Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reproductive characteristics of coral-reef fishes, Pomacentridae, Monodactylidae and Chaetodontidae, in the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Tropical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to understand the reproductive ecology of coral-reef fishes, fecundity which is the physiological maximum potential reproductive output, was examined in eleven families of coral-reef fishes in the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia. Three families, Pomacentridae, Monodactylidae and Chaetodontidae, with five species, Amphiprion ocellaris, Amphiprion perideraion, Abudefduf bengalensis, Monodactylus argenteus and Chaetodon octofasciatus, could collect female specimens, while all specimens were male in eight out of eleven families with sixteen species. Mean fecundities ranged from 693 to 122,247 with the lowest fecundity was found in Pomacentridae, and Chaetodontidae had the highest fecundity. Amphiprion ocellaris and A. perideraion practice parental care with demersal spawners, and such unique reproductive ecology might produce lower number of eggs to be able to increase their reproductive success compared to other coral reef fishes spawned pelagic eggs. This study provides an insight of baseline knowledge of the reproductive biology of coral-reef fishes for future studies of important fish species in coral ecosystem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdul Khadir SA, Yamin L, Arai T (2017) Fecundity of the tropical catadromous eels Anguilla bicolor bicolor, A. bengalensis bengalensis and A. marmorata. Environ Biol Fish 100:1643–1648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agustin LQ (2016) Amphiprion ocellaris, Clown anemonefish. Retrieved April 23, 2016, from http://www.fishbase.org/summary/6509

  • Ajith Kumar T, Balasubramanian T (2009) Broodstock development, spawning and larval rearing of the flase clown fish, Amphiprion ocellaris in captivity using estuarine water. Curr Sci 97:1483–1486

    Google Scholar 

  • Alava VR, Gomes LAO (1989) Breeding marine aquarium animals: the Anemonefish. Naga Iclarm Q 12:12–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen GR (1972) The anemonefish: their classification and biology, 1st edn. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City

    Google Scholar 

  • Amalina R, Bachok Z, Arai T (2016) Influence of growth on fatty acid composition of the moon wrasse Thalassoma lunare collected in coral reef habitats of the Malaysian South China Sea. Trop Ecol 57:779–785

    Google Scholar 

  • Anand PV, Pillai N (2002) Reproductive biology of some common coral reef fishes of the Indian EEZ. Biol Assoc India 44:122–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Arai T (2014) Diversity and conservation of coral reef fieshes in Malaysian South China Sea. Rev Fish Biol Fish 25:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Arai T, Amalina R, Bachok Z (2015a) Similarity in the feeding ecology of parrotfish (Scaridae) in coral reef habitats of the Malaysian South China Sea, as revealed by fatty acid signatures. Biochem Syst Ecol 59:85–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arai T, Amalina R, Bachok Z (2015b) Growth effect on liver fatty acid composition of damselfishes genus Abudefduf collected in coral reef habitats of the Malaysian South China Sea. SpringerPlus 4:71

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Arai T, Amalina R, Bachok Z (2015c) Fatty acid composition indicating diverse habitat use in coral reef fishes in the Malaysian South China Sea. Biol Res 48:13

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong MJ, Witthames PR (2012) Development in understanding of fecundity of fish stocks in relation to egg production methods for estimating spawning stock biomass. Fish Res 117–118:35–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell LJ (1976) Notes on the Nesting Success and Fecundity of the Anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii at Miyake-Jima, Japan. Jpn J Ichthyol 22:207–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Biondo MV (2017) Quantifying the trade in marine ornamental fishes into Switzerland and an estimation of imports from the European Union. Glob Ecol Conserv 11:95–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biswas A, Ghosh S (2015) Estimation of fecundity. Jessore University of Science and Technology, Jessore

    Google Scholar 

  • Bshary R (2003) The cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, is a key organism for reef fish diversity at Ras Mohammed National Park. Egypt J Anim Ecol 72:169–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cato JC (2003) Marine ornamental species: collection, culture and conservation. Blackwell Publishing, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Chong VC, Lee PKY, Lau CM (2010) Diversity, extinction risk and conservation of Malaysian fishes. J Fish Biol 76:2009–2066

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cuellar N, Sedberry GR, Wyanski DM (1996) Reproductive seasonality, maturation, fecundity, and spawning frequency of the vermilion snapper, Rhomboplites aurorubens, off the southeastern United States. Fish Bull 94:635–653

    Google Scholar 

  • DeMartini EE, Sikkel PC (2006) Reproduction. In: Allen LG, Pondela DS, Horn MH (eds) The ecology of marine fishes: California and adjacent waters. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 483–523

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominguez LM, Botella ÁS (2014) An overview of marine ornamental fish breeding as a potential support to the aquarium trade and to the conservation of natural fish population. Int J Sustain Dev Plan 9:608–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duarte CM, Alcaraz M (1989) To produce many small or few large eggs: a size-independent reproductive tactic of fish. Oecologia 80:401–404

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzhugh GR, Shertzer KW, Kellison GT, Wyanski DM (2012) Review of size- and age-dependence in batch spawning: implications for stock assessment of fish species exhibiting indeterminate fecundity. Fish Bull 110:413–425

    Google Scholar 

  • Fotedar RK, Phillips BF (2011) Recent advances and new species in aquaculture. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ganias K, Murua H, Claramunt G, Dominguez-Petit R, Gonalves P, Juanes F et al (2014) Chapter 4: Egg production. In: Dominguez-Petit R, Murua H, Saborido-Rey F, Trippel E (eds) Handbook of applied fisheries reproductive biology for stock assessment and management. Digital CSIC, Vigo

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus G, Tomkiewicz J, Koster FW (2002) Egg production of Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) in relation to variable sex ratio, maturity, and fecundity. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 59:1908–1920

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnakumar PK (2017) The economic times. Retrieved from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/consproducts/food/ornamental-fish-industry-hit-by-new-regulations/articleshow/59174671.cms

  • Lambert Y (2008) Why should we closely monitor fecundity in marine fish populations? J Northwest Atl Fish Sci 41:93–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowerre-Barbieri SK, Ganias K, Saborido-Rey F, Murua H, Hunter JR (2011) Reproductive timing in marine fishes: variability, temporal scales, and methods. Mar Coast Fish 3:71–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lowerre-Barbierri SK (2009) Reproduction in relation to conservation and exploitation of marine fishes. In: Jamieson BGM (ed) Reproductive biology and phylogeny of fishes (Agnathans and Bony Fishes). CRC Press, Durham, pp 371–394

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Maduppa HH, Juterzenka KV, Syakir M, Kochzius M (2014) Socio-economy of marine ornamental fishery and its impact on the population structure of the clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris and its host anemones in Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia. Ocean Coas Manag 100:41–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsunuma M, Motomura H, Matsuura K, Shazili NAM, Ambak MA (2011) Fishes of Terengganu: east coast of Malay Peninsula, Malaysia. Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Kagoshima University Museum. National Museum of Nature and Science

  • McElroy WD, Wuenschel MJ, Towle EK, McBride RS (2016) Spatial and annual variation in fecundity and oocyte atresia of yellowtail flounder, Limanda ferruginea, in U.S. waters. J Sea Res 107:76–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mertz G, Myers RA (1996) Influence of fecundity on recruitment variability of marine fish. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 53:1618–1625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murua H, Saborido-Rey F (2003) Female reproductive strategies of marine fish species of the North Atlantic. Northwest Atl Fish Sci 33:23–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murua H, Kraus G, Saborido-Rey F, Witthames PR, Thorsen A, Junquera S (2003) Procedures to estimate fecundity of marine fishes species in relation to their reproductive strategy. J Northwest Atl Fish Sci 33:33–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ochi H (1985) Temporal patterns of breeding and larval settlement in a temperate population of the tropical anemonefish, Amphiprion clarkii. Ichthyol Res 32:248–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ochi H (1989) Mating behaviour and sex change of the anemonefish, Amphiprion clarkii, in the temperate waters of Japan. Environ Biol Fish 26:257–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrone M, Zaret T (1979) Parental care patterns of fishes. Am Nat 113:351–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priyadharsin S, Manoharan J, Varadharajan D, Subramaniyam A (2013) Reproduction biology and histology study of red lionfish Pterois volitans from Cuddalore, South East Coast of India. J Aquacult Res Dev 4:201

    Google Scholar 

  • Rainer F (2016) Amphiprion perideraion, Pink anemonefish. Retrieved from http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Amphiprion-perideraion.html

  • Reksodihardjo-Lilley G, Lilley R (2007) Towards a sustainable marine aquarium trade: an Indonesia perspective. SPC Live Reef Fish Inf Bull 17:11–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhyne AL, Tlusty MF, Szczebak JT, Holmberg RJ (2017) Expanding our understanding of the trade in marine aquarium animals. Peer J. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2949

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson DL, Harrison PL, Harriott VJ (1997) Timing of spawning and fecundity of a tropical and subtropical anemonefish (Pomacentridae: Amphiprion) on a high latitude reef on the east coast of Australia. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 156:175–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ross RM (1978) Reproductive behaviour of the anemonefish Amphiprion melanopus on Guam. Copeia 1978:103–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadovy YJ (1996) Reproduction of reef fishery species. In: Polunin NVC, Roberts CM (eds) Reef fishes. Chapman & Hall, New York, pp 15–59

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sadovy Y, Mitcheson G, Rasotto M (2001) Early development of the mandarinfish Synchiropus splendidus (Callionymidae), with notes on its fishery and potential culture. Aquar Sci Conserv 3:253–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sale PF (1990) Recruitment of marine species: is the bandwagon rolling in the right direction? Trends Ecol Evol 5:25–27

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shuman CS, Hodgson G, Ambrose RF (2005) Population impacts of collecting sea anemones and anemonefish for the marine aquarium trade in the Philippines. Coral Reefs 24:564–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rofhl FJ (1995) Biometry. The principles and practice of statistics in biological research, 3rd edn. WH Freeman, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Syafrina AH, Zalina MD, Juneng L (2015) Historical trend of hourly extreme rainfall in Peninsula Malaysia. Theoret Appl Climatol 120:259–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan IV, Arai T (2019) Reproductive characteristics of the anemonefishes Amphiprion ocellaris and A. perideraion in east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, Malaysia. Vie et Milieu 69:107–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Tissot BN, Best BA, Borneman EH, Bruckner AW, Cooper CH, D’Agnes H, Fitzgerald TP, Leland A, Lieberman S, Amos AM, Sumaila R, Telecky TM, McGilvray F, Plankis BJ, Rhyne AL, Roberts GG, Starkhouse B, Stevenson TC (2010) How US ocean policy and market power can reform the coral reef wildlife trade. Mar Policy 34:1385–1388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomkiewicz J, Morgan M, Burnett J, Saborido-Rey F (2003) Available information for estimating reproductive potential of Northwest Atlantic groundfish stocks. J Northwest Atl Fish Sci 33:1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vagelli AA (2011) The Banggai Cardinalfish. Natural history, conservation and culture of Pterapogon kauderni. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wabnitz C, Taylor M, Green E, Razak T (2003) From Ocean to Aquarium: the global trade in marine ornamental species. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner RR (1991) The use of phenotypic plasticity in coral reef fishes as tests of theory in evolutionary ecology. In: Sale PF (ed) The ecology of fisheson coral reefs. Academic Press Inc, California, pp 387–398

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wood E (2001) Global advances in conservation and management of marine ornamental resources. Aquar Sci Conserv 3:65–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Life Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, 1410, Brunei Darussalam

    Iy Vonne Tan & Takaomi Arai

Authors
  1. Iy Vonne Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Takaomi Arai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takaomi Arai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tan, I.V., Arai, T. Reproductive characteristics of coral-reef fishes, Pomacentridae, Monodactylidae and Chaetodontidae, in the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia. Trop Ecol 60, 532–538 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-020-00055-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-020-00055-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation