PMID: 19928463Nov 26, 2009Paper

The feeding activity of herbivorous fishes and their impact on coral reefs with different levels of anthropogenic degradation

Revista de biología tropical
Alain Durán, Rodolfo Claro

Abstract

The feeding activity of three herbivorous fishes (Sparisoma viride, Scarus iserti and Acanthurus coeruleus) and its impact on two coral reefs were studied during the dry (February) and rainy (August) seasons of 2006 in Cuba. One of the reef stations is at the "Acuario" dive point in the Guanahacabibes National Park, and is relatively pristine. The second one is located at the north coast of Havana City facing the Instituto de Oceanología (IdO) and is subject to pollution and fishing pressures. Herbivore fish composition was analized, and foraging intensity was measured for all Acanthurid and Scarid species, by counting fish bites in 1 m2 during five minute intervals (25 replicates). Concurrently, species foraging intensity was measured for juvenile, intermediate, and adult phases, counting fish bites during 10 minutes intervals (10 replicates). Algal consumption rate was estimated using a coefficent of consumed biomass per bite, for each size class. The algal cover was sampled at 20 m linear transects with four replicates at each site. Food items were assessed sampling algae at the observed bitten substrates. Compared to Acuario, herbivores in IdO showed lower species richness and higher density of small size fishes, but large-...Continue Reading

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