Interpreting Space Use and Behavior of Blue Tang, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthurus coeruleus</Emphasis>, in the Context of Habitat,Density, and Intra-specific Interactions |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Brice?X?SemmensEmail author Daniel?R?Brumbaugh Joshua?A?Drew |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, University of Washington, 24 Kincaid Hall, Box 351800, Seattle, Washington 98195-1800, USA;(2) Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192, USA;(3) Marine Program Marine Biological Laboratory, Boston University, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA |
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Abstract: | Synopsis We hypothesized that blue tang, Acanthurus coeruleus, territories on sites with low biogenic structure would be larger than territories on sites with relatively high biogenic
structure due to differences in the amount and distribution of resources. We tested this hypothesis by tracking blue tang
over uncolonized pavement and reef crest, two habitat types at opposite ends of the habitat structure spectrum. We recorded
density, feeding rates and aggression events in order to evaluate our findings in the context of a territory model and the
ideal free distribution model. Territories of A. coeruleus averaged nearly four times larger on pavement sites than on reef crest sites. Conversely, densities of A. coeruleus were significantly lower on pavement sites. While there was no significant difference in the average rates of movement between
habitats, average turning angles were significantly higher on reef crest. There were no significant differences in feeding
rates between habitats, suggesting that higher territory sizes and lower densities may allow fish on uncolonized pavement
to match resource acquisition of fish on reef crest. The insignificant difference of aggression encounters between habitats
suggests that movement and density differences among habitats are not solely legacies of differential settlement. |
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Keywords: | movement coral reef behavior space territory home range |
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