Habitat use of five sympatric predatory reef fishes at a remote island in the south‐western Atlantic

Abstract

Density‐dependent mechanisms and habitat use are important drivers of marine spatial distribution in complex ecosystems such as coral or rocky reefs. In the last decade, a few studies have assessed habitat use by reef fishes in nearshore and coastal environments along the Brazilian coast. Serranidae (groupers and sea basses) are regarded as excellent models for understanding habitat use patterns due to their diversity, long lifespan, wide distribution, morphological and functional diversity, and behavioural complexity. Their trophic position in the food web, from meso‐ to top‐predators, grants them critical roles as top‐down population controllers. Herein, we present the first assessment of habitat use by five sympatric Serranidae in a Brazilian oceanic island, Trindade. The model species selected for this assessment were the coney (Cephalopholis fulva), the rock hind (Epinephelus adscensionis), the greater soapfish (Rypticus saponaceus), the Creole‐fish (Paranthias furcifer) and the hybrid between C. fulva and P. furcifer. Our findings revealed that the species showed specific associations with topographic characteristics related to shelter from predation, reproduction and feeding. Habitat use in Trindade was similar to that observed in nearshore coastal environments (where the hybrid is absent). The present work contributes to the knowledge of habitat use and niche partitioning among key species, which is a valuable tool to subsidize effective conservation initiatives such as designing marine protected areas focusing on the behaviour and habitat use of key ecological players.

Habitat Enrichment Causes Changes in Fish Behavioural Characteristics: A Case Study of Sparus latus

“…Studies have indicated that reef fish species such as Pagrus major , Acanthopagrus schlegelii , Plectrhynchus cictus , and Sebastes schlegeli all exhibit significant reef responses and suitable preferences for artificial reefs. Light is an important environmental factor that influences the feeding, growth, reproduction, and behaviour patterns of fish [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. When faced with different lighting conditions, fish exhibit phototaxis or photoavoidance behaviour characteristics, which impact their migration and distribution in water.…”