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Parrotfish predation on massive Porites on the Great Barrier Reef

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Abstract

Parrotfish grazing scars on coral colonies were quantified across four reef zones at Lizard Island, Northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The abundance of parrotfish grazing scars was highest on reef flat and crest, with massive Porites spp. colonies having more parrotfish grazing scars than all other coral species combined. Massive Porites was the only coral type positively selected for grazing by parrotfishes in all four reef zones. The density of parrotfish grazing scars on massive Porites spp., and the rate of new scar formation, was highest on the reef crest and flat, reflecting the lower massive Porites cover and higher parrotfish abundance in these habitats. Overall, it appears that parrotfish predation pressure on corals could affect the abundance of preferred coral species, especially massive Porites spp, across the reef gradient. Parrotfish predation on corals may have a more important role on the GBR reefs than previously thought.

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Acknowledgments

We thank RJ Fox, CH Goatley, A González-Cabello, and JP Krajewski for assistance in the field; A Baird, JH Choat, and J Tanner for helpful discussions; Lizard Island Research Station staff for logistical support; and the CAPES—Brazilian Federal Government, Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowship (grant for RMB) and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for financial support.

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Author notes

  1. R. M. Bonaldo

    Present address: School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0230, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia

    R. M. Bonaldo & D. R. Bellwood

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  1. R. M. Bonaldo
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  2. D. R. Bellwood
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Correspondence to R. M. Bonaldo.

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Communicated by Environment Editor Prof. Rob van Woesik

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Bonaldo, R.M., Bellwood, D.R. Parrotfish predation on massive Porites on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 30, 259–269 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-010-0669-3

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