Grazing by a small fish affects the early stages of a post-settlement stony coral |
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Authors: | N A Christiansen S Ward S Harii I R Tibbetts |
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Institution: | (1) Centre for Marine Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia;(2) Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan |
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Abstract: | Short-term experiments were used to isolate the detrimental effects of grazer disturbance on young corals, and determine the
stage of development at which recruits are no longer susceptible to this disturbance. Artificial substrata containing an algal
matrix and coral recruits of different life stages were exposed to grazing by epilithic algal matrix (EAM) feeding combtoothed
blennies, Salarias fasciatus. Single polyp recruits were vulnerable to grazer disturbance, while multi-polyp recruits (ca. 6–8 polyps) survived with evidence of minor damage in the form of tissue and polyp loss. The result indicates that blennies,
although small and possessing weak dentition, can negatively influence the survival of young coral recruits. The protruding
structure of micro-nubbins, representing juvenile corals were not damaged, suggesting that coral achieving that size and form
can escape such damage.
Communicated by Ecology Editor Prof. Peter Mumby |
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Keywords: | Blenniidae Great Barrier Reef Coral recruitment Mortality Salarias fasciatus |
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