Empirical data demonstrates risk-tradeoffs between landscapes for herbivorous fish may promote reef resilience.
Mar Environ Res
; 133: 1-5, 2018 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29132921
ABSTRACT
Herbivores balance resource requirements with predation risk, which can differ among landscapes; hence, landscape can shape these trade-offs, influencing herbivore distribution and behavior. While this paradigm has been well established on coral-dominated reefs, tropical reefs worldwide are shifting to algal dominance. If herbivores avoid algae due to higher risk and forage in coral, these algal states may be stabilized. However, if herbivores forage more in resource-rich algal states, this may promote coral recovery. We assessed the distribution and behavior of herbivorous fishes in Moorea, French Polynesia in coral and algal turf-dominated fringing reef sites. Acanthuridae were more abundant in coral states and Labridae, tribe Scarinae, in algal turf states, though total fish abundances were equivalent in the two states. Fish in both families spent more time feeding in algal states and hiding/swimming in coral states. Thus, behavior reflects the trade-off between resource acquisition and refuge in these two landscapes and may promote recovery to coral.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Recifes de Corais
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Herbivoria
/
Peixes
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mar Environ Res
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
/
TOXICOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article