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Effects of social organization on the feeding of the striped parrotfish, Scarus iseri

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Abstract

Parrotfishes contribute to important reef processes through their feeding. Individuals may join groups with distinctive social behavior, with unknown implications for their feeding ecology and, ultimately, their functional roles in reef systems. Using Scarus iseri populations in Isla Colón, Panama, we investigated whether individuals belonging to the two main social groups formed by this species (‘Territorial’ and ‘Stationary’ groups) differed in their feeding preferences. Territorial groups had access to a diversity of potential food sources, yet showed selectivity for feeding on sandy substrate. Stationary groups showed high selectivity for filamentous algae, despite this resource being less available for this group than for territorial individuals. Initial phase fish had higher bite rates on plants than terminal phase individuals, while the latter had higher bite rates on soft substrata and sponges, both indicating detritus consumption. Parrotfish sociobiology may therefore influence their relative ecosystem impact, with territorial and terminal individuals in both social groups more involved in the detrital food web and stationary groups contributing to a greater extent on algal removal.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Tropical Conservation Consortium (TCC) crew for assistance in fieldwork. JLLF and LCTC were granted scholarships from CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Nível Superior) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), respectively, during the time of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Professor Moraes Rego S/N, Recife, PE, 50670-420, Brazil

    J. L. L. Feitosa, L. V. M. V. Queiroz-Véras, R. J. Miranda & B. P. Ferreira

  2. Tropical Conservation Consortium, 10413 SW 40th Avenue, Portland, OR, 97219, USA

    J. L. L. Feitosa, L. C. T. Chaves & C. G. A. Ormond

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  1. J. L. L. Feitosa
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  2. L. C. T. Chaves
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  3. L. V. M. V. Queiroz-Véras
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  5. C. G. A. Ormond
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  6. B. P. Ferreira
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Correspondence to J. L. L. Feitosa.

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Feitosa, J.L.L., Chaves, L.C.T., Queiroz-Véras, L.V.M.V. et al. Effects of social organization on the feeding of the striped parrotfish, Scarus iseri. Coral Reefs 40, 951–957 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-021-02080-3

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