Ontogenetic foraging activity and feeding selectivity of the Brazilian endemic parrotfish <i>Scarus zelindae</i>

Pereira, Pedro Henrique Cipresso; Santos, M. V. F. dos; Lippi, Daniel Lino

doi:10.7287/peerj.preprints.2369

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…According to the prevailing view, Galaxaura deters herbivores with its arsenal of secondary metabolites (Bonaldo & Hay, 2014;Loffler et al, 2015aLoffler et al, , 2015bRasher & Hay, 2010a, 2010b. Contrary to this view we observed feeding interactions of 17 species of coral reef fish, including juvenile parrotfish, territorial & Ferreira, 2015;Pereira et al, 2016). Our feeding observations indicate that while juvenile parrotfishes, i.e., Scarus schlegeli, S. ghobban, S. rivulatus, and Chlorurus spilurus, took many small bites from G. divaricata, they did not appear to consume the thallus itself.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

“…It is often assumed that when fish feed on a macroalga that it is the alga they are eating. This view led to the perception that parrotfishes eat macroalgae, including turf (e.g., Adam et al, 2015; Feitosa & Ferreira, 2015; Pereira et al, 2016). Our feeding observations indicate that while juvenile parrotfishes, i.e., Scarus schlegeli , S. ghobban , S. rivulatus , and Chlorurus spilurus , took many small bites from G. divaricata , they did not appear to consume the thallus itself.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel field observations of coral reef fishes feeding on epiphytic and epizoic organisms associated with the allelopathic seaweed Galaxaura divaricata

Nieder

Liao

Lee

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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In degraded coral reef ecosystems, allelopathic macroalgae have received increasing attention from marine ecologists because their secondary metabolites (also known as allelochemicals) kill corals that grow adjacent to them and weaken the recovery of degraded reefs. One well‐known coral‐killing macroalga is the calcareous red seaweed Galaxaura . However, our knowledge of how coral reef fishes interact with allelopathic algae like Galaxaura is very limited. Here, we documented novel observations of feeding interactions of 17 species of coral reef fishes (herbivorous and carnivorous) with the filamentous Galaxaura divaricata on degraded lagoon patch reefs in Dongsha Atoll (South China Sea). Video analyses showed that territorial farming damselfishes (i.e., Dischistodus perspicillatus , D. prosopotaenia , Hemiglyphidodon plagiometopon , Pomacentrus grammorhynchus , P. adelus , and Neoglyphidodon nigroris ) and juvenile parrotfishes ( Scarus schlegeli , S. ghobban , S. rivulatus , and Chlorurus spilurus ) likely used G. divaricata as a feeding substratum. Further, microscopic analyses revealed that the filamentous surface of G. divaricata harbored a wealth of epiphytic microalgae, such as filamentous cyanobacteria (i.e., Leptolyngbya , Lyngbya , Rivularia , Oscillatoria , and Stigonema ), diatoms (i.e., Synedra , Nitzschia , Mastogloia , and Pleurosigma ), and filamentous red algae (i.e., Heterosiphonia ), suggesting that these fishes targeted the nutrient‐rich microscopic epiphytes rather than the nutrient‐poor host. Juvenile benthic carnivores (i.e., Labridae, Parupeneus multifasciatus , and Meiacanthus grammistes ) form feeding assemblages with roving parrotfishes to feed on small invertebrates (i.e., amphipods, copepods, isopods, gastropods, and polychaetes) associated with G. divaricata . Given that coral reef fishes appear to target the epiphytes associated with Galaxaura rather than the alga itself, these observations thus substantiate the threat posed by the overgrowth of G. divaricata to coral recovery in degraded reef systems due to the lack of natural grazers.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel field observations of coral reef fishes feeding on epiphytic and epizoic organisms associated with the allelopathic seaweed Galaxaura divaricata

Nieder

Liao

Lee

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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“…The mesophotic reefs off Northeastern Brazil also sustain endemic species. On the Pernambuco state coast, Pereira, Santos, Lippi, and Silva () studied patterns of parrotfish (endemic Scarus zelindae ) ontogenetic foraging activity and feeding selectivity in mesophotic reefs (30–35 m depth) due to the presence of different fish life‐phases. The preservation of topographic features off Pernambuco state coast, such as wave‐cut erosion steps, shelf valleys and canyons results in greater biodiversity and therefore a greater potential for MEs (30–50 m depth), especially on drowned reefs and beachrock lines (Camargo et al., ).…”

Section: Recent Advances In Knowledge About the South Atlantic Mesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesophotic ecosystems: Distribution, impacts and conservation in the South Atlantic

Soares

Tavares

Carneiro

2018

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim: This study reviews recent research on the South Atlantic Mesophotic ecosystems (MEs) and the pressures threatening them, and offers suggestions for their management and conservation. Location:The South Atlantic Ocean. Methods:A comprehensive compilation of the scientific literature was performed to examine the distribution, human impacts and conservation status of the South Atlantic MEs. Results: Our review indicated that the South Atlantic Ocean (SAO) is one of the majorMEs areas in the world's oceans. The South Atlantic MEs are composed of a mosaic of distinct seascapes, mainly rhodolith beds, mesophotic reefs (i.e., rocky and biogenic) and marine animal forests (e.g., sponge aggregations, octocoral and black coral forests) that occur along the East South American and West African coasts, seamounts and oceanic islands. Throughout the SAO, the distinct seascapes of MEs are usually formed on the middle and outer continental shelves, shelf-edge, seamounts, submarine canyons, incised valleys and paleochannels, reef structures and insular shelves. We highlighted sea temperature anomalies, ocean acidification, extreme floods and droughts, fisheries, invasive species, marine debris, mining, and oil and gas exploitation as major threats to these ecosystems. Main conclusions:Given the threats to the South Atlantic MEs, growing human pressures may degrade these ecosystems in the next years and undermine their unique biodiversity as well as their potential to provide connectivity between regions and depths. Our review revealed the existence of some extensive and unprotected formations, which urgently demand in-depth investigations and conservation action. K E Y W O R D S climate change, coral reef, deep-sea refugia, marine biogeography, marine conservation, rhodolith bed 1 | INTRODUC TI ON Developments in the marine sciences, especially in terms of methodology and equipment, have allowed the exploration of progressively deeper oceanic zones, providing a more detailed picture of the hidden biodiversity in mesophotic ecosystems (MEs; Loya, Eyal, Treibitz, Lesser, & Appeldoorn, 2016). These ecosystems are characterized by the presence of light-dependent corals and associated species (e.g.,

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“…One of the best‐known sponge‐feeders in this region is the hawksbill turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ), which has been documented to feed exclusively on a narrow range of sponges (Meylan, 1988). Many fish species have been recorded feeding on sponges as both specialists and opportunistic feeders, including angelfish, filefish, boxfish, pufferfish, spadefish, parrotfish and triggerfish (Randall & Hartman, 1968; Turingan, Wainwright, & Hensley, 1995; Dunlap, Pawlik, & Pawlik, 1998; Pereira et al ., 2016). For parrotfish, exploitation of sponges may be entirely opportunistic and they may therefore not qualify as spongivores (Wulff, 2017).…”

Section: Global Variation In Sponge Traitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interocean patterns in shallow water sponge assemblage structure and function

et al. 2020

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Sponges are a major component of benthic ecosystems across the world and fulfil a number of important functional roles. However, despite their importance, there have been few attempts to compare sponge assemblage structure and ecological functions across large spatial scales. In this review, we examine commonalities and differences between shallow water (<100 m) sponges at bioregional (15 bioregions) and macroregional (tropical, Mediterranean, temperate, and polar) scales, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of sponge ecology. Patterns of sponge abundance (based on density and area occupied) were highly variable, with an average benthic cover between ~1 and 30%. Sponges were generally found to occupy more space (percentage cover) in the Mediterranean and polar macroregions, compared to temperate and tropical macroregions, although sponge densities (sponges m–2) were highest in temperate bioregions. Mean species richness standardised by sampling area was similar across all bioregions, except for a few locations that supported very high small‐scale biodiversity concentrations. Encrusting growth forms were generally the dominant sponge morphology, with the exception of the Tropical West Atlantic, where upright forms dominated. Annelids and Arthropods were the most commonly reported macrofauna associated with sponges across bioregions. With respect to reproduction, there were no patterns in gametic development (hermaphroditism versus gonochorism), although temperate, tropical, and polar macroregions had an increasingly higher percentage of viviparous species, respectively, with viviparity being the sole gamete development mechanism reported for polar sponges to date. Seasonal reproductive timing was the most common in all bioregions, but continuous timing was more common in the Mediterranean and tropical bioregions compared to polar and temperate bioregions. We found little variation across bioregions in larval size, and the dominant larval type across the globe was parenchymella. No pattens among bioregions were found in the limited information available for standardised respiration and pumping rates. Many organisms were found to predate sponges, with the abundance of sponge predators being higher in tropical systems. While there is some evidence to support a higher overall proportion of phototrophic species in the Tropical Austalian bioregion compared to the Western Atlantic, both also have large numbers of heterotrophic species. Sponges are important spatial competitors across all bioregions, most commonly being reported to interact with anthozoans and algae. Even though the available information was limited for many bioregions, our analyses demonstrate some differences in sponge traits and functions among bioregions, and among macroregions. However, we also identified similarities in sponge assemblage structure and function at global scales, likely reflecting a combination of regional‐ and local‐scale biological and physical processes affecting sponge assemblages, along with common ancestry. Fi...

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Ontogenetic foraging activity and feeding selectivity of the Brazilian endemic parrotfish Scarus zelindae

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Novel field observations of coral reef fishes feeding on epiphytic and epizoic organisms associated with the allelopathic seaweed Galaxaura divaricata

Novel field observations of coral reef fishes feeding on epiphytic and epizoic organisms associated with the allelopathic seaweed Galaxaura divaricata

Mesophotic ecosystems: Distribution, impacts and conservation in the South Atlantic

Interocean patterns in shallow water sponge assemblage structure and function

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