Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Differences in diet and foraging behaviour of commercially important rabbitfish species on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean

  • Report
  • Published:
Coral Reefs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Herbivorous fishes consume algae on coral reefs, and this ecological function is pivotal in helping reefs to resist and recover from disturbance. Although numerous studies have differentiated between those fishes that graze on low-profile algae and those that browse on larger fleshy macroalgae, little is known about the feeding behaviours of some herbivorous fishes (e.g. rabbitfishes, Siganidae), limiting our understanding of whether, and how, these species contribute to ecological functions on coral reefs. Here, we examine how the feeding ecology of four species of rabbitfishes that dominate the artisanal fishery in the Seychelles changed spatially and temporally. Siganus argenteus and S. sutor were generalist herbivores feeding on a range of substrata (e.g. turf algae, macroalgae, seagrass and epiphytic algae), whereas S. corallinus and S. stellatus were specialist herbivores feeding primarily on substrata covered in turf algae. Bite rates of S. argenteus and S. sutor were positively correlated with the cover of macroalgae, seagrass and epiphytic algae. By contrast, bite rates of S. corallinus and S. stellatus were not correlated with changes in the cover of turf algae. These findings illustrate possible differences in the ecological contributions among rabbitfish species on coral reefs, and emphasize the need for caution when assigning species to functional groups and assuming within-group functional equivalence. The results also support the classic niche theory that species within a community must use resources differently in order to coexist over evolutionary timescales. These results further provide valuable insights for the management of rabbitfishes in tropical fisheries because it implies that the conservation of different species might result in distinct shifts in the competitive dominance of coral and algae.

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
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adam TC, Kelley M, Ruttenberg BI, Burkepile DE (2015) Resource partitioning along multiple niche axes drives functional diversity in parrotfishes on Caribbean coral reefs. Oecologia 179:1173–1185

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Almeida AJ, Marques A, Saldanha L (1999) Some aspects of the biology of three fish species from the seagrass beds at Inhaca Island, Mozambique. Cybium 23:369–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson M, Gorley R, Clarke K (2008) PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER. Primer-E, Plymouth

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellwood DR, Hughes TP, Hoey AS (2006) Sleeping functional group drives coral-reef recovery. Curr Biol 16:2434–2439

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bellwood DR, Renema W, Rosen BR (2012) Biodiversity hotspots, evolution and coral reef biogeography. In: Biotic evolution and environmental change in Southeast Asia, p 216

  • Bennett S, Bellwood DR (2011) Latitudinal variation in macroalgal consumption by fishes on the Great Barrier Reef. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 426:241–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonaldo RM, Hay ME (2014) Seaweed-coral interactions: variance in seaweed allelopathy, coral susceptibility, and potential effects on coral resilience. PLoS ONE 9:85786

    Google Scholar 

  • Borsa P, Lemer S, Aurelle D (2007) Patterns of lineage diversification in rabbitfishes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 44:427–435

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boyer KE, Fong P, Armitage AR, Cohen RA (2004) Elevated nutrient content of tropical macroalgae increases rates of herbivory in coral, seagrass, and mangrove habitats. Coral Reefs 23:530–538

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandl SJ, Bellwood DR (2015) Coordinated vigilance provides evidence for direct reciprocity in coral reef fishes. Sci Rep 5:14556

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brandl SJ, Bellwood DR (2016) Microtopographic refuges shape consumer–producer dynamics by mediating consumer functional diversity. Oecologia 182:203–217

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brandl SJ, Hoey AS, Bellwood DR (2014) Microtopography mediates interactions between corals, algae, and herbivorous fishes on coral reefs. Coral Reefs 33:421–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandl SJ, William RD, Bellwood DR (2015) Exploring the nature of ecological specialization in a coral reef fish community: morphology, diet and foraging microhabitat use. Proc R Soc B Biol Sci 282:20151147

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandl SJ, Rasher DB, Côté IM, Casey JM, Darling ES, Lefcheck JS, Duffy JE (2019) Coral reef ecosystem functioning: eight core processes and the role of biodiversity. Front Ecol Environ 17:445–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruggemann JH, van Oppen MJH, Breeman AM (1994) Foraging by the stoplight parrotfish Sparisoma viride. I. Food selection in different, socially-determined habitats. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 106:41–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkepile DE, Hay ME (2008) Herbivore species richness and feeding complementarity affect community structure and function on a coral reef. Proc Natl Acad Sci 42:16201–16206

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardoso SC, Soares MC, Oxenford HA, Côté IM (2009) Interspecific differences in foraging behaviour and functional role of Caribbean parrotfish. Mar Biodivers Rec 2:148

    Google Scholar 

  • Catano LB, Barton MB, Boswell KM, Burkepile DE (2017) Predator identity and time of day interact to shape the risk–reward trade-off for herbivorous coral reef fishes. Oecologia 183:763–773

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chesson P, Pacala S, Neuhauser C (2001) Environmental niches and ecosystem functioning. In: Kingzig A, Pacala S, Tilman D (eds) The functional consequences of biodiversity. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, pp 213–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Chong-Seng KM, Nash KL, Bellwood DR, Graham NAJ (2014) Macroalgal herbivory on recovering versus degrading coral reefs. Coral Reefs 33:409–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Christianen MJA, Govers LL, Bouma TJ, Kiswara W, Roelofs JGM, Lamers LPM, van Katwijk MM (2012) Marine megaherbivore grazing may increase seagrass tolerance to high nutrient loads. J Ecol 100:546–560

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke KR, Gorley RN (2006) PRIMER v6: User manual/tutorial. PRIMER-E, Plymouth

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke KR, Gorley RN (2015) PRIMER v6. Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth

    Google Scholar 

  • Cvitanovic C, Bellwood DR (2009) Local variation in herbivore feeding activity on an inshore reef of the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 28:127–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Dromard CR, Bouchon-Navaro Y, Harmelin-Vivien M, Bouchon C (2015) Diversity of trophic niches among herbivorous fishes on a Caribbean reef (Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles), evidenced by stable isotope and gut content analyses. J Sea Res 95:124–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Fong CR, Frias M, Goody N, Bittick SJ, Clausing RJ, Fong P (2018) Empirical data demonstrates risk-tradeoffs between landscapes for herbivorous fish may promote reef resilience. Mar Environ Res 133:1–5

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fourqurean JW, Duarte CM, Kennedy H, Marbà N, Holmer M, Mateo MA, Apostolaki ET, Kendrick GA, Krause-Jensen D, McGlathery KJ, Serrano O (2012) Seagrass ecosystems as a globally significant carbon stock. Nat Geosci 5:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox RJ, Bellwood DR (2008) Remote video bioassays reveal the potential feeding impact of the rabbitfish Siganus canaliculatus (f: Siganidae) on an inner-shelf reef of the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 27:605–615

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox RJ, Bellwood DR (2011) Unconstrained by the clock? Plasticity of diel activity rhythm in a tropical reef fish, Siganus lineatus. Funct Ecol 25:1096–1105

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox RJ, Bellwood DR (2013) Niche partitioning creates a unique ecosystem function for rabbitfishes (Perciformes, Siganidae) on coral reefs. Coral Reefs 32:13–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox RJ, Sunderland TL, Hoey AS, Bellwood DR (2009) Estimating functional roles in coral reef ecosystems: behaviour drives contrasting roles in herbivorous fishes (f. Siganidae). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 385:261–269

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham NAJ, Jennings S, MacNeil MA, Mouillot D, Wilson SK (2015) Predicting climate-driven regime shifts versus rebound potential in coral reefs. Nature 518:94–97

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grandcourt EM, Cesar HSJ (2003) The bio-economic impact of mass coral mortality on the coastal reef fisheries of the Seychelles. Fish Res 60:539–550

    Google Scholar 

  • Green AL, Bellwood DR (eds) (2009) Monitoring functional groups of herbivorous reef fishes as indicators of coral reef resilience: a practical guide for coral reef managers in the Asia Pacific Region (No. 7) IUCN

  • Hanmer J, White JW, Pawlik JR (2017) Application of diet theory reveals context- dependent foraging preferences in an herbivorous coral reef fish. Oecologia 184:127–137

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heck Jr KL, Valentine JF, Pennock JR, Chaplin G, Spitzer PM (2006) Effects of nutrient enrichment and grazing on shoalgrass Halodule wrightii and its epiphytes: results of a field experiment. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 326:145–156

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heenan A, Williams ID (2013) Monitoring herbivorous fishes as indicators of coral reef resilience in American Samoa. PLoS ONE 8:e79604

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson G, Maun L, Shuman C (2003) Reef check survey manual for Coral Reefs in the Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, Red Sea, Atlantic/Caribbean, and Arabian Gulf. Reef Check-UCLA, Institute of the Environment, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A

  • Hoey AS, Bellwood DR (2009) Limited functional redundancy in a high diversity system: single species dominates key ecological process on coral reefs. Ecosystems 12:1316–1328

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoey AS, Bellwood DR (2010) Cross-shelf variation in browsing intensity on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 29:499–508

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoey AS, Bellwood DR (2011) Suppression of herbivory by macroalgal density: a critical feedback on coral reefs? Ecol Lett 14:267–273

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoey AS, Brandl SJ, Bellwood DR (2013) Diet and cross-shelf distribution of rabbitfishes (f. Siganidae) on the northern Great Barrier Reef: implications for ecosystem function. Coral Reefs 32:973–984

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes TP, Rodrigues MJ, Bellwood DR, Ceccarelli D, Hoegh- Guldberg O, McCook L, Moltschaniwsky N, Pratchett MS, Steneck RS, Willis B (2007) Phase shifts, herbivory, and the resilience of coral reefs to climate change. Curr Biol 17:360–365

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humphries AT, McQuaid CD, McClanahan TR (2015) Context-dependent diversity-effects of seaweed consumption on Coral Reefs in Kenya. PLoS ONE 10:e0144204. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kaunda-Arara B, Rose GA (2004) Effects of marine reef National Parks on "fishery CPUE in coastal Kenya. Biol Conserv 118:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly EL, Eynaud Y, Clements SM, Gleason M, Sparks RT, Williams ID, Smith JE (2016) Investigating functional redundancy versus complementarity in Hawaiian herbivorous coral reef fishes. Oecologia 182:1151–1163

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuiter R (1993) Coastal fishes of south-eastern Australia. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu

    Google Scholar 

  • Lechowicz MJ (1982) The sampling characteristics of electivity indices. Oecologia 52:22–30

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ledlie MH, Graham NAJ, Bythell JC, Wilson SK, Jennings S, Polunin NVC, Hardcastle J (2007) Phase shifts and the role of herbivory in the resilience of coral reefs. Coral Reefs 26:641–653

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefèvre CD, Bellwood DR (2010) Seasonality and dynamics in coral reef macroalgae: variation in condition and susceptibility to herbivory. Mar biol 157:955–965

    Google Scholar 

  • Loffler Z, Bellwood DR, Hoey AS (2015) Among-habitat algal selectivity by browsing herbivores on an inshore coral reef. Coral Reefs 34:597–605

    Google Scholar 

  • Lugendo BR, Nagelkerken I, Van Der Velde G, Mgaya YD (2006) The importance of mangroves, mud and sand flats, and seagrass beds as feeding areas for juvenile fishes in Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar: gut content and stable isotope analyses. J Fish Biol 69:1639–1661

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madin E, Precoda K, Harborne A, Atwood TB, Roelfsema CM, Luiz O (2019) Multi-trophic species interactions shape seascape-scale coral reef vegetation patterns. Front Ecol Evol 7:102

    Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan TR, Mangi SC (2004) Gear-based management of a tropical artisanal "fishery based on species selectivity and capture size. Fish Manag Ecol 11:51–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller AD, Roxburgh SH, Shea K (2011) How frequency and intensity shape diversity-disturbance relationship. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108:5643–5648

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orth RJ, Carruthers TJB, Dennison WC, Duarte CM, Fourqurean JW, Heck KL Jr, Randall Hughes A, Kendrick GA, Kenworthy W, Olyarnik S, Short FT, Waycott M, Williams SL (2006) A global crisis for seagrass ecosystems. Bioscience 56:987–996

    Google Scholar 

  • Paddack MJ, Cowen RK, Sponaugle S (2006) Grazing pressure of herbivorous coral reef fishes on low coral-cover reefs. Coral Reefs 25:461–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul VJ, Nelson SG, Sanger HR (1990) Feeding preferences of adult and juvenile rabbitfish Siganus argenteus in relation to chemical defenses of tropical seaweeds. Mar Ecol Prog Ser Oldendorf 60:23–34

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Polunin NVC, Harmelin-Vivien M, Galzin R (1995) Contrasts in algal food processing among five herbivorous coral-reef fishes. J Fish Biol 47:455–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Puk LD, Ferse SC, Wild C (2016) Patterns and trends in coral reef macroalgae browsing: a review of browsing herbivorous fishes of the Indo-Pacific. Rev Fish Biol Fish 1:53–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasher DB, Hay ME (2010) Chemically rich seaweeds poison corals when not controlled by herbivores. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:9683–9688

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rasher DB, Hoey AS, Hay ME (2013) Consumer diversity interacts with prey defenses to drive ecosystem function. Ecology 94:1347–1358

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson J, Samoilys MA, Grandcourt E, Julie D, Cedras M, Gerry C (2011) The importance of targeted spawning aggregation fishing to the management of Seychelles’ trap fishery. Fish Res 112:96–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JP, Wilson SK, Robinson J, Gerry C, Lucas J, Assan C, Govinden R, Jennings S, Graham NA (2019) Productive instability of coral reef fisheries after climate-driven regime shifts. Nat Ecol Evol 3:183

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seychelles Fishing Authority (2016) Seychelles artisanal fisheries statistics. Seychelles Fishing Authority Technical Report, Government of Seychelles, Seychelles

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson SJ, Sibly RM, Lee KP, Behmer ST, Raubenheimer D (2004) Optimal foraging when regulating intake of multiple nutrients. Anim behav 68:1299–1311

    Google Scholar 

  • Soliman VS, Mendoza AB, Yamaoka K (2008) Seaweed-associated fishes of Lagonoy Gulf in bicol, the Philippines with emphasis on Siganids (Teleoptei: Siganidae). Kuroshio Sci 2:67–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Streit RP, Hoey AS, Bellwood DR (2016) Feeding characteristics reveal functional distinctions among browsing herbivorous fishes on coral reefs. Coral Reefs 34:1037–1047

    Google Scholar 

  • Suding KN, Gross KL, Houseman GR (2004) Alternative states and positive feedbacks in restoration ecology. Trends Ecol Evol 19:46–53

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tootell JS, Steele MA (2016) Distribution, behavior, and condition of herbivorous fishes on coral reefs track algal resources. Oecologia 181:13–24

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Topor ZM, Rasher DB, Duffy JE, Brandl SJ (2019) Marine protected areas enhance coral reef functioning by promoting fish biodiversity. Conserv Lett 12:e12638

    Google Scholar 

  • Unsworth RKF, Cullen LC (2010) Recognising the necessity for Indo-Pacific seagrass conservation. Conserv Lett 3:63–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentine JF, Heck KL Jr, Busby J, Webb D (1997) Experimental evidence that herbivory can increase shoot density in a subtropical turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) meadow. Oecologia 112:193–200

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vanderploeg HA, Scavia D (1979) Calculation and use of selectivity coefficients of feeding: zooplankton grazing. Ecol Model 7:135–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Vergés A, Becerro MA, Alcoverro T, Romero J (2007) Experimental evidence of chemical deterrence against multiple herbivores in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 343:107–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Vergés A, Alcoverro T, Romero J (2011) Plant defences and the role of epibiosis in ediating within-plant feeding choices of seagrass consumers. Oecologia 166:381–390

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waycott M, Longstaff BJ, Mellors J (2005) Seagrass population dynamics and water quality in the Great Barrier Reef region: a review and future research directions. Mar Pollut Bull 51:343–350

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whalen MA, Duffy JE, Grace JB (2013) Temporal shifts in top-down vs. bottom-up control of epiphytic algae in a seagrass ecosystem. Ecology 94:510–520

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wismer S, Hoey AS, Bellwood DR (2009) Cross-shelf benthic community structure on the Great Barrier Reef: relationships between macroalgal cover and herbivore biomass. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 376:45–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodland DJ (1990) Revision of the fish family Siganidae with description of two new species and comments on distribution and biology. Indo-Pac Fishes 19:1–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu RSS (1984) The feeding habits of seven demersal fish species in a subtropical estuary. Asian Mar Biol 1:17–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Yabsley NA, Olds AD, Connolly RM, Martin TSH, Gilby BL, Maxwell PS, Huijbers CM, Schoeman DS, Schlacher TA, Genner M (2016) Resource type influences the effects of reserves and connectivity on ecological functions. J Anim Ecol 85:437–444

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zemke-White LW, Choat J, Clements K (2002) A re-evaluation of the diel feeding hypothesis for marine herbivorous fishes. Mar Biol 141:571–579

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank R. Melanie from the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) for field assistance and Justin Prosper from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for map production. This research was financed by the SFA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    A. Ebrahim, P. J. Mumby & I. R. Tibbetts

  2. Seychelles Fishing Authority, Fishing Port, Mahé, Seychelles

    A. Ebrahim

  3. School of Science and Engineering, University of Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia

    T. S. H. Martin & A. D. Olds

Authors
  1. A. Ebrahim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. S. H. Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. J. Mumby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. D. Olds
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. I. R. Tibbetts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Ebrahim.

Additional information

Topic Editor Andrew Hoey

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 798 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ebrahim, A., Martin, T.S.H., Mumby, P.J. et al. Differences in diet and foraging behaviour of commercially important rabbitfish species on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean. Coral Reefs 39, 977–988 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01918-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01918-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation