Abstract
Stoplight parrotfish, Sparisoma viride, are hermaphroditic fish that exhibit a complex social structure in which terminal phase (TP) males control a territory of initial phase (IP) individuals (mostly female, rarely male) called a harem. These fish are prolific herbivores that maintain the health of coral reefs by consuming or removing algae that competes with coral for space. In this study, we estimate the influence of food availability, structural complexity, and conspecific density on territory size in S. viride TP males on reef sites in the middle Florida Keys. Divers estimated the territory sizes of both TP and IP individuals by following fish and dropping markers. Divers also estimated the substrate composition, conspecific density, and physical complexity around these territories. TP territories were roughly circular and only overlapped with IP individuals on the outer edges of the TP territory, resulting in TP territories being significantly larger. While TP territory size was positively influenced by the body size of the TP male and negatively influenced by the number of IP individuals, the average ratio of IP:TP individuals was 2.99:1 (± 0.31 SE, range 1–12) for each TP territory regardless of body size. These results suggest that TP males adjust their territory sizes to maintain an apparent optima for the number of females within harems and that the density of conspecifics can potentially influence the timing of sexual transitions in these fish. These results also suggest that S. viride have a polygynous mating structure that is driven by female defense rather than resource defense.
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The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
This research was made possible by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (permit #FKNMS-2013-077-A1). We would also like to thank Rob Hulsey, Mason Collins, and other members of the Clemson University Conservation of Marine Resources Creative Inquiry team for their assistance in the field and laboratory.
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Funding for this study was provided by Clemson University Creative Inquiry Initiative, the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, and Clemson University.
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This research was based on observations only and was not required to be reviewed by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Clemson University. All work was permitted by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (Permit #FKNMS-2013-077-A1).
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Smith, K.M., Chamberlain, L., Whitaker, S. et al. Factors influencing stoplight parrotfish territoriality and social structure in the middle Florida Keys. Environ Biol Fish 106, 585–595 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-023-01394-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-023-01394-1