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Moeller HV, Nisbet RM, Stier AC. Cascading benefits of mutualists' predators on foundation species: A model inspired by coral reef ecosystems. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Holly V. Moeller
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California USA
| | - Roger M. Nisbet
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California USA
| | - Adrian C. Stier
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California USA
- Marine Science Institute University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California USA
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2
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Fox LR, Potts SE. Herbivory mediates direct and indirect interactions in long‐unburned chaparral. ECOL MONOGR 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laurel R. Fox
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California, Santa Cruz California USA
| | - Stephen E. Potts
- Department of Biological Sciences Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Louisiana USA
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3
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da S Costa MI, Anjos LD. The interplay between fishery yield and top predator culling in a multispecies fishery context. MATHEMATICAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE IMA 2020; 37:351-363. [PMID: 31930337 DOI: 10.1093/imammb/dqz017] [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: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In food webs, fishery can play the role of top predator, competing thus with other top predators for valuable food resources. In this view, it has been claimed in fisheries management that culling of top predators can be a means to improve fishery yield. To investigate this hypothesis, we use theoretical population models to assess in a multispecies context how fishery yield from target species harvest responds to top predator cull. Defying crisp summary, the four analysed food web models show that this response may be either positive or negative or both, indicating that in terms of multispecies fishery management the harvest yield may not accrue as a consequence of predator removal. In addition, this multitude of behaviours points also to the fact that the response of fishery yield to top predator cull may be difficult to assess.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Iskin da S Costa
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis, RJ 25651-070 Brazil Corresponding author.
| | - Lucas Dos Anjos
- Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas, 333 - Quitandinha, Petrópolis, RJ 25651-070 Brazil Corresponding author.
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4
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Stears K, Schmitt MH, Wilmers CC, Shrader AM. Mixed-species herding levels the landscape of fear. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20192555. [PMID: 32126952 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prey anti-predator behaviours are influenced by perceived predation risk in a landscape and social information gleaned from herd mates regarding predation risk. It is well documented that high-quality social information about risk can come from heterospecific herd mates. Here, we integrate social information with the landscape of fear to quantify how these landscapes are modified by mixed-species herding. To do this, we investigated zebra vigilance in single- and mixed-species herds across different levels of predation risk (lion versus no lion), and assessed how they manage herd size and the competition-information trade-off associated with grouping behaviour. Overall, zebra performed higher vigilance in high-risk areas. However, mixed-species herding reduced vigilance levels. We estimate that zebra in single-species herds would have to feed for approximately 35 min more per day in low-risk areas and approximately 51 min more in high-risk areas to compensate for the cost of higher vigilance. Furthermore, zebra benefitted from the competition-information trade-off by increasing the number of heterospecifics while keeping the number of zebra in a herd constant. Ultimately, we show that mixed-species herding reduces the effects of predation risk, whereby zebra in mixed-species herds, under high predation risk, perform similar levels of vigilance compared with zebra in low-risk scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keenan Stears
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.,School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.,South African Environmental Observation Network, Ndlovu Node, Phalaborwa 1390, South Africa
| | - Melissa H Schmitt
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.,South African Environmental Observation Network, Ndlovu Node, Phalaborwa 1390, South Africa.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Christopher C Wilmers
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Adrian M Shrader
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.,Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
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5
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Coker DJ, Chaidez V, Berumen ML. Habitat Use and Spatial Variability of Hawkfishes with a Focus on Colour Polymorphism in Paracirrhites forsteri. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169079. [PMID: 28125589 PMCID: PMC5268474 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying relationships between fishes and their environment is an integral part of understanding coral reef ecosystems. However, this information is lacking for many species, particularly in understudied and remote regions. With coral reefs continuing to face environmental pressures, insight into abundance and distribution patterns along with resource use of fish communities will aid in advancing our ecological understanding and management processes. Based on ecological surveys of hawkfish assemblages (Family: Cirrhitidae) in the Red Sea, we reveal distinct patterns in the distribution and abundance across the continental shelf, wave exposure, and with depth, particularly in the four colour morphs of Paracirrhites forsteri. Distinct patterns were observed among hawkfishes, with higher abundance of all species recorded on reefs farther from shore and on wave exposed reef zones. Cirrhitus spilotoceps was only recorded on the exposed crest, but unlike the other species, did not associate with live coral colonies. Overall, the most abundant species was P. forsteri. This species exploited a variety of habitats but showed an affinity for complex habitats provided by live and dead coral colonies. No difference in habitat use was observed among the four colour morphs, but distinct patterns were apparent in distribution and abundance with depth. This study suggests that in addition to P. forsteri exhibiting diverse colour morphologies, these various morphotypes appear to have corresponding ecological differences in the Red Sea. To better understand this, further studies are needed to identify what these differences extend to and the mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren J. Coker
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- * E-mail:
| | - Veronica Chaidez
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael L. Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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6
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Coker DJ, Hoey AS, Wilson SK, Depczynski M, Graham NAJ, Hobbs JPA, Holmes TH, Pratchett MS. Habitat Selectivity and Reliance on Live Corals for Indo-Pacific Hawkfishes (Family: Cirrhitidae). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138136. [PMID: 26529406 PMCID: PMC4631501 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hawkfishes (family: Cirrhitidae) are small conspicuous reef predators that commonly perch on, or shelter within, the branches of coral colonies. This study examined habitat associations of hawkfishes, and explicitly tested whether hawkfishes associate with specific types of live coral. Live coral use and habitat selectivity of hawkfishes was explored at six locations from Chagos in the central Indian Ocean extending east to Fiji in the Pacific Ocean. A total of 529 hawkfishes from seven species were recorded across all locations with 63% of individuals observed perching on, or sheltering within, live coral colonies. Five species (all except Cirrhitus pinnulatus and Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus) associated with live coral habitats. Cirrhitichthys falco selected for species of Pocillopora while Paracirrhites arcatus and P. forsteri selected for both Pocillopora and Acropora, revealing that these habitats are used disproportionately more than expected based on the local cover of these coral genera. Habitat selection was consistent across geographic locations, and species of Pocillopora were the most frequently used and most consistently selected even though this coral genus never comprised more than 6% of the total coral cover at any of the locations. Across locations, Paracirrhites arcatus and P. forsteri were the most abundant species and variation in their abundance corresponded with local patterns of live coral cover and abundance of Pocilloporid corals, respectively. These findings demonstrate the link between small predatory fishes and live coral habitats adding to the growing body of literature highlighting that live corals (especially erect branching corals) are critically important for sustaining high abundance and diversity of fishes on coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren J. Coker
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Andrew S. Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Shaun K. Wilson
- Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Marine Science Program, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth, Australia
| | - Martial Depczynski
- Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Nicholas A. J. Graham
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Paul A. Hobbs
- Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Thomas H. Holmes
- Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Marine Science Program, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Perth, Australia
| | - Morgan S. Pratchett
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
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7
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Sitvarin MI, Rypstra AL. The importance of intraguild predation in predicting emergent multiple predator effects. Ecology 2014. [DOI: 10.1890/13-2347.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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8
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Stier AC, Geange SW, Hanson KM, Bolker BM. Predator density and timing of arrival affect reef fish community assembly. Ecology 2013; 94:1057-68. [DOI: 10.1890/11-1983.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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9
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Stier AC, Geange SW, Bolker BM. Predator density and competition modify the benefits of group formation in a shoaling reef fish. OIKOS 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20726.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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10
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Lenihan HS, Holbrook SJ, Schmitt RJ, Brooks AJ. Influence of corallivory, competition, and habitat structure on coral community shifts. Ecology 2011; 92:1959-71. [PMID: 22073787 DOI: 10.1890/11-0108.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The species composition of coral communities has shifted in many areas worldwide through the relative loss of important ecosystem engineers such as highly branched corals, which are integral in maintaining reef biodiversity. We assessed the degree to which the performance of recently recruited branching corals was influenced by corallivory, competition, sedimentation, and the interactions between these factors. We also explored whether the species-specific influence of these biotic and abiotic constraints helps to explain recent shifts in the coral community in lagoons of Moorea, French Polynesia. Population surveys revealed evidence of a community shift away from a historically acroporid-dominated community to a pocilloporid- and poritid-dominated community, but also showed that the distribution and abundance of coral taxa varied predictably with location in the lagoon. At the microhabitat scale, branching corals grew mainly on dead or partially dead massive Porites ("bommies"), promontories with enhanced current velocities and reduced sedimentation. A demographic study revealed that growth and survival of juvenile Pocillopora verrucosa and Acropora retusa, the two most common branching species of each taxon, were affected by predation and competition with vermetid gastropods. By 24 months of age, 20-60% of juvenile corals suffered partial predation by corallivorous fishes, and injured corals experienced reduced growth and survival. A field experiment confirmed that partial predation by corallivorous fishes is an important, but habitat-modulated, constraint for branching corals. Competition with vermetid gastropods reduced growth of both branching species but unexpectedly also provided an associational defense against corallivory. Overall, the impact of abiotic constraints was habitat-specific and similar for Acropora and Pocillopora, but biotic interactions, especially corallivory, had a greater negative effect on Acropora than Pocillopora, which may explain the local shift in coral community composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter S Lenihan
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-5131, USA.
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11
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Holbrook SJ, Schmitt RJ, Brooks AJ. Indirect effects of species interactions on habitat provisioning. Oecologia 2011; 166:739-49. [PMID: 21274572 PMCID: PMC3114069 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-1912-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2010] [Accepted: 01/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Species that shelter in a biogenic habitat can influence their refugia and, in turn, play an essential role in shaping local patterns of biodiversity. Here we explore a positive feedback loop between the provisioning rate of habitat-forming branching corals and their associated fishes and show how interactions between two groups of fish—the planktivorous damselfish and predatory hawkfish—altered the feedback. A field experiment confirmed that skeletal growth of branching coral (genus Pocillopora) increased substantially with increasing numbers (biomass) of resident fishes, likely because they greatly increased the interstitial concentrations of nutrients. Because there is a positive relationship between colony size and number (biomass) of associated fishes (primarily damselfishes in the Family Pomacentridae), a structure–function feedback loop exists in which increasing numbers of damselfish enhance coral growth and larger corals host greater abundances (and species richness) of fish. However, interactions between damselfishes and arc-eye hawkfish, Paracirrhites arcatus, a largely solitary resident, can disrupt this positive feedback loop. Field surveys revealed a marked pattern of fish occupancy related to coral size: Pocillopora colonies of sufficient size to host fish (>40 cm circumference) had either groups of damselfish or an arc-eye hawkfish; only larger colonies (>75 cm) were occupied by both the damselfish and hawkfish. Subsequent short- and long-term experiments revealed that on intermediate-sized Pocillopora colonies, arc-eye hawkfish prevented the establishment of damselfish by suppressing their recruitment. The demographic consequences to the host coral were substantial; in a 1-year-long experiment, intermediate-size Pocillopora occupied by hawkfish grew at half the rate of corals that hosted groups of damselfish. These findings indicate that: (1) species which occupy a biogenic habitat can enhance the provisioning rate of their habitat; (2) such positive feedbacks between community structure and ecosystem function can be disrupted by a strong interactor; (3) even substantial consequences on ecosystem processes that arise can be difficult to discern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally J Holbrook
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
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12
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Macreadie PI, Hindell JS, Keough MJ, Jenkins GP, Connolly RM. Resource distribution influences positive edge effects in a seagrass fish. Ecology 2010; 91:2013-21. [PMID: 20715624 DOI: 10.1890/08-1890.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter I Macreadie
- Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
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