Abstract
A comparative study of the size distribution of four fish species was performed on three geomorphological zones (back reef, inner reef flat and outer reef flat) on two comparable fringing reef areas (disturbed and non-disturbed) of Reunion Island, S. W. Indian Ocean. The species chosen Chaetodon trifasciatus, Dascyllus aruanus, Stethojulis albovittata and Ctenochaetus striatus were selected both for their abundance and their diverse diets. The method used is based on the estimation of fish size directly underwater by comparison to a graduated table, i.e. photographs of the species for which different size-classes were previously determined. For the two areas, the size of fishes increases from the back reef zone to the outer reef flat, except for D. aruanus which is not present in sufficient numbers on the outer reef flat to allow a statistical analysis. This suggests the existence of a nursery zone in the back reef from which these species might colonize the reef flat. On the back reef zone and the inner reef flat, there is a significant difference in the size distribution of fishes between the disturbed and non-disturbed areas, except for S. albovittata. The number of juveniles is significantly lower in the disturbed area, probably due to environmental perturbations.
Résumé
Une étude de la distribution des tailles de quatre espéces de poissons coralliens a été réalisée sur trois zones géomorphologiques (arriére récif, platier interne et platier externe) de deux secteurs récifaux comparables (dégradé et non dégradé) de l'île de la Réunion, océan Indien occidental. Les espéces étudiées, Chaetodon trisfaciatus, Dascyllus aruanus, Stethojulis albovittata et Ctenochaetus striatus ont été choisies pour leur abondance et leur diversité de régime alimentaire. La technique utilisée consiste á estimer la longueur du poisson directement sous l'eau á l'aide d'une tablette graduée. Des photographies de poissons de différentes tailles, préalablement définies, y ont été fixées, et ceci pour les quatre espéces. Pour les deux secteurs, une augmentation réguliére de la taille des poissons depuis l'arriére récif jusqu' au platier externe est apparue, sauf pour D. Aruanus ui n'est apas suffisamment abondante sur le platier externe pour permettre une analyse statistique. Ces observations suggérent l'existence d'une nurserie dans l'arriére récif á partir duquel pourrait s' opérer la colonisation du platier récifal. Dans les zones d' arriére récif et de platier interne, il y a par ailleurs une différence significative dans la distribution des tailles des poissons entre le secteur dégradé et le secteur non dégradé, sauf pour S. albovittata. Le nombre des juvéniles est significativement plus faible dans le secteur dégradé, ce qui pourrait être dû aux dégradations de l'environment corallien.
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Chabanet, P., Letourneur, Y. Spatial pattern of size distribution of four fish species on Réunion coral reef flats. Hydrobiologia 300, 299–308 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00024470
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00024470