Feeding habits of range-shifting herbivores: Tropical surgeonfishes in a temperate environment

Basford, AJ; Feary, DA; Truong, G; Steinberg, PD; Marzinelli, EM; Vergés, A

Feeding habits of range-shifting herbivores: Tropical surgeonfishes in a temperate environment

Basford, AJ Feary, DA Truong, G Steinberg, PD Marzinelli, EM Vergés, A

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Marine and Freshwater Research, 2016, 67 (1), pp. 75 - 83
Issue Date:: 2016-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Basford, AJ	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Feary, DA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Truong, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Steinberg, PD	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Marzinelli, EM	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Vergés, A	en_US
dc.date.issued	2016-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Marine and Freshwater Research, 2016, 67 (1), pp. 75 - 83	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1323-1650	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/122641
dc.description.abstract	© CSIRO 2016. A widely documented impact of ocean warming is the poleward shift in species' distributions. This includes the global movement of tropical fishes into temperate rocky reefs. The ecological impacts of such range extensions are, however, largely unknown. We compared the feeding habits of herbivorous tropical surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae) to that of warm-temperate surgeonfishes near Sydney, Australia. The abundance of tropical surgeonfishes peaked during warmer months before they became locally extinct in winter. Comparisons of bite rates in the field between tropical (Acanthurus triostegus, Acanthurus dussumieri) and warm-temperate (Prionurus microlepidotus, Prionurus maculatus) surgeonfishes showed a significant effect of schooling, with both groups feeding most intensely in monospecific schools. In aquarium feeding trials, tropical surgeonfishes consumed more algae than their warm-temperate counterparts at both high and low temperatures (25 and 20°C), and had higher bite rates at 25°C than at 20°C. A. dussumieri also had significantly higher consumption rates on brown algal recruits at warmer temperatures. We further compared gut indices and jaw-lever ratios among the four focal species, and found no consistent pattern between tropical and warm-temperate fishes. This study suggests that the continued intrusion of tropical surgeonfishes in temperate reefs will result in increased herbivory, as a result of both higher herbivore abundance and higher consumption rates per capita by tropical species.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Marine and Freshwater Research	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1071/MF14208	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Marine Biology & Hydrobiology	en_US
dc.title	Feeding habits of range-shifting herbivores: Tropical surgeonfishes in a temperate environment	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	67	en_US
utslib.for	060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology)	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	67	en_US

Abstract:

© CSIRO 2016. A widely documented impact of ocean warming is the poleward shift in species' distributions. This includes the global movement of tropical fishes into temperate rocky reefs. The ecological impacts of such range extensions are, however, largely unknown. We compared the feeding habits of herbivorous tropical surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae) to that of warm-temperate surgeonfishes near Sydney, Australia. The abundance of tropical surgeonfishes peaked during warmer months before they became locally extinct in winter. Comparisons of bite rates in the field between tropical (Acanthurus triostegus, Acanthurus dussumieri) and warm-temperate (Prionurus microlepidotus, Prionurus maculatus) surgeonfishes showed a significant effect of schooling, with both groups feeding most intensely in monospecific schools. In aquarium feeding trials, tropical surgeonfishes consumed more algae than their warm-temperate counterparts at both high and low temperatures (25 and 20°C), and had higher bite rates at 25°C than at 20°C. A. dussumieri also had significantly higher consumption rates on brown algal recruits at warmer temperatures. We further compared gut indices and jaw-lever ratios among the four focal species, and found no consistent pattern between tropical and warm-temperate fishes. This study suggests that the continued intrusion of tropical surgeonfishes in temperate reefs will result in increased herbivory, as a result of both higher herbivore abundance and higher consumption rates per capita by tropical species.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/122641