Small coral reef fishes with large ecological footprints

Collins, William P.; Bellwood, David R.; Morais, Renato A.

doi:10.1007/s00338-023-02384-6

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 56 publications

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“…The current special issue explores the growing diversity of methods for quantifying reef functions, including videobased methods (Collins et al 2023;Magneville et al 2023), or the integration of remote-sensing (Lutzenkirchen et al 2024); two areas in which information on reef functions has benefited greatly from technological advances (e.g. DiFiore et al 2019;Madin et al 2019;Schiettekatte et al 2022b).…”

Section: The Evolution Of Functional Studies On Coral Reefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying functions on coral reefs: past perspectives, current conundrums, and future potential

Bellwood,

Brandl,

McWilliam

et al. 2024

Coral Reefs

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Function-based studies have opened a new chapter in our understanding of coral reefs. Unfortunately, we are opening this chapter as the world’s reefs rapidly transform. In this context, one of the most important roles of function-based studies is to inform coral reef conservation. At this critical juncture, we have a chance to reflect on where we have come from, and where we are going, in coral reef functional ecology, with specific consideration of what this means for our approaches to conserving reefs. As focal examples, we examine the role of corals on reefs, and the practice of culling crown-of-thorns starfish, from a functional perspective. We also consider how the papers in this special issue build on our current understanding. Ultimately, we highlight how robust scientific investigation, based on an understanding of ecosystem functions, will be key in helping us navigate reefs through the current coral reef crisis.

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Section: The Evolution Of Functional Studies On Coral Reefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying functions on coral reefs: past perspectives, current conundrums, and future potential

Bellwood,

Brandl,

McWilliam

et al. 2024

Coral Reefs

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Contribution of motile rubble-dwelling cryptofauna to the diet of invertivorous coral reef fishes

Kamen,

Mumby,

Wolfe

2024

Coral Reefs

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One of the least understood trophic pathways on coral reefs is the linkage between highly productive cryptic motile invertebrates (herein: cryptofauna) and the predatory vertebrates that underpin reef fisheries. As cryptofauna are difficult to observe and quantify, particularly in coral rubble where they proliferate, the diets of invertivores that forage in rubble have largely been determined through relative gut content analyses. Without congruent quantification of prey diversity, biomass, and rates of predation specific to rubble, it remains challenging to develop models of productivity and energy transfer. We calculated bite rates of six wrasses (Labridae) and a goatfish (Mullidae) commonly found foraging in rubble, using in situ videography on a coral reef in Palau, Western Micronesia. Consumption rates (i.e. individuals consumed) and prey preferences were determined using tank-based feeding experiments, where individual fish were presented with a diverse rubble community characterised before and after 2 h feeding trials. The motile cryptofauna community and invertivore diet consisted predominantly of Arthropoda (83% and > 58%, respectively), with calanoid copepods and mysids positively selected and harpacticoids, decapods and ostracods negatively selected. The interspecific mean (± standard error) rate of consumption was 3.5 ± 0.2 ind. min−1 from rubble, estimated to equal 9.5 ± 0.9 mg min−1 of invertebrate biomass consumed per fish, with biased uptake of small fauna. Bite and consumption rates varied among species with the greatest efficiency in biomass uptake evident in Halichoeres melanurus. This study provides a first attempt at characterising diverse cryptofauna communities pre- and post-trial to identify feeding rates and preferences of coral reef invertivores from the rubble benthos, and highlights the importance of addressing the bioavailability of lower trophic entities in energy pathways.

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Are the key welfare models effective for exotic pet animals?

Warwick,

Steedman,

Jessop

et al. 2024

Discov Anim

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The Five Freedoms, Five Domains, Five Welfare Needs, and other similar models or principles, are key aspirational or outcome-led frameworks aimed at safeguarding animals under human custodianship, and are widely used in legislation, guidance documents, and protocols. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of these animal welfare models as intended protections. Our study considered three informational tiers of relevance for guidance: Tier 1, key welfare models and principles governing legislation; Tier 2, formal secondary guidance; and Tier 3, welfare outcomes. We conducted a literature review of key welfare models, as well as reports of persistent animal welfare problems associated with exotic pets, and collated available examples of relevant legislation and their implementation. Of the 91 studied regions that adopted animal welfare models, the following were directly or closely aligned with: Five Freedoms n = 64, Five Welfare Needs n = 26, Five Domains n = 1. We identified the following numbers of welfare concerns for animals kept in trade and private home situations: invertebrates n = 21, fishes n = 27, amphibians n = 26, reptiles n = 43, birds n = 22, mammals n = 43. Despite the frequent adoption of one or other model or principle, animal welfare concerns and problems were regularly identified in relation to both commercial and home environments across all animal classes. We recommend that animal welfare is assigned priority over traditional pet selling or keeping practices through the adoption of modernised animal welfare models, underpinned by evolving scientific knowledge and precautionary principles, that aim to promote animal-centric preferred life quality.

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Small coral reef fishes with large ecological footprints

Cited by 5 publications

References 56 publications

Studying functions on coral reefs: past perspectives, current conundrums, and future potential

Studying functions on coral reefs: past perspectives, current conundrums, and future potential

Contribution of motile rubble-dwelling cryptofauna to the diet of invertivorous coral reef fishes

Are the key welfare models effective for exotic pet animals?

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