Abstract
Striped parrotfish (Scarus iserti) often form heterospecific groups with other reef fishes. In this study, we examined the species and body size composition of these groups on reefs in The Bahamas. Groups averaged approximately 4 S. iserti and 2 associated species, with surgeonfish (Acanthurus chirurgus and A. bahianus), slippery dick (Halichoeres bivittatus), and bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum) as the most common associates. Fewer groups than expected had only 1 associate; groups with 3 or more associates were more common than expected. Both the S. iserti and associated species tended to be closely size-matched within a group, perhaps due to benefits of size assortment in lowering predation risk. Likewise, the high frequency of groups with greater than a single associate species suggests that associates may benefit from not being the only phenotypically different individual in a group.
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Acknowledgments
Employees of Forfar Field Station were very helpful with the logistics of this study. The study was partially funded by a grant from Eastern Illinois University to P.V.S. and grants from the Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University to D.Q. and R.M. This study complies with the laws of the USA.
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Quinn, D., Mott, R., Bollinger, E.K. et al. Size assortment in mixed-species groups of juvenile-phase striped parrotfish (Scarus iserti) in The Bahamas. Ichthyol Res 59, 212–215 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-012-0275-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-012-0275-1