Feeding selectivity of the herbivorous fish Scartichthys viridis:effects on macroalgal community structure in a temperate rocky intertidal coastal zone

“…All cages had an aluminium frame covered with wire mesh (10 mm) that was treated with anti-fouling and anti-oxidant paint (see Ojeda and Muñoz 1999). Six rocks (≈15 cm in diameter each) per cage were randomly selected from the same sampling site and placed within each cage.…”

Section: Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predation and anthropogenic impact on community structure of boulder beaches

Aldana

Maturana

Pulgar³

et al. 2016

Sci. Mar.

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Summary:Predator impacts on intertidal community structure have been studied for rocky platforms, but intertidal boulder fields, a habitat with a greater extension and heterogeneity, have not yet been considered. Keeping in mind that disturbances are considered an important force in determining intertidal habitat diversity, the aims of this work were to describe and quantify boulder field community structure and to assess boulder field community dynamics by proposing possible food webs, taking into consideration predatory and anthropogenic impacts. These aims were achieved by installing predator-exclusion cages outfitted with rocks that were monitored monthly over one year in two study zones, a Management and Exploitation Area for Benthic Resources (MEABR, Playa Chica) and open-access area (OAA, Playa Grande). For both study zones, juveniles were the dominant observed ontogenetic state and invertebrate richness and density were higher inside exclusion cages. Furthermore, the MEABR had a differentiated impact on community structure and dynamics in comparison with the OAA. In conclusion, the roles played by boulder fields in intertidal diversity, especially in recruitment and as a nursery zone, are important to consider in management plans.Keywords: Management and Exploitation Areas for Benthic Resources; intertidal zone; boulder beaches; community structure; food web. Depredación e impacto antropogénico sobre la estructura comunitaria de playas de bolonesResumen: El impacto depredador sobre la estructura comunitaria intermareal ha sido estudiado para plataformas rocosas, pero no ha sido abordado en campos de bolones intermareales, un hábitat de mayor extensión y heterogeneidad. Considerando que las perturbaciones son una fuerza importante en determinar la diversidad del hábitat intermareal, los objetivos de este trabajo fueron describir y cuantificar la estructura comunitaria de campos de bolones, y evaluar la dinámica comunitaria de este hábitat proponiendo posibles tramas tróficas; considerando el impacto de depredadores y antropogénico. Estos objetivos se lograron mediante la instalación de jaulas de exclusión de depredadores equipadas con rocas, que fueron monitoreadas mensualmente durante un año en dos zonas de estudio, un Área de Manejo y Exclusión de Recursos Bentónicos (AMERB, Playa Chica) y un área de acceso abierto (AAA, Playa Grande). Para ambas zonas de estudio, los juveniles fueron el estado ontogenético dominante, y la riqueza y densidad de invertebrados fueron mayores dentro de las jaulas de exclusión. Además, el AMERB tuvo un impacto diferenciado sobre la estructura y dinámica comunitaria comparado al AAA. En conclusión, el rol que cumplen los campos de bolones en la diversidad intermareal, especialmente en el reclutamiento y área de crianza, son importantes y debiesen ser considerados en los planes de manejo.Palabras clave: Área de Manejo y Exclusión de Recursos Bentónicos; zona intermareal; playas de bolones; estructura comunitaria; trama trófica. Editor: E. Cebrián.

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“…For example, along the coast of Chile, the high abundance and grazing pressure exerted by the blermy Scartichthys viridis was shown to be a key factor in shaping the benthic community in the low to mid rocky intertidal areas (Ojeda & Munoz 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…EAM itself is generally not a threat to corals but if left ungrazed it quickly converts to macroalgae (Sammarco & Carleton 1981, Scott & Russ 1987, Ojeda & Munoz 1999. Macroalgae not only smothers and overshades corals but it is also an inappropriate food source for many of the common grazing fish.…”

Section: Directions For Future Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, blermies are important grazers in temperate rocky reef systems (Ojeda & Munoz 1999). To assess the contribution made by combtooth blennies to grazing in a coral reef system, estimates of the grazing impact of a common blenny Salarias fasciatus (Bloch, 1786) were compared with those of a relatively conspicuous grazer of a similar size, Pomacentrus wardi Whitiey, 1927 at Heron Island reef Inter-and intra-species behavioural interactions of these abundant territorial grazers were investigated also for possible explanations of any observed differences in EAM consumption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relative contribution of five species of herbivorous fish to the consumption of epilithic algal matrix in the southern Great Barrier Reef

Townsend¹

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The importance of herbivorous organisms to the ecology of coral reef systems has been well documented, with most studies concentrating on the visually conspicuous families of Pomacentridae, Scaridae, Acanthuridae and Siganidae. Recent studies have shown that the visually cryptic fish from the tribe Salariini (Blenniidae) may also be important contributors to the maintenance of coral reef ecosystems. Herbivores are thought to play a key role in suppressing the growth of algae and allowing space for new corals to settle and grow, keeping coral reef systems coral-based. The principle algal food source utilised by herbivorous organisms in coral reef systems is the epilithic algal matrix (EAM). It consists of a turf algae mat with associated detritus, meiofauna, phytoplankton, bacteria and sediment baffled among the fronds. To determine the relative contributions of representative herbivorous fishes from the above-mentioned families to the consumption of EAM on Heron Island reef, the abundance, biomass, distribution, morphology, assimilation efficiency, behaviour and grazing contribution were investigated.To address concerns of past studies investigating the importance of herbivorous blermies in coral reef systems, the numerical abundance, biomass and distribution of Salariini blenny assemblages at Heron Island, Lady Elliot and North West reefs were compared. Species composition and biomass, but not density differed significantly among the three reefs. At Heron Island reef, density and biomass of combtoothed blermies exceeded published estimates by 27% -98% for most groups of conspicuous herbivorous fish in equivalent zones indicating that inconspicuous grazers deserve closer attention. At Heron Island reef, biomass densities and mean wet mass of Ward's damselfishPomacentrus wardi and the jewelled blenny Salarias fasciatus were not significantly different, whereas total bites per day, epilithic algal matrix (EAM) per bite and total organic carbon consumed by S. fasciatus significantly exceeded those of P. wardi.Territorial behaviour differed between the two species. The damselfish P. wardi spent most of the time chasing roving grazers fi-om their territories, while largely ignoring blennies. While, S. fasciatus chased more than c. 90% of other blennies from their territories, largely ignoring (or avoiding) roving grazers. Both P. wardi and S.3 fasciatus rarely chased non-grazers. P. wardi possibly tolerates S. fasciatus grazing within its territory as the presence of the latter contributes to territory defence from other blennies.A comparison of the abundance and biomass between inner and outer reef flat zones for five species, each representative of its family, was conducted: Pomacentrus wardi (Pomacentridae), Salarius fasciatus (Blenniidae), Chlorurus sordidus (Scaridae), Siganus Uneatus (Siganidae) and Ctenochaetus striatus (Acanthuridae). The abundance of the species chosen as representatives of the five families were all relatively common, representing between 25% (C sordidus) and 75% (C. striatus) of al...

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Feeding selectivity of the herbivorous fish Scartichthys viridis:effects on macroalgal community structure in a temperate rocky intertidal coastal zone

Cited by 53 publications

References 30 publications

Effect of Use Fresh Macro Algae (Seaweed) Ulva fasciata and Enteromorpha flaxusa With or Without Artificial Feed on Growth Performance and Feed Utilization of Rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus) fry

Effect of Use Fresh Macro Algae (Seaweed) Ulva fasciata and Enteromorpha flaxusa With or Without Artificial Feed on Growth Performance and Feed Utilization of Rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus) fry

Predation and anthropogenic impact on community structure of boulder beaches

Relative contribution of five species of herbivorous fish to the consumption of epilithic algal matrix in the southern Great Barrier Reef

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