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1.
Mohsen Kayal Hunter S. Lenihan Cédric Pau Lucie Penin Mehdi Adjeroud 《Coral reefs (Online)》2011,30(3):827-837
Interactions among coral populations can moderate the impact of coral predator outbreaks, enhancing community resilience and
recovery. This study used predator-exclusion cages and neighbour removals in a field experiment to test how indirect interactions
between populations of three coral taxa, Acropora, Pocillopora, and Porites, influenced their survival during an outbreak of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, in Moorea, French Polynesia. High densities of corals enhanced survival by generating associational refuges: physical structures
that impeded Acanthaster and protected corals, and by simple density-dependent prey dilution that reduced predation rates. Acanthaster showed feeding preferences, resulting in varying intensities of predation on corals, which (1) influenced the type and strength
of the associational refuge among corals and (2) resulted in significant loss of the competitive dominants to the benefit
of the competitive inferiors. The result was a set of indirect positive interactions (IPIs) that prevented Acanthaster from eradicating Acropora and may have enhanced Porites, a relatively weak competitor among corals. IPIs probably play a key role in many ecosystems, especially in coral reefs in
which corals act as engineer species, to reduce impacts of perturbations and enhance community resilience. This study illustrates
the importance of IPIs in community regulation with a new conceptual model. 相似文献
2.
Examining the functional response of predators can provide insight into the role of predation in structuring prey populations and ecological communities. This study explored feeding behaviour and functional responses of planktivorous damselfishes when offered captive reared larvae of crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster sp., with the aim of determining whether these predators could ever play a role in moderating outbreaks of Acanthaster sp. We examined predatory behaviour of 11 species of planktivorous damselfish, testing: (1) the relationship between predator size and predation rate, both within and among fish species; (2) consumption rates on larvae of Acanthaster sp. versus larvae of a common, co-occurring coral reef asteroid Linckia laevigata; (3) maximal feeding rates upon both Acanthaster sp. and L. laevigata; and (4) functional responses of planktivorous fishes to increasing densities of Acanthaster sp. Consumption rates of crown-of-thorns larvae by damselfishes were independent of predator size; however, there was a significant negative relationship between predator size and consumption rate of L. laevigata, when pooling across all predatory species. Some damselfishes, including Acanthochromis polyacanthus and Amblyglyphidodon curacao, consumed larval Acanthaster sp. at a greater rate than for L. laevigata. Most predatory species (all except A. curacao and Pomacentrus amboinensis) exhibited a Type II functional response whereby the increasing feeding rate decelerated with increasing prey density. In addition to revealing that a wide range of planktivorous fishes can prey upon larvae of Acanthaster sp., these data suggest that planktivorous damselfishes may have the capacity to buffer against population fluctuations of Acanthaster sp. Importantly, predators with Type II functional responses often contribute to stability of prey populations, though planktivorous fishes may be swamped by an abnormally high influx of larvae, potentially contributing to the characteristic population fluctuations of Acanthaster sp. 相似文献
3.
Feeding electivity was investigated in a non-outbreaking population of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci (L.) from North Sulawesi, Indonesia. A null model-based approach was used to assess the feeding pattern of Acanthaster in relation to the availability of coral prey in the field. Of a total of 70 species of corals recorded as prey, massive
species, particularly of Faviidae, tended to be more frequently consumed than would be expected under the assumption of random
feeding by A. planci. Branched and encrusting/laminar forms of corals that occurred in relatively exposed sites were apparently not preferred,
pointing to the importance of non-acroporan massive species of corals in cryptic habitats as prey for A. planci. The null model-based electivity index Z introduced here directly measured the deviation from random feeding, while two common indices (Ivlev’s and Vanderploeg and
Scavia’s) only partially reflected such deviations (hence, prey selection cannot be accurately demonstrated by these). Electivity
values (Z) for poritid species and Acropora palifera, the most common Acropora species in the study site, were significantly negative, indicating apparent avoidance of them by Acanthaster. Our results indicate that accessibility to different coral species and the choice/avoidance of certain species are the important
elements of feeding in non-outbreaking populations of Acanthaster inhabiting spatially variable reef environments. A similar consideration may apply to the feeding patterns of other corallivores
that possess superior/inferior mobility to Acanthaster. The present study emphasizes the merit of testing the observed patterns, using null models for a rigorous assessment of
feeding preferences. 相似文献
4.
No-take reserves protect coral reefs from predatory starfish 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Sweatman H 《Current biology : CB》2008,18(14):R598-R599
The crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, is a predator of corals that is a major management issue on coral reefs [1]. It occurs throughout the Indo–Pacific and shows boom–bust population dynamics with low background densities and intermittent outbreaks. Three waves of population outbreaks have affected Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR) since the 1960s. The waves of outbreaks appear to start 15°S [2] and progress southward through the central GBR (Figure 1A), causing major losses of living coral on many reefs across a large area and dwarfing losses from other disturbances such as storms or coral bleaching over the same period [3]. Humans can potentially influence starfish population dynamics by exploiting predators, though evidence to date is circumstantial. Extensive surveys in the GBR Marine Park (GBRMP) show that protection from fishing affects the frequency of outbreaks: the relative frequency of outbreaks on reefs that were open to fishing was 3.75 times higher than that on no-take reefs in the mid-shelf region of the GBR, where most outbreaks occur, and seven times greater on open reefs if all reefs were included. Although exploited fishes are unlikely to prey on starfish directly, trophic cascades could favour invertebrates that prey on juvenile starfish. 相似文献
5.
M. S. Pratchett 《Coral reefs (Online)》2010,29(3):717-725
Population outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci L.) represent one of the most significant biological disturbances on tropical coral reefs and have the potential to devastate
coral communities, thereby altering the biological and physical structure of reef habitats. This study reports on changes
in area cover, species diversity and taxonomic composition of corals during an outbreak of A. planci at Lizard Island, in the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Mean coral cover declined by 28.8% across ten locations
studied. However, densities of A. planci, and their effects on local coral assemblages, were very patchy. Declines in coral cover were mostly due to the selective
removal of certain coral taxa (mainly Acropora and Pocilloporidae corals); such that the greatest coral loss occurred at locations with highest initial cover of preferred
coral prey. Most notably, coral assemblages in back-reef locations were transformed from topographically complex staghorn
Acropora-dominated habitats, to relatively depauperate assemblages dominated by alcyonacean soft corals. Although coral loss was greatest
among formerly dominant taxa (especially Acropora), effects were sufficiently widespread across different coral taxa, such that overall coral diversity tended to decline.
Clearly, moderate outbreaks of A. planci have the potential to greatly alter community structure of coral communities even if they do not devastate live corals. Recovery
in this instance is expected to be very rapid given that all coral taxa persisted, and effects were greatest among fast growing
corals. 相似文献
6.
Mohsen Kayal Julie Vercelloni Thierry Lison de Loma Pauline Bosserelle Yannick Chancerelle Sylvie Geoffroy Céline Stievenart Fran?ois Michonneau Lucie Penin Serge Planes Mehdi Adjeroud 《PloS one》2012,7(10)
Outbreaks of the coral-killing seastar Acanthaster planci are intense disturbances that can decimate coral reefs. These events consist of the emergence of large swarms of the predatory seastar that feed on reef-building corals, often leading to widespread devastation of coral populations. While cyclic occurrences of such outbreaks are reported from many tropical reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific, their causes are hotly debated, and the spatio-temporal dynamics of the outbreaks and impacts to reef communities remain unclear. Based on observations of a recent event around the island of Moorea, French Polynesia, we show that Acanthaster outbreaks are methodic, slow-paced, and diffusive biological disturbances. Acanthaster outbreaks on insular reef systems like Moorea''s appear to originate from restricted areas confined to the ocean-exposed base of reefs. Elevated Acanthaster densities then progressively spread to adjacent and shallower locations by migrations of seastars in aggregative waves that eventually affect the entire reef system. The directional migration across reefs appears to be a search for prey as reef portions affected by dense seastar aggregations are rapidly depleted of living corals and subsequently left behind. Coral decline on impacted reefs occurs by the sequential consumption of species in the order of Acanthaster feeding preferences. Acanthaster outbreaks thus result in predictable alteration of the coral community structure. The outbreak we report here is among the most intense and devastating ever reported. Using a hierarchical, multi-scale approach, we also show how sessile benthic communities and resident coral-feeding fish assemblages were subsequently affected by the decline of corals. By elucidating the processes involved in an Acanthaster outbreak, our study contributes to comprehending this widespread disturbance and should thus benefit targeted management actions for coral reef ecosystems. 相似文献
7.
Recovery without resilience: persistent disturbance and long-term shifts in the structure of fish and coral communities at Tiahura Reef, Moorea 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
Disturbances have a critical effect on the structure of natural communities. In this study long-term changes were examined
in the reef community at Tiahura Reef, on the northern coast of Moorea, which had been subject to many and varied disturbances
over the last 25 years. Tiahura Reef was subject to an outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) in 1980–1981, causing significant declines in the abundance of scleractinian corals and butterflyfishes. By 2003, the abundance
of corals and butterflyfishes had returned to former levels, but despite this apparent recovery, the species composition of
coral communities and butterflyfish assemblages was very different from those recorded in 1979. Ongoing disturbances (including
further outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish, cyclones, and coral bleaching events) appear to have prevented recovery of
many important coral species (notably, Acropora spp.), which has had subsequent effects on the community structure of coral-feeding butterflyfishes. This study shows that
recurrent disturbances may have persistent effects on the structure and dynamics of natural communities. 相似文献
8.
Camille Mellin Samuel Matthews Kenneth R.N. Anthony Stuart C. Brown M. Julian Caley Kerryn A. Johns Kate Osborne Marjetta Puotinen Angus Thompson Nicholas H. Wolff Damien A. Fordham M. Aaron MacNeil 《Global Change Biology》2019,25(7):2431-2445
In the face of increasing cumulative effects from human and natural disturbances, sustaining coral reefs will require a deeper understanding of the drivers of coral resilience in space and time. Here we develop a high‐resolution, spatially explicit model of coral dynamics on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Our model accounts for biological, ecological and environmental processes, as well as spatial variation in water quality and the cumulative effects of coral diseases, bleaching, outbreaks of crown‐of‐thorns starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris), and tropical cyclones. Our projections reconstruct coral cover trajectories between 1996 and 2017 over a total reef area of 14,780 km2, predicting a mean annual coral loss of ?0.67%/year mostly due to the impact of cyclones, followed by starfish outbreaks and coral bleaching. Coral growth rate was the highest for outer shelf coral communities characterized by digitate and tabulate Acropora spp. and exposed to low seasonal variations in salinity and sea surface temperature, and the lowest for inner‐shelf communities exposed to reduced water quality. We show that coral resilience (defined as the net effect of resistance and recovery following disturbance) was negatively related to the frequency of river plume conditions, and to reef accessibility to a lesser extent. Surprisingly, reef resilience was substantially lower within no‐take marine protected areas, however this difference was mostly driven by the effect of water quality. Our model provides a new validated, spatially explicit platform for identifying the reefs that face the greatest risk of biodiversity loss, and those that have the highest chances to persist under increasing disturbance regimes. 相似文献
9.
Richard W. Grigg 《Coral reefs (Online)》1992,11(4):183-186
In 1970, coral reef science was warned that the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, might cause the extinction of scleractinian corals in the Pacific Ocean. Now, 20 years later we can fortunately say that this alarm was almost certainly too severe. Many reefs were devastated by the starfish, but none are extinct, none have disappeared and many are in various stages of recovery. But now in the 1990's a new alarm is being sounded. This time the concern is over widespread destruction of coral reefs by elevated surface temperatures. Once again a few scientists have issued a dire warning that these events may represent a harbinger of ocean warming caused by the Greenhouse Effect. Has not Acanthaster taught coral reef science a lesson? The debate is far from over but this time the mood in general is not one of over-reaction. This time the Cassandras will be tested by the truth of careful experimentation, long-term monitoring and objective interpretation. Coral reef science appears to have come of age. 相似文献
10.
Indirect biotic effects arising from multispecies interactions can alter the structure and function of ecological communities—often in surprising ways that can vary in direction and magnitude. On Pacific coral reefs, predation by the crown-of-thorns sea star, Acanthaster planci, is associated with broad-scale losses of coral cover and increases of macroalgal cover. Macroalgal blooms increase coral–macroalgal competition and can generate further coral decline. However, using a combination of manipulative field experiments and observations, we demonstrate that macroalgae, such as Sargassum polycystum, produce associational refuges for corals and dramatically reduce their consumption by Acanthaster. Thus, as Acanthaster densities increase, macroalgae can become coral mutualists, despite being competitors that significantly suppress coral growth. Field feeding experiments revealed that the protective effects of macroalgae were strong enough to cause Acanthaster to consume low-preference corals instead of high-preference corals surrounded by macroalgae. This highlights the context-dependent nature of coral–algal interactions when consumers are common. Macroalgal creation of associational refuges from Acanthaster predation may have important implications for the structure, function and resilience of reef communities subject to an increasing number of biotic disturbances. 相似文献
11.
Sefano M. Katz F. Joseph Pollock David G. Bourne Bette L. Willis 《Coral reefs (Online)》2014,33(3):705-716
Brown band (BrB) disease manifests on corals as a ciliate-dominated lesion that typically progresses rapidly causing extensive mortality, but it is unclear whether the dominant ciliate Porpostoma guamense is a primary or an opportunistic pathogen, the latter taking advantage of compromised coral tissue or depressed host resistance. In this study, manipulative aquarium-based experiments were used to investigate the role of P. guamense as a pathogen when inoculated onto fragments of the coral Acropora hyacinthus that were either healthy, preyed on by Acanthaster planci (crown-of-thorns starfish; COTS), or experimentally injured. Following ciliate inoculation, BrB lesions developed on all of COTS-predated fragments (n = 9 fragments) and progressed up to 4.6 ± 0.3 cm d?1, resulting in ~70 % of coral tissue loss after 4 d. Similarly, BrB lesions developed rapidly on experimentally injured corals and ~38 % of coral tissue area was lost 60 h after inoculation. In contrast, no BrB lesions were observed on healthy corals following experimental inoculations. A choice experiment demonstrated that ciliates are strongly attracted to physically injured corals, with over 55 % of inoculated ciliates migrating to injured corals and forming distinct lesions, whereas ciliates did not migrate to healthy corals. Our results indicate that ciliates characteristic of BrB disease are opportunistic pathogens that rapidly migrate to and colonise compromised coral tissue, leading to rapid coral mortality, particularly following predation or injury. Predicted increases in tropical storms, cyclones, and COTS outbreaks are likely to increase the incidence of coral injury in the near future, promoting BrB disease and further contributing to declines in coral cover. 相似文献
12.
A.R.S. collins 《Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology》1974,15(2):173-184
Material obtained by simple biochemical fractionation of aqueous extracts of coral has been tested for its ability to induce responses normally associated with feeding on live corals in the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci (L.) With the use of a new assay method, it has been shown that both dialysable and non-dialysable components of aqueous coral extract cause cessation of movement, settlement, and eversion of the stomach as if over a whole coral. A second response, apparently of avoidance, seen as a starfish approaches a coral prior to feeding, has also been examined; it is evoked by the dialysable fraction of coral extract. 相似文献
13.
A. H. Baird M. S. Pratchett A. S. Hoey Y. Herdiana S. J. Campbell 《Coral reefs (Online)》2013,32(3):803-812
The corallivorous crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), Acanthaster planci, is recognised as a major cause of coral reef degradation throughout much of the Pacific Ocean. However, the effects of COTS on the high diversity reefs in Indonesia have been largely overlooked. In 2007, high densities of COTS were observed in two regions of Indonesia: Aceh and Halmahera. Densities of COTS ranged from 0 to 52 starfish 2,000 m2 across 24 sites in Aceh and from 0 to 18 starfish 2,000 m2 at 10 sites in Halmahera. Mortality rates of Acropora spp. were very high at affected sites: over 50 % of colonies had been killed at seven of the 16 affected sites. A review of historical sources going back to 1969 suggests that COTS have damaged many reefs throughout Indonesia, including much activity within the Indonesian section of the Coral Triangle. Furthermore, the data suggest that COTS activity has increased rapidly since 2000. Very little of this activity has been reported in the primary literature, and there is a general lack of awareness in Indonesia of COTS as a potential cause of reef degradation. This lack of awareness, combined with limited monitoring efforts, means that damage caused by COTS is often attributed to other causes, such as destructive fishing, bleaching or tsunami. COTS are clearly a major source of coral mortality in Indonesia of which scientists and government need to be more cognizant. 相似文献
14.
A large survey program was conducted during 1985/1986 to determine the extent of activity of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, and its broad effects on the coral communities of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The perimeters of 228 reefs (about 9% of reefs in the GBR system) were surveyed within 1 year using rapid survey, manta tow techniques. These reefs encompassed the broad latitudinal and longitudinal gradients within the GBR. Approximately 27% (62 reefs) of the reefs surveyed had recently experienced (18%), or were experiencing (9%), an outbreak of the crown-of-thorns starfish. These outbreaks were mainly confined to reefs in the central third of the GBR (between Lizard Island and Townsville) and had affected, to varying degrees, approximately 65% of the reefs surveyed within this region. A greater proportion of mid-shelf reefs had experienced outbreaks than outer-shelf reefs, although this difference was not statistically significant. Of the small number of inner-shelf reefs surveyed, none had been recently affected by an outbreak. Large active outbreaks of starfish were reported on many of the reefs located off Townsville while much smaller outbreaks were found on several reefs at the southern end of the GBR, in the Swain Reef complex. Almost 86% of reefs currently experiencing an outbreak had moderate to high coral mortality over at least a third of their perimeters. Only 10% of reefs with active outbreaks had high coral mortality over most of their windward and leeward margins. A similar proportion of reefs had low to moderate coral mortality over less than a third of their perimeters. 相似文献
15.
Corallivorous gastropods of the genus Drupella are known for population outbreaks throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Despite their potential to destroy wide areas of coral
reef, prey preferences have never been analyzed with respect to prey availability, and juvenile ecology and food selectivity
remain largely unknown. Here, the influence of water depth, coral abundance, colony shape, prey species, and intraspecific
attraction among snails on distribution patterns, prey selection, and microhabitat use of D. cornus was studied in the northern Red Sea. Special emphasis was put on ontogenetic differences. The snails were most abundant in
the shallowest reef zone (1 m depth). Adults were associated with several substrates and coral growth forms, whereas juveniles
were highly cryptic and restricted to live branching corals. The genus Acropora was significantly preferred over other acroporid and pocilloporid corals. As revealed by resource selection ratios, Acropora acuminata was preferred by juveniles, A. selago by adults. In aquarium experiments, intraspecific attraction was high among both life stages. Overall, significant differences
in juvenile and adult microhabitat and prey use suggest that juveniles have more specific habitat requirements, and indicate
ecological impacts on coral communities different from that of adults. Prey preferences seem to depend on both coral genus
and colony shape. Acropora corals provide the best combination of food and shelter and therefore determine distribution patterns of D. cornus. 相似文献
16.
Morgan S. Pratchett 《Coral reefs (Online)》2005,24(3):453-462
Despite their significant influence on coral reef ecosystems, causes of population outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci L.) are still poorly understood. Essentially, outbreaks of A. planci could arise from either (1) a single mass recruitment event or (2) the progressive accumulation of starfish from multiple
cohorts. This study explored fine-scale variation in the size, distribution, and abundance of A. planci, during an outbreak at Lizard Island in the northern Great Barrier Reef, to assess the mechanism by which the outbreak occurred.
Densities of A. planci around Lizard Island increased very gradually from October 1994 until December 1996, then remained at around 1.0 starfish
per 200 m2 until June 1998. The population of A. planci comprised individuals ranging in size from 11-cm to 62-cm diameter, representing individuals from multiple (at least four)
different cohorts. These data suggest that the outbreak of A. planci at Lizard Island resulted from a prolonged build-up in starfish numbers through multiple successive recruitment events. This
study shows that outbreaks of A. planci may arise independently of any sudden or substantial increase in rates of recruitment, such that any factor(s) responsible
for the initial onset of outbreaks are likely to be very subtle and difficult to detect. 相似文献
17.
棘冠海星暴发及其对珊瑚礁的生态影响研究进展 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
棘冠海星的反复暴发是导致印度—太平洋区域珊瑚礁生态系统退化的最主要原因之一。然而,我国对棘冠海星的研究非常有限。本文综述了国内外关于棘冠海星及其暴发的生态影响和应对策略的研究进展,得出以下主要结论:1)雌性棘冠海星个体每年产卵数量高达50万—2亿个,环境因素变化只要导致幼虫和幼体存活率的轻微提高,成体就将得到大量补充;2)棘冠海星暴发的阈值为1000—1500个/km2,暴发周期为10—27 a,每次暴发持续1—10 a,最终可能以“种群集体感染疾病而崩溃”结束;3)棘冠海星暴发对印度洋及太平洋东部和北部珊瑚礁的破坏性非常小,却直接导致太平洋的西部和南部珊瑚礁90%以上的珊瑚死亡,并通过改变珊瑚群落组成、减少珊瑚和鱼类多样性而对珊瑚礁产生间接影响;4)关于棘冠海星暴发原因的假说中“陆地营养物质输入假说”和“捕食者过度捕捞假说”得到了最普遍的认可,但都不能解释所有的暴发事件;5)应对棘冠海星暴发的主要策略有改善水质、设立保护区、投放天敌和人工清理等,其中人工清理是最直接有效的策略,但迄今并没有发现可长期抑制棘冠海星暴发的方法。因此,急需加强对棘冠海星的深入研究,探查... 相似文献
18.
A.R.S. Collins 《Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology》1975,17(1):69-86
Feeding behaviour is induced in the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planet (L.), by two kinds of chemical stimulus originating in coral. One is macromolecular, and the other of low molecular weight, largely accounted for by small peptides and amino acids.It is found that, under experimental conditions, starfish rapidly habituate to a chemical stimulus which at first strongly induces feeding behaviour.The pronounced withdrawal response which occurs when a crude extract of coral is applied to the starfish (a response apparently identical with that evoked by contact with live coral) is caused by a component which corresponds closely in chromatographie behaviour with proline. Proline itself produces the response, but is present at too low a concentration in coral to account for the observed activity. 相似文献
19.
Coral reefs are often subject to disturbances that can cause enduring changes in community structure and abundance of coral
reef organisms. In Moorea, French Polynesia, frequent disturbances between 1979 and 2003 caused marked shifts in taxonomic
composition of coral assemblages. This study explores recent changes in live cover and taxonomic structure of coral communities
on the north coast of Moorea, French Polynesia, to assess whether coral assemblages are recovering (returning to a previous
Acropora-dominated state) or continuing to move towards an alternative community structure. Coral cover declined by 29.7% between
July 2003 and March 2009, mostly due to loss of Acropora and Montipora spp. Coral mortality varied among habitats, with highest levels of coral loss on the outer reef slope (7–20 m depth). In
contrast, there was limited change in coral cover within the lagoon, and coral cover actually increased on the reef crest.
Observed changes in coral cover and composition correspond closely with the known feeding preferences and observed spatial
patterns of Acanthaster planci L., though observed coral loss also coincided with at least one episode of coral bleaching, as well as persistent populations
of the corallivorous starfish Culcita novaeguineae Muller & Troschel. While climate change poses an important and significant threat to the future structure and dynamics coral
reef communities, outbreaks of A. planci remain a significant cause of coral loss in Moorea. More importantly, these recent disturbances have followed long-term shifts
in the structure of coral assemblages, and the relative abundance of both Pocillopora and Porites continue to increase due to disproportionate losses of Acropora and Montipora. Moreover, Pocillopora and Porites dominate assemblages of juvenile corals, suggesting that there is limited potential for a return to an Acropora-dominated state, last recorded in 1979. 相似文献
20.
While global extinctions of marine species are infrequent, local extinctions are becoming common. However, the role of habitat degradation and resource specialisation in explaining local extinction is unknown. On coral reefs, coral bleaching is an increasingly frequent cause of coral mortality that can result in dramatic changes to coral community composition. Coral-associated fishes are often specialised on a limited suite of coral species and are therefore sensitive to these changes. This study documents the local extinction of a corallivorous reef fish, Oxymonacanthus longirostris, following a mass bleaching event that altered the species composition of associated coral communities. Local extinction only occurred on reefs that also completely lost a key prey species, Acropora millepora, even though coral cover remained high. In an experimental test, fish continued to select bleached A. millepora over the healthy, but less-preferred prey species that resisted bleaching. These results suggest that behavioural inflexibility may limit the ability of specialists to cope with even subtle changes to resource availability. 相似文献