidade da praia (Ferreira & Cava 2001, Feitosa et al 2002, Campos et al 2010.…”

“Cleaner” shrimps?

“…Literature entries accumulated as new eyewitness accounts were described and later cited uncritically. Putative "cleaners" eventually included Periclimenes an thophilus Holthuis & Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1964(Sargent & Wagenbach, 1975; P. pedersoni Chace, 1958(Chace, 1958Collette & Talbot, 1972;Colin, 1972;Criales, 1979;Criales & Corredor, 1977;Feder, 1966;Holthuis & Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1964;Jonasson, 1987;Johnson & Ruben, 1988;Limbaugh, 1961;Limbaugh et al, 1961;Mahnken, 1972;Roessler & Post, 1972;Ross, 1983;Sargent & Wagenbach, 1975;Sefton, 1977;Smith & Tyler, 1973;Wicksten, 1995;Williams, 1984;Williams & Williams, 1979); P. yucatanicus (Ives, 1891) (Feder, 1966;Jonasson, 1987;Limbaugh et al, 1961;Mahnken, 1972;Roessler & Post, 1972;Ross, 1983;Spotte et al, 1991;Wicksten, 1995); Lysmata grabhami (Gordon, 1935) (Criales, 1979;Criales & Corredor, 1977;Feder, 1966;Jonasson, 1987;Limbaugh et al, 1961;Roessler & Post, 1972;Ross, 1983;…”

“…Others have tried to quantify "cleaning" activity by recording the number of "cleaning" events or the number of host fishes (individuals or species) that are "cleaned" (e.g., Criales, 1979;Criales & Corredor, 1977;Johnson & Ruben, 1988;Jonasson, 1987;Mahnken, 1972;Wicksten, 1995). Jonasson (1987) tested "cleaning" efficacy in three species of shrimps and even devised a "Cleaning Efficiency Index" to compare scores.…”