Functional Composition of Chaetodon Butterflyfishes at a Peripheral and Extreme Coral Reef Location, the Persian Gulf

Morgan S. Pratchett; Andrew S. Hoey; David A. Feary; Andrew G Bauman; John A. Burt; Bernhard Riegl

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.10.014

Functional Composition of Chaetodon Butterflyfishes at a Peripheral and Extreme Coral Reef Location, the Persian Gulf

Morgan S. Pratchett
, Andrew S. Hoey
, David A. Feary
, Andrew G Bauman
, John A. Burt
, Bernhard Riegl

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The functional composition of reef fish assemblages is highly conserved across large biogeographic areas, but it is unknown whether assembly rules hold at biogeographical and environmental extremes for coral reefs. This study examined the functional composition of butterflyfishes in the Persian Gulf, Musandam Peninsula, and Gulf of Oman. Only five species of butterflyfishes were recorded during this study, and mostly just in the Gulf of Oman. Unlike most locations in the Indo-Pacific where butterflyfish assemblages are dominated by obligate corallivores, the only obligate corallivore recorded, Chaetodon melapterus, was rare or absent at all locations. The most common and widespread species was Chaetodon nigropunctatus, which is shown to be a facultative corallivore. The diversity of butterflyfishes in the Persian Gulf is likely to have been constrained by its' biogeographical history and isolation, but functional composition appears to be further affected by limited abundance of prey corals and harsh environmental conditions.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	333-341
Number of pages	9
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	72
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.10.014
State	Published - Jul 30 2013

Funding

This research was funded by New York University Abu Dhabi Institute. M. Pratchett, A. Baird and A. Bauman were supported by fellowships from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, D. Feary was supported by a Chancellors Postdoctoral Fellowship within the University of Technology, Sydney, and A. Hoey held a fellowship from King Abdulla University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Initial surveys were conducted under the auspices of the Nakheel-UNU-INWEH joint project ‘‘Strategic Management of Marine Ecosystems in Nakheel Projects” as part of baseline data collection. Authors are grateful for constructive feedback provided by A. Cole and anonymous reviewers.

Funders
King Abdulla University of Science and Technology
Appalachian Regional Commission
New York University Abu Dhabi

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Pollution
Aquatic Science
Oceanography

Keywords

Butterflyfishes
Coral reefs
Disturbance
Dietary specialisation
Habitat preferences
Scleractinian corals

Disciplines

Marine Biology
Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

Access to Document

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.10.014

Cite this

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title = "Functional Composition of Chaetodon Butterflyfishes at a Peripheral and Extreme Coral Reef Location, the Persian Gulf",

abstract = "The functional composition of reef fish assemblages is highly conserved across large biogeographic areas, but it is unknown whether assembly rules hold at biogeographical and environmental extremes for coral reefs. This study examined the functional composition of butterflyfishes in the Persian Gulf, Musandam Peninsula, and Gulf of Oman. Only five species of butterflyfishes were recorded during this study, and mostly just in the Gulf of Oman. Unlike most locations in the Indo-Pacific where butterflyfish assemblages are dominated by obligate corallivores, the only obligate corallivore recorded, Chaetodon melapterus, was rare or absent at all locations. The most common and widespread species was Chaetodon nigropunctatus, which is shown to be a facultative corallivore. The diversity of butterflyfishes in the Persian Gulf is likely to have been constrained by its' biogeographical history and isolation, but functional composition appears to be further affected by limited abundance of prey corals and harsh environmental conditions.",

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AU - Pratchett, Morgan S.

AU - Hoey, Andrew S.

AU - Feary, David A.

AU - Bauman, Andrew G

AU - Burt, John A.

AU - Riegl, Bernhard

PY - 2013/7/30

Y1 - 2013/7/30

N2 - The functional composition of reef fish assemblages is highly conserved across large biogeographic areas, but it is unknown whether assembly rules hold at biogeographical and environmental extremes for coral reefs. This study examined the functional composition of butterflyfishes in the Persian Gulf, Musandam Peninsula, and Gulf of Oman. Only five species of butterflyfishes were recorded during this study, and mostly just in the Gulf of Oman. Unlike most locations in the Indo-Pacific where butterflyfish assemblages are dominated by obligate corallivores, the only obligate corallivore recorded, Chaetodon melapterus, was rare or absent at all locations. The most common and widespread species was Chaetodon nigropunctatus, which is shown to be a facultative corallivore. The diversity of butterflyfishes in the Persian Gulf is likely to have been constrained by its' biogeographical history and isolation, but functional composition appears to be further affected by limited abundance of prey corals and harsh environmental conditions.

AB - The functional composition of reef fish assemblages is highly conserved across large biogeographic areas, but it is unknown whether assembly rules hold at biogeographical and environmental extremes for coral reefs. This study examined the functional composition of butterflyfishes in the Persian Gulf, Musandam Peninsula, and Gulf of Oman. Only five species of butterflyfishes were recorded during this study, and mostly just in the Gulf of Oman. Unlike most locations in the Indo-Pacific where butterflyfish assemblages are dominated by obligate corallivores, the only obligate corallivore recorded, Chaetodon melapterus, was rare or absent at all locations. The most common and widespread species was Chaetodon nigropunctatus, which is shown to be a facultative corallivore. The diversity of butterflyfishes in the Persian Gulf is likely to have been constrained by its' biogeographical history and isolation, but functional composition appears to be further affected by limited abundance of prey corals and harsh environmental conditions.

KW - Butterflyfishes

KW - Coral reefs

KW - Disturbance

KW - Dietary specialisation

KW - Habitat preferences

KW - Scleractinian corals

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IS - 2

ER -

Functional Composition of Chaetodon Butterflyfishes at a Peripheral and Extreme Coral Reef Location, the Persian Gulf

Abstract

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ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

Disciplines

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