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Zarco‐Perello S, Martin SB, Hoey A. Biogeographical diet variation within and between the rabbitfishes Siganus corallinus, Siganus doliatus, Siganus trispilos and Siganus virgatus. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11326. [PMID: 38895579 PMCID: PMC11183942 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Feeding habits of herbivorous fishes play an important role in shaping the form and function of coastal marine ecosystems. Rabbitfishes (Siganidae) are important consumers of macroalgae on Indo-West Pacific coral reefs. However, it is unclear how their diet varies among and within species at biogeographical scales, casting doubt on their precise functional roles across different regions. The present study assessed the inter- and intra-specific diet variation of four rabbitfishes (Siganus trispilos, Siganus corallinus, Siganus virgatus and Siganus doliatus) factored by morphological relatedness among populations from Ningaloo Reef (western Australia), the Great Barrier Reef (GBR, eastern Australia) and the Yaeyama Islands (Okinawa Prefecture, Japan). Results showed that the region had a strong effect on diet, effectively reducing the expected effect of morphologic similitude. While intra-specific differences were only significant when populations inhabited different regions; interspecific differences were not as predicted, with different morphotypes having similar diets when populations inhabited the same regions. Rabbitfishes consumed more corticated and filamentous macroalgae on the GBR, more foliose and membranous macroalgae at the Yaeyama Islands, and more leathery macroalgae at Ningaloo Reef. The findings indicate that rabbitfishes have high diet plasticity, and hence their functional role as mediators of competition between macroalgae and corals can change across biogeographic regions. Local context is therefore important when assessing the diet and functional role of herbivorous fishes. As climate change unfolds, shifts in the distribution, trophic behaviour and function of species are expected, making the study of trophic plasticity more important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Zarco‐Perello
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- College of Life Sciences and AgricultureUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNew HampshireUSA
| | - Storm B. Martin
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Andrew Hoey
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQueenslandAustralia
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2
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Zajonz U, Bogorodsky SV, Saeed FKN, Al-Deed MS, Lavergne E. Parrotfishes (Teleostei: Labridae: Scarini) of the Socotra Archipelago: Diversity and distributional biogeography, including a range extension of Scarus zufar Randall & Hoover, 1995. Zootaxa 2023; 5389:301-330. [PMID: 38221021 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5389.3.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
An updated account of the diversity of parrotfishes from the Socotra Archipelago is provided. Fourteen species are positively recorded based on underwater observations, photography and collections, including confirmations of three species which were previously only tentatively recorded: Scarus falcipinnis(Playfair, 1868), Scarus scaber Valenciennes, 1840 and Scarus tricolorBleeker, 1847. The distribution of Scarus zufar Randall & Hoover, 1995, previously known only from coastal waters of southern Oman, Pakistan and Bangladesh, is extended to the Archipelago, with Abd al-Kuri Island representing the westernmost edge of its known range. Visual records of three additional species are yet to be documented. With 1417species the Archipelago approximates the modal richness range of 1518 species for Arabian ecoregions. A species account, accompanied by photographs, provides distinctive characters, distribution details in the Arabian region, and general remarks for each species. The distributional biogeography of the family pertinent to the Socotra Archipelago and the Arabian region is analysed in the context of the Western Indian Ocean. Three main Arabian units are identified: A Red Sea unit spans the combined Red Sea ecoregions and the western Gulf of Aden; a Socotra unit covers south-eastern Arabia including the Archipelago, the eastern Gulf of Aden and southern Oman; and a Gulf unit combines the Arabian/Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and putatively central Oman. These units form a discrete pan-Arabian cluster within the wider Western Indian Ocean. The Socotra unit resembles more strongly the Gulf unit than the Red Sea unit. Parrotfishes thus contrast overall distributional patterns of reef fishes in Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Zajonz
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Museum of Nature (SMF); Marine ZoologySenckenberganlage 25; 60325 Frankfurt am Main; Germany.
| | - Sergey V Bogorodsky
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Museum of Nature (SMF); Marine ZoologySenckenberganlage 25; 60325 Frankfurt am Main; Germany; Station of Naturalists; Omsk; Russia.
| | - Fouad K N Saeed
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Museum of Nature (SMF); Marine ZoologySenckenberganlage 25; 60325 Frankfurt am Main; Germany; Environmental Protection Authority; Socotra Branch; Hadibo; Yemen.
| | - Moteah S Al-Deed
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Museum of Nature (SMF); Marine ZoologySenckenberganlage 25; 60325 Frankfurt am Main; Germany; Maritime Affairs Authority; Mukalla; Yemen.
| | - Edouard Lavergne
- Plastic at Sea; Observatoire Ocanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer; France.
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3
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Evans KM, Larouche O, Gartner SM, Faucher RE, Dee SG, Westneat MW. Beaks promote rapid morphological diversification along distinct evolutionary trajectories in labrid fishes (Eupercaria: Labridae). Evolution 2023; 77:2000-2014. [PMID: 37345732 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
The upper and lower jaws of some wrasses (Eupercaria: Labridae) possess teeth that have been coalesced into a strong durable beak that they use to graze on hard coral skeletons, hard-shelled prey, and algae, allowing many of these species to function as important ecosystem engineers in their respective marine habitats. While the ecological impact of the beak is well understood, questions remain about its evolutionary history and the effects of this innovation on the downstream patterns of morphological evolution. Here we analyze 3D cranial shape data in a phylogenetic comparative framework and use paleoclimate modeling to reconstruct the evolution of the labrid beak across 205 species. We find that wrasses evolved beaks three times independently, once within odacines and twice within parrotfishes in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. We find an increase in the rate of shape evolution in the Scarus+Chlorurus+Hipposcarus (SCH) clade of parrotfishes likely driven by the evolution of the intramandibular joint. Paleoclimate modeling shows that the SCH clade of parrotfishes rapidly morphologically diversified during the middle Miocene. We hypothesize that possession of a beak in the SCH clade coupled with favorable environmental conditions allowed these species to rapidly morphologically diversify.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kory M Evans
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Olivier Larouche
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Samantha M Gartner
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Rose E Faucher
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sylvia G Dee
- Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mark W Westneat
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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4
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Tebbett SB, Connolly SR, Bellwood DR. Benthic composition changes on coral reefs at global scales. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:71-81. [PMID: 36631667 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01937-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Globally, ecosystems are being reconfigured by a range of intensifying human-induced stressors. Coral reefs are at the forefront of this environmental transformation, and if we are to secure their key ecosystem functions and services, it is important to understand the likely configuration of future reefs. However, the composition and trajectory of global coral reef benthic communities is currently unclear. Here our global dataset of 24,468 observations spanning 22 years (1997-2018) revealed that particularly marked declines in coral cover occurred in the Western Atlantic and Central Pacific. The data also suggest that high macroalgal cover, widely regarded as the major degraded state on coral reefs, is a phenomenon largely restricted to the Western Atlantic. At a global scale, the raw data suggest decreased average (± standard error of the mean) hard coral cover from 36 ± 1.4% to 19 ± 0.4% (during a period delineated by the first global coral bleaching event (1998) until the end of the most recent event (2017)) was largely associated with increased low-lying algal cover such as algal turfs and crustose coralline algae. Enhanced understanding of reef change, typified by decreased hard coral cover and increased cover of low-lying algal communities, will be key to managing Anthropocene coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. .,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. .,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Sean R Connolly
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - David R Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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5
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Bosch NE, Pessarrodona A, Filbee-Dexter K, Tuya F, Mulders Y, Bell S, Langlois T, Wernberg T. Habitat configurations shape the trophic and energetic dynamics of reef fishes in a tropical-temperate transition zone: implications under a warming future. Oecologia 2022; 200:455-470. [PMID: 36344837 PMCID: PMC9675646 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05278-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the extent to which species' traits mediate patterns of community assembly is key to predict the effect of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystem functioning. Here, we apply a trait-based community assembly framework to understand how four different habitat configurations (kelp forests, Sargassum spp. beds, hard corals, and turfs) shape the trophic and energetic dynamics of reef fish assemblages in a tropical-temperate transition zone. Specifically, we tested (i) the degree of trait divergence and convergence in each habitat, (ii) which traits explained variation in species' abundances, and (iii) differences in standing biomass (kg ha-1), secondary productivity (kg ha-1 day-1) and turnover (% day-1). Fish assemblages in coral and kelp habitats displayed greater evidence of trait convergence, while turf and Sargassum spp. habitats displayed a higher degree of trait divergence, a pattern that was mostly driven by traits related to resource use and thermal affinity. This filtering effect had an imprint on the trophic and energetic dynamics of reef fishes, with turf habitats supporting higher fish biomass and productivity. However, these gains were strongly dependent on trophic guild, with herbivores/detritivores disproportionately contributing to among-habitat differences. Despite these perceived overall gains, turnover was decoupled for fishes that act as conduit of energy to higher trophic levels (i.e. microinvertivores), with coral habitats displaying higher rates of fish biomass replenishment than turf despite their lower productivity. This has important implications for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management, questioning the long-term sustainability of ecological processes and fisheries yields in increasingly altered marine habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor E Bosch
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Albert Pessarrodona
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Karen Filbee-Dexter
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, 4817, His, Norway
| | - Fernando Tuya
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación, IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte S/N, 35214, Telde, Spain
| | - Yannick Mulders
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Sahira Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Tim Langlois
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- School of Biological Sciences, The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, Nye Flødevigveien 20, 4817, His, Norway
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
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6
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Morais J, Morais R, Tebbett SB, Bellwood DR. On the fate of dead coral colonies. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juliano Morais
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University 4811 Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - Renato Morais
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University 4811 Townsville Queensland Australia
- Paris Sciences et Lettres Université École Pratique des Hautes Études, EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, University of Perpignan, 66860 Perpignan France
| | - Sterling B. Tebbett
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University 4811 Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - David R. Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University 4811 Townsville Queensland Australia
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7
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The rise of biting during the Cenozoic fueled reef fish body shape diversification. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2119828119. [PMID: 35881791 PMCID: PMC9351382 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119828119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We demonstrate that the stunning trophic diversity of modern reef fishes is a relatively recent state driven by a dramatic transformation in representation of major feeding modes. Since the Early Cenozoic, when over 95% of teleost lineages were suction feeders, there has been a steady increase in direct biting feeding modes. A variety of novelties and jaw modifications permitted reef fishes to feed on substrate-bound prey using direct biting and grazing behaviors and opened this rich adaptive zone, which we show elevated rates of body shape evolution. Taken together, our results indicate that recent diversification of the feeding mechanism played a major role in ecologically and phenotypically shaping the modern fauna of reef fishes. Diversity of feeding mechanisms is a hallmark of reef fishes, but the history of this variation is not fully understood. Here, we explore the emergence and proliferation of a biting mode of feeding, which enables fishes to feed on attached benthic prey. We find that feeding modes other than suction, including biting, ram biting, and an intermediate group that uses both biting and suction, were nearly absent among the lineages of teleost fishes inhabiting reefs prior to the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, but benthic biting has rapidly increased in frequency since then, accounting for about 40% of reef species today. Further, we measured the impact of feeding mode on body shape diversification in reef fishes. We fit a model of multivariate character evolution to a dataset comprising three-dimensional body shape of 1,530 species of teleost reef fishes across 111 families. Dedicated biters have accumulated over half of the body shape variation that suction feeders have in just 18% of the evolutionary time by evolving body shape ∼1.7 times faster than suction feeders. As a possible response to the ecological and functional diversity of attached prey, biters have dynamically evolved both into shapes that resemble suction feeders as well as novel body forms characterized by lateral compression and small jaws. The ascendance of species that use biting mechanisms to feed on attached prey reshaped modern reef fish assemblages and has been a major contributor to their ecological and phenotypic diversification.
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8
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Cantalice KM, Alvarado-Ortega J, Bellwood DR, Siqueira AC. Rising from the Ashes: The Biogeographic Origins of Modern Coral Reef Fishes. Bioscience 2022; 72:769-777. [PMID: 35923187 PMCID: PMC9343231 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During the excavation of Mayan tombs, little did the archaeologists know that the fossils they discovered in the tomb stones would fundamentally alter our understanding of the earliest origins of coral reef fishes. Located just 500 kilometers from the point where an asteroid impact reconfigured the world's biological systems 66 million years ago, we find the earliest origins of three typical reef fish groups. Their presence in Mexico just 3 million years after this impact finally reconciles the conflict between the fossil and phylogenetic evidence for the earliest origins of reef fishes. The incorporation of these fossils into a global reconstruction of fish evolutionary history reveals a new picture of the early biogeography of reef fishes, with strong Atlantic links. From locations associated with biological destruction and societal collapse, we see evidence of the origins of one of the world's most diverse and spectacular marine ecosystems: coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kleyton M Cantalice
- Departamento de Paleontología and with the Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jesús Alvarado-Ortega
- Departamento de Paleontología and with the Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Ciudad de México, México
| | - David R Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and the College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexandre C Siqueira
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and the College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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9
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Quitzau M, Frelat R, Bonhomme V, Möllmann C, Nagelkerke L, Bejarano S. Traits, landmarks and outlines: Three congruent sides of a tale on coral reef fish morphology. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8787. [PMID: 35475185 PMCID: PMC9021933 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marita Quitzau
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Group Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Romain Frelat
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Group Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Vincent Bonhomme
- UMR 5554 Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, équipe Dynamique de la biodiversité Anthropo‐écologie Université de Montpellier CNRS IRD Montpellier Cedex 05 France
| | - Christian Möllmann
- Centre for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fishery Science University of Hamburg Hamburg Germany
| | - Leopold Nagelkerke
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Group Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Sonia Bejarano
- Reef Systems Research Group Ecology Department Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research Bremen Germany
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10
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Bosch NE, McLean M, Zarco-Perello S, Bennett S, Stuart-Smith RD, Vergés A, Pessarrodona A, Tuya F, Langlois T, Spencer C, Bell S, Saunders BJ, Harvey ES, Wernberg T. Persistent thermally driven shift in the functional trait structure of herbivorous fishes: Evidence of top-down control on the rebound potential of temperate seaweed forests? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:2296-2311. [PMID: 34981602 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Extreme climatic events can reshape the functional structure of ecological communities, potentially altering ecological interactions and ecosystem functioning. While these shifts have been widely documented, evidence of their persistence and potential flow-on effects on ecosystem structure following relaxation of extreme events remains limited. Here, we investigate changes in the functional trait structure - encompassing dimensions of resource use, thermal affinity, and body size - of herbivorous fishes in a temperate reef system that experienced an extreme marine heatwave (MHW) and subsequent return to cool conditions. We quantify how changes in the trait structure modified the nature and intensity of herbivory-related functions (macroalgae, turf, and sediment removal), and explored the potential flow-on effects on the recovery dynamics of macroalgal foundation species. The trait structure of the herbivorous fish assemblage shifted as a result of the MHW, from dominance of cool-water browsing species to increased evenness in the distribution of abundance among temperate and tropical guilds supporting novel herbivory roles (i.e. scraping, cropping, and sediment sucking). Despite the abundance of tropical herbivorous fishes and intensity of herbivory-related functions declined following a period of cooling after the MHW, the underlying trait structure displayed limited recovery. Concomitantly, algal assemblages displayed a lack of recovery of the formerly dominant foundational species, the kelp Ecklonia radiata, transitioning to an alternative state dominated by turf and Sargassum spp. Our study demonstrates a legacy effect of an extreme MHW and exemplified the value of monitoring phenotypic (trait mediated) changes in the nature of core ecosystem processes to predict and adapt to the future configurations of changing reef ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor E Bosch
- The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew McLean
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Salvador Zarco-Perello
- The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Scott Bennett
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Rick D Stuart-Smith
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Adriana Vergés
- Centre of Marine Science & Innovation, Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Albert Pessarrodona
- The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Fernando Tuya
- Grupo en Biodiversidad y Conservación, IU-ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de G.C., Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Tim Langlois
- The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Claude Spencer
- The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sahira Bell
- The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Saunders
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Euan S Harvey
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Thomas Wernberg
- The UWA Oceans Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Institute of Marine Research, His, Norway
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11
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Zolkaply SZ, Do TD, Asaduzzaman M, Seah YG, Hurwood D, Mather P, Rahman MM, Wong LL. Evolutionary History and Taxonomic Reappraisal of Coral Reef Rabbitfishes (Siganidae): Patterns of Lineage Diversification and Speciation. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111109. [PMID: 34827102 PMCID: PMC8615046 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Herbivorous fish are recognized as being ecologically important to the health and survival of coral reef ecosystems because they remove algal turfs growing on corals. Apart from being one of the major components of herbivorous fish communities, rabbitfish are also characterized by possessing rabbit-like mouths. A total of 29 species of rabbitfish are confined to a single genus, Siganus, fish that are highly sought after for the aquarium trade and for food by humans. Natural hybridization between some species that have parapatric distributions across the Indo-West Pacific region may have homogenized their genotypic and morphological features. Relatively little is known, however, about how environmental factors may affect phylogenetic relationships among these siganid species. Based on sequencing of eight siganid species collected from the South China Sea and meta-analysis of sequences from ten siganid species retrieved from the NCBI database, we applied an integrated morphological–molecular approach to elucidate phylogenetic relationships and demographic histories of these species. Our results highlight that diversification and speciation of siganid species were influenced by a series of paleo-climatic events, changes to natural geographical distributions, and associated environmental changes. The target species were differentiated by body shape, and two morphometric parameters, notably body depth and snout length. Our results provide considerable baseline knowledge for strategizing improvement of both breeding and conservation programs for rabbitfish. Abstract Rabbitfish (Siganidae) are coral reef fish that are distributed across diverse habitats that include estuaries, mangroves, reefs, and even seaweed mats. Given their ecological diversity and natural widespread distributions across the Indo-Pacific region, we were interested to investigate the evolutionary history of this group and patterns of divergence that have contributed to their present-day distributions. In the present study, samples were collected from the South China Sea to study taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships, and divergence times. We investigated the taxonomic relationships among modern rabbitfish species, reconstructed their molecular phylogeny, and estimated divergence times among selected lineages based on a fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and sequences of the nuclear rhodopsin retrogene (RHO). Our results indicate that modern rabbitfish likely originated in the Indo-West Pacific during the late Eocene [37.4 million years ago (mya)], following which they diverged into three major clades during the Pliocene/Pleistocene. Subsequent diversification and origins of the majority of siganids may likely be associated with episodes of paleo-oceanographic events, including greenhouse and glaciation events (Eocene–Miocene) as well as major plate tectonic events (Pliocene–Pleistocene). Some modern siganid species may naturally hybridize with congeneric species where their geographical ranges overlap. A comprehensive taxonomic analysis revealed that the phylogeny of Siganidae (cladogenesis of Clades I, II, and III) is characterized by divergence in several external morphological characters and morphometric parameters. Our study demonstrates that morphological characteristics, geographical heterogeneity, and environmental change have contributed to siganids’ historical diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siti Zulaiha Zolkaply
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia;
- Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia;
| | - Thinh Dinh Do
- Institute of Marine Environment and Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Haiphong 04000, Vietnam;
| | - Md Asaduzzaman
- Department of Marine Bioresource Science, Faculty of Fisheries, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram 4225, Bangladesh;
- Department of Aquatic Bioscience, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Ying Giat Seah
- Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia;
- South China Sea Repository and Reference Centre, Institute Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia
| | - David Hurwood
- Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia;
| | - Peter Mather
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia;
| | - Md Moshiur Rahman
- Fisheries and Marine Resource Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh;
| | - Li Lian Wong
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia;
- UMT-OUC Joint Academic Center for Marine Studies, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu 21030, Malaysia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +60-9-6683671
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12
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Gomi K, Nakamura Y, Kanda M, Honda K, Nakaoka M, Honma C, Adachi M. Diel vertical movements and feeding behaviour of blue humphead parrotfish Scarus ovifrons in a temperate reef of Japan. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:131-142. [PMID: 33595112 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The feeding ecology of scarinine parrotfishes on tropical coral reefs has received considerable attention in the past few decades; nonetheless, relatively few studies have been conducted in high-latitude reefs. Among the Indo-Pacific Scarus species, Scarus ovifrons is unique, being largely restricted to the warm temperate waters of Japan. Nonetheless, there is very little information available on the feeding ecology of this species. In this study, the authors used acoustic telemetry to detect the diel vertical movement patterns of S. ovifrons, video survey to detect its feeding depths and substrata and focal follow survey and genetic analysis to identify algae composition on the feeding scars at Kashiwajima Island, southwestern Japan (32° 46' N, 132° 38' E). Acoustic telemetry revealed that S. ovifrons spent most of its time in shallow water (<10 m) during the day and slept in deeper water (10-15 m) at night. Video and focal follow surveys revealed that most fishes of various sizes regularly took bites on epilithic algae and detrital materials on rocky substrata at depths of <10 m, but large fishes (>40 cm total length) sometimes took bites directly on live corals (Acropora solitaryensis) at the 5 m depth zone where live tabular corals dominated the benthos. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that epilithic algae collected from feeding scars were mainly composed of Rhodophyta, and coralline algae were less often targeted. Overall, this study revealed that S. ovifrons feeds mostly at depths <10 m, and the feeding algae substrata of the species are similar to those of tropical coral reef parrotfishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuma Gomi
- Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan
| | - Yohei Nakamura
- Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan
| | | | - Kentaro Honda
- Fisheries Resources Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakaoka
- Akkeshi Marine Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Akkeshi, Japan
| | - Chiho Honma
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Masao Adachi
- Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
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13
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Tebbett SB, Bellwood DR. Algal turf productivity on coral reefs: A meta-analysis. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 168:105311. [PMID: 33798994 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Algal turfs are an abundant and highly productive component of coral reef ecosystems. However, our understanding of the drivers that shape algal turf productivity across studies and among reefs is limited. Based on published studies we considered how different factors may shape turf productivity and turnover rates. Of the factors considered, depth was the primary driver of turf productivity rates, while turnover was predominantly related to turf biomass. We also highlight shortcomings in the available data collected on turf productivity to-date; most data were collected prior to global coral bleaching events, within a limited geographic range, and were largely from experimental substrata. Despite the fact turfs are a widespread benthic covering on most coral reefs, and one of the major sources of benthic productivity, our understanding of their productivity is constrained by both a paucity of data and methodological limitations. We offer a potential way forward to address these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sterling B Tebbett
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - David R Bellwood
- Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions, College of Science and Engineering and ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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14
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Semmler RF, Brandl SJ, Keith SA, Bellwood DR. Fine-scale foraging behavior reveals differences in the functional roles of herbivorous reef fishes. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4898-4908. [PMID: 33976857 PMCID: PMC8093660 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts to understand and protect ecosystem functioning have put considerable emphasis on classifying species according to the functions they perform. However, coarse classifications based on diet or feeding mode often oversimplify species' contributions to ecological processes. Behavioral variation among superficially similar species is easily missed but could indicate important differences in competitive interactions and the spatial scale at which species deliver their functions. To test the extent to which behavior can vary within existing functional classifications, we investigate the diversity of foraging movements in three herbivorous coral reef fishes across two functional groups. We find significant variation in foraging movements and spatial scales of operation between species, both within and across existing functional groups. Specifically, we show that movements and space use range from low frequency foraging bouts separated by short distances and tight turns across a small area, to high frequency, far-ranging forays separated by wide sweeping turns. Overall, we add to the burgeoning evidence that nuanced behavioral differences can underpin considerable complementarity within existing functional classifications, and that species assemblages may be considerably less redundant than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon J. Brandl
- Department of Marine ScienceMarine Science InstituteUniversity of Texas AustinPort AransasTXUSA
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
| | - Sally A. Keith
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
| | - David R. Bellwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef StudiesJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
- College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLDAustralia
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15
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Carlon DB, Robertson DR, Barron RL, Choat JH, Anderson DJ, Schwartz SA, Sánchez-Ortiz CA. The origin of the parrotfish species Scarus compressus in the Tropical Eastern Pacific: region-wide hybridization between ancient species pairs. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:7. [PMID: 33514314 PMCID: PMC7853319 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01731-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), four species of parrotfishes with complex phylogeographic histories co-occur in sympatry on rocky reefs from Baja California to Ecuador: Scarus compressus, S. ghobban, S. perrico, and S. rubroviolaceus. The most divergent, S. perrico, separated from a Central Indo-Pacific ancestor in the late Miocene (6.6 Ma). We tested the hypothesis that S. compressus was the result of ongoing hybridization among the other three species by sequencing four nuclear markers and a mitochondrial locus in samples spanning 2/3 of the latitudinal extent of the TEP. Results A Structure model indicated that K = 3 fit the nuclear data and that S. compressus individuals had admixed genomes. Our data could correctly detect and assign pure adults and F1 hybrids with > 0.90 probability, and correct assignment of F2s was also high in some cases. NewHybrids models revealed that 89.8% (n = 59) of the S. compressus samples were F1 hybrids between either S. perrico × S. ghobban or S. perrico × S. rubroviolaceus. Similarly, the most recently diverged S. ghobban and S. rubroviolaceus were hybridizing in small numbers, with half of the admixed individuals assigned to F1 hybrids and the remainder likely > F1 hybrids. We observed strong mito-nuclear discordance in all hybrid pairs. Migrate models favored gene flow between S. perrico and S. ghobban, but not other species pairs. Conclusions Mating between divergent species is giving rise to a region-wide, multispecies hybrid complex, characterized by a high frequency of parental and F1 genotypes but a low frequency of > F1 hybrids. Trimodal structure, and evidence for fertility of both male and female F1 hybrids, suggest that fitness declines sharply in later generation hybrids. In contrast, the hybrid population of the two more recently diverged species had similar frequencies of F1 and > F1 hybrids, suggesting accelerating post-mating incompatibility with time. Mitochondrial genotypes in hybrids suggest that indiscriminate mating by male S. perrico is driving pre-zygotic breakdown, which may reflect isolation of this endemic species for millions of years resulting in weak selection for conspecific mate recognition. Despite overlapping habitat use and high rates of hybridization, species boundaries are maintained by a combination of pre- and post-mating processes in this complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Carlon
- Schiller Coastal Studies Centre and Department of Biology, Bowdoin College, 6500 College Station, Brunswick, ME, 04011, USA.
| | | | - Robert L Barron
- Schiller Coastal Studies Centre and Department of Biology, Bowdoin College, 6500 College Station, Brunswick, ME, 04011, USA
| | - John Howard Choat
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - David J Anderson
- Schiller Coastal Studies Centre and Department of Biology, Bowdoin College, 6500 College Station, Brunswick, ME, 04011, USA
| | - Sonja A Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Carlos A Sánchez-Ortiz
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, CP 23081, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
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16
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Nicholson GM, Clements KD. Ecomorphological divergence and trophic resource partitioning in 15 syntopic Indo-Pacific parrotfishes (Labridae: Scarini). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Adaptive diversification is a product of both phylogenetic constraint and ecological opportunity. The species-rich parrotfish genera Scarus and Chlorurus display considerable variation in trophic cranial morphology, but these parrotfishes are often described as generalist herbivores. Recent work has suggested that parrotfish partition trophic resources at very fine spatial scales, raising the question of whether interspecific differences in cranial morphology reflect trophic partitioning. We tested this hypothesis by comparing targeted feeding substrata with a previously published dataset of nine cranial morphological traits. We sampled feeding substrata of 15 parrotfish species at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, by following individuals until focused biting was observed, then extracting a bite core 22 mm in diameter. Three indices were parameterized for each bite core: substratum taphonomy, maximum turf height and cover of crustose coralline algae. Parrotfish species were spread along a single axis of variation in feeding substrata: successional status of the substratum taphonomy and epilithic and endolithic biota. This axis of trophic variation was significantly correlated with cranial morphology, indicating that morphological disparity within this clade is associated with interspecific partitioning of feeding substrata. Phylogenetic signal and phylomorphospace analyses revealed that the evolution of this clade involved a hitherto-unrecognized level of trophic diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kendall D Clements
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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17
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Parravicini V, Casey JM, Schiettekatte NMD, Brandl SJ, Pozas-Schacre C, Carlot J, Edgar GJ, Graham NAJ, Harmelin-Vivien M, Kulbicki M, Strona G, Stuart-Smith RD. Delineating reef fish trophic guilds with global gut content data synthesis and phylogeny. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000702. [PMID: 33370276 PMCID: PMC7793298 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding species' roles in food webs requires an accurate assessment of their trophic niche. However, it is challenging to delineate potential trophic interactions across an ecosystem, and a paucity of empirical information often leads to inconsistent definitions of trophic guilds based on expert opinion, especially when applied to hyperdiverse ecosystems. Using coral reef fishes as a model group, we show that experts disagree on the assignment of broad trophic guilds for more than 20% of species, which hampers comparability across studies. Here, we propose a quantitative, unbiased, and reproducible approach to define trophic guilds and apply recent advances in machine learning to predict probabilities of pairwise trophic interactions with high accuracy. We synthesize data from community-wide gut content analyses of tropical coral reef fishes worldwide, resulting in diet information from 13,961 individuals belonging to 615 reef fish. We then use network analysis to identify 8 trophic guilds and Bayesian phylogenetic modeling to show that trophic guilds can be predicted based on phylogeny and maximum body size. Finally, we use machine learning to test whether pairwise trophic interactions can be predicted with accuracy. Our models achieved a misclassification error of less than 5%, indicating that our approach results in a quantitative and reproducible trophic categorization scheme, as well as high-resolution probabilities of trophic interactions. By applying our framework to the most diverse vertebrate consumer group, we show that it can be applied to other organismal groups to advance reproducibility in trait-based ecology. Our work thus provides a viable approach to account for the complexity of predator-prey interactions in highly diverse ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriano Parravicini
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL,” Perpignan, France
| | - Jordan M. Casey
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL,” Perpignan, France
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nina M. D. Schiettekatte
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL,” Perpignan, France
| | - Simon J. Brandl
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL,” Perpignan, France
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, United States of America
- Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB), Institut Bouisson Bertrand, Montpellier, France
| | - Chloé Pozas-Schacre
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL,” Perpignan, France
| | - Jérémy Carlot
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL,” Perpignan, France
| | - Graham J. Edgar
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | | | - Michel Kulbicki
- UMR Entropie, LabEx Corail, IRD, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | - Giovanni Strona
- University of Helsinki, Department of Bioscience, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rick D. Stuart-Smith
- Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB), Institut Bouisson Bertrand, Montpellier, France
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18
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Site-Level Variation in Parrotfish Grazing and Bioerosion as a Function of Species-Specific Feeding Metrics. DIVERSITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12100379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Parrotfish provide important ecological functions on coral reefs, including the provision of new settlement space through grazing and the generation of sediment through bioerosion of reef substrate. Estimating these functions at an ecosystem level depends on accurately quantifying the functional impact of individuals, yet parrotfish feeding metrics are only available for a limited range of sites, species and size classes. We quantified bite rates, proportion of bites leaving scars and scar sizes in situ for the dominant excavator (Cetoscarus ocellatus, Chlorurus strongylocephalus, Ch. sordidus) and scraper species (Scarus rubroviolaceus, S. frenatus, S. niger, S. tricolor, S. scaber, S. psittacus) in the central Indian Ocean. This includes the first record of scar frequencies and sizes for the latter three species. Bite rates varied with species and life phase and decreased with body size. The proportion of bites leaving scars and scar sizes differed among species and increased with body size. Species-level allometric relationships between body size and each of these feeding metrics were used to parameterize annual individual grazing and bioerosion rates which increase non-linearly with body size. Large individuals of C. ocellatus, Ch. strongylocephalus and S. rubroviolaceus can graze 200–400 m2 and erode >500 kg of reef substrate annually. Smaller species graze 1–100 m2 yr−1 and erode 0.2–30 kg yr−1. We used these individual functional rates to quantify community grazing and bioerosion levels at 15 sites across the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago. Although parrotfish density was 2.6 times higher on Maldivian reefs, average grazing (3.9 ± 1.4 m2 m−2 reef yr−1) and bioerosion levels (3.1 ± 1.2 kg m−2 reef yr−1) were about 15% lower than in the Chagos Archipelago (4.5 ± 2.3 and 3.7 ± 3.0, respectively), due to the dominance of small species and individuals in the Maldives (90% <30 cm length). This demonstrates that large-bodied species and individuals contribute disproportionally to both grazing and bioerosion. Across all sites, grazing increased by 66 ± 5 m2 ha−1 and bioerosion by 109 ± 9 kg ha−1 for every kg increase in parrotfish biomass. However, for a given level of parrotfish biomass, grazing and bioerosion levels were higher on Maldivian reefs than in the Chagos Archipelago. This suggests that small-bodied fish assemblages can maintain ecosystem functions, but only if key species are present in sufficiently high numbers.
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19
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Siqueira AC, Morais RA, Bellwood DR, Cowman PF. Trophic innovations fuel reef fish diversification. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2669. [PMID: 32472063 PMCID: PMC7260216 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16498-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Reef fishes are an exceptionally speciose vertebrate assemblage, yet the main drivers of their diversification remain unclear. It has been suggested that Miocene reef rearrangements promoted opportunities for lineage diversification, however, the specific mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we assemble near-complete reef fish phylogenies to assess the importance of ecological and geographical factors in explaining lineage origination patterns. We reveal that reef fish diversification is strongly associated with species' trophic identity and body size. Large-bodied herbivorous fishes outpace all other trophic groups in recent diversification rates, a pattern that is consistent through time. Additionally, we show that omnivory acts as an intermediate evolutionary step between higher and lower trophic levels, while planktivory represents a common transition destination. Overall, these results suggest that Miocene changes in reef configurations were likely driven by, and subsequently promoted, trophic innovations. This highlights trophic evolution as a key element in enhancing reef fish diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre C Siqueira
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
| | - Renato A Morais
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Peter F Cowman
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
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20
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Scott JJ, Adam TC, Duran A, Burkepile DE, Rasher DB. Intestinal microbes: an axis of functional diversity among large marine consumers. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20192367. [PMID: 32228407 PMCID: PMC7209056 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbes are ubiquitous throughout the world's oceans, yet the manner and extent of their influence on the ecology and evolution of large, mobile fauna remains poorly understood. Here, we establish the intestinal microbiome as a hidden, and potentially important, 'functional trait' of tropical herbivorous fishes-a group of large consumers critical to coral reef resilience. Using field observations, we demonstrate that five common Caribbean fish species display marked differences in where they feed and what they feed on. However, in addition to space use and feeding behaviour-two commonly measured functional traits-we find that interspecific trait differences are even more pronounced when considering the herbivore intestinal microbiome. Microbiome composition was highly species specific. Phylogenetic comparison of the dominant microbiome members to all known microbial taxa suggest that microbiomes are comprised of putative environmental generalists, animal-associates and fish specialists (resident symbionts), the latter of which mapped onto host phylogeny. These putative symbionts are most similar to-among all known microbes-those that occupy the intestines of ecologically and evolutionarily related herbivorous fishes in more distant ocean basins. Our findings therefore suggest that the intestinal microbiome may be an important functional trait among these large-bodied consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod J Scott
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, República de Panamá, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Thomas C Adam
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Alain Duran
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Deron E Burkepile
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Douglas B Rasher
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544, USA
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21
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Quimbayo JP, Giglio VJ, Ferreira CEL, Fraga A, Nunes JACC, Mendes TC. Contrasting feeding and agonistic behaviour of two blenny species on a small and remote island in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2020; 96:74-82. [PMID: 31648362 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the feeding rates, agonistic behaviour and diet of two blenny species, Entomacrodus vomerinus and Ophioblennius trinitatis, by direct observation and gut content analysis. Both species coexist in small and shallow tide pools in the St Peter and St Paul's Archipelago, equatorial North Atlantic Ocean. The feeding rate of O. trinitatis was c. 55% higher than E. vomerinus. On the other hand, agonistic rate of O. trinitatis was negatively related to body size, whereas in E. vomerinus was positively related. Both species showed a high diet overlap, in which detritus was the most important food item (86% in O. trinitatis and 80% in E. vomerinus). Feeding activity was more intense during the morning for O. trinitatis but afternoon for E. vomerinus. These behavioural observations support the importance of temporal feeding partitioning as the main strategy allowing species co-existence in tide pools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P Quimbayo
- Centro de Biologia Marinha, University of São Paulo, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes recifais, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vinicius J Giglio
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes recifais, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação Marinha, Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos E L Ferreira
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes recifais, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alana Fraga
- Laboratório de Biogeografia e Macroecologia Marinha, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | | | - Thiago C Mendes
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes recifais, Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
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22
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Baraf LM, Pratchett MS, Cowman PF. Ancestral biogeography and ecology of marine angelfishes (F: Pomacanthidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 140:106596. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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