Trophic plasticity in an obligate corallivorous butterflyfish

David A. Feary; Andrew G Bauman; James R Guest; Andrew S. Hoey

doi:10.3354/meps12771

Trophic plasticity in an obligate corallivorous butterflyfish

David A. Feary
, Andrew G Bauman
, James R Guest
, Andrew S. Hoey

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

Abstract

Changes in the abundance and/or taxonomic composition of corals are having direct impacts on the structure of reef fish assemblages, with those species that rely directly on live coral for food or shelter being most affected. Despite this, many specialist coral feeders persist on reefs where preferred coral taxa are rare. We examined feeding selectivity of the obligate corallivorous butterflyfish Chaetodon octofasciatus , a species known to feed predominantly on Acropora spp. corals, between a heavily urbanized coral reef system (Singapore) with low Acropora spp. cover, and a relatively intact reef system containing high Acropora spp. cover (Pulau Tioman, eastern Peninsular Malaysia). Both reef systems supported similar densities of C. octofasciatus , with live coral dominating the diet in both locations. In Pulau Tioman, C. octofasciatus fed on 14 genera, (27.45% of available coral genera), with over a third of bites on Acropora spp. In contrast, C. octofasciatus on Singaporean reefs fed on 26 genera (45% of available coral genera), with only 4% of bites on Acropora spp. Despite specialist corallivores being viewed as highly susceptible to reductions in their preferred dietary coral taxa, this research highlights the potential importance of diet plasticity in sustaining populations.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	165-171
Number of pages	7
Journal	Marine Ecology Progress Series
Volume	605
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12771
State	Published - Oct 26 2018
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Inter-Research 2018.

Funding

We thank J. Low in Singapore and A. Chelliah (Reef Check Malaysia) in Pulau Tioman for field support. Financial support was provided by the National University of Singapore, Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre at Nanyang Technological University and Singapore National Research Foundation (Project No: R-154-001-A25-281 MSRDP-P03, to A.G.B.), and the Australian Research Council (to A.S.H.). This work was permitted under a memorandum of understanding between Reef Check Malaysia and the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia, and within Singapore under the Singapore National Parks Board (permit no. NP/RP15-009c). Acknowledgements. We thank J. Low in Singapore and A. Chelliah (Reef Check Malaysia) in Pulau Tioman for field support. Financial support was provided by the National University of Singapore, Advanced Environmental Biotech- nology Centre at Nanyang Technological University and Singapore National Research Foundation (Project No: R-154-001-A25-281 MSRDP-P03, to A.G.B.), and the Australian Research Council (to A.S.H.). This work was permitted under a memorandum of understanding between Reef Check Malaysia and the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia, and within Singapore under the Singapore National Parks Board (permit no. NP/RP15-009c).

Funders	Funder number
Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre at Nanyang Technological University and Singapore National Research Foundation	R-154-001-A25-281 MSRDP-P03
Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre at Nanyang Technological University and Singapore National Research Foundation
Department of Marine Parks Malaysia
Australian Research Council
National University of Singapore
National Parks Board - Singapore	NP/RP15-009c

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Aquatic Science
Ecology

Keywords

Acropora
Behaviour
Chaetodon octofasciastus
Coral reef
Corallivore
Feeding
Plasticity
Chaetodon octofasciatus

Disciplines

Marine Biology

Access to Document

10.3354/meps12771

Trophic plasticity in an obligate corallivorous butterflyfishFinal published version, 414 KBLicense: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Trophic plasticity in an obligate corallivorous butterflyfish",

abstract = " Changes in the abundance and/or taxonomic composition of corals are having direct impacts on the structure of reef fish assemblages, with those species that rely directly on live coral for food or shelter being most affected. Despite this, many specialist coral feeders persist on reefs where preferred coral taxa are rare. We examined feeding selectivity of the obligate corallivorous butterflyfish Chaetodon octofasciatus , a species known to feed predominantly on Acropora spp. corals, between a heavily urbanized coral reef system (Singapore) with low Acropora spp. cover, and a relatively intact reef system containing high Acropora spp. cover (Pulau Tioman, eastern Peninsular Malaysia). Both reef systems supported similar densities of C. octofasciatus , with live coral dominating the diet in both locations. In Pulau Tioman, C. octofasciatus fed on 14 genera, (27.45\% of available coral genera), with over a third of bites on Acropora spp. In contrast, C. octofasciatus on Singaporean reefs fed on 26 genera (45\% of available coral genera), with only 4\% of bites on Acropora spp. Despite specialist corallivores being viewed as highly susceptible to reductions in their preferred dietary coral taxa, this research highlights the potential importance of diet plasticity in sustaining populations.",

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author = "Feary, \{David A.\} and Bauman, \{Andrew G\} and Guest, \{James R\} and Hoey, \{Andrew S.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Inter-Research 2018.",

year = "2018",

month = oct,

day = "26",

doi = "10.3354/meps12771",

language = "American English",

volume = "605",

pages = "165--171",

journal = "Marine Ecology Progress Series",

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T1 - Trophic plasticity in an obligate corallivorous butterflyfish

AU - Feary, David A.

AU - Bauman, Andrew G

AU - Guest, James R

AU - Hoey, Andrew S.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Inter-Research 2018.

PY - 2018/10/26

Y1 - 2018/10/26

N2 - Changes in the abundance and/or taxonomic composition of corals are having direct impacts on the structure of reef fish assemblages, with those species that rely directly on live coral for food or shelter being most affected. Despite this, many specialist coral feeders persist on reefs where preferred coral taxa are rare. We examined feeding selectivity of the obligate corallivorous butterflyfish Chaetodon octofasciatus , a species known to feed predominantly on Acropora spp. corals, between a heavily urbanized coral reef system (Singapore) with low Acropora spp. cover, and a relatively intact reef system containing high Acropora spp. cover (Pulau Tioman, eastern Peninsular Malaysia). Both reef systems supported similar densities of C. octofasciatus , with live coral dominating the diet in both locations. In Pulau Tioman, C. octofasciatus fed on 14 genera, (27.45% of available coral genera), with over a third of bites on Acropora spp. In contrast, C. octofasciatus on Singaporean reefs fed on 26 genera (45% of available coral genera), with only 4% of bites on Acropora spp. Despite specialist corallivores being viewed as highly susceptible to reductions in their preferred dietary coral taxa, this research highlights the potential importance of diet plasticity in sustaining populations.

AB - Changes in the abundance and/or taxonomic composition of corals are having direct impacts on the structure of reef fish assemblages, with those species that rely directly on live coral for food or shelter being most affected. Despite this, many specialist coral feeders persist on reefs where preferred coral taxa are rare. We examined feeding selectivity of the obligate corallivorous butterflyfish Chaetodon octofasciatus , a species known to feed predominantly on Acropora spp. corals, between a heavily urbanized coral reef system (Singapore) with low Acropora spp. cover, and a relatively intact reef system containing high Acropora spp. cover (Pulau Tioman, eastern Peninsular Malaysia). Both reef systems supported similar densities of C. octofasciatus , with live coral dominating the diet in both locations. In Pulau Tioman, C. octofasciatus fed on 14 genera, (27.45% of available coral genera), with over a third of bites on Acropora spp. In contrast, C. octofasciatus on Singaporean reefs fed on 26 genera (45% of available coral genera), with only 4% of bites on Acropora spp. Despite specialist corallivores being viewed as highly susceptible to reductions in their preferred dietary coral taxa, this research highlights the potential importance of diet plasticity in sustaining populations.

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KW - Coral reef

KW - Corallivore

KW - Feeding

KW - Plasticity

KW - Chaetodon octofasciatus

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U2 - 10.3354/meps12771

DO - 10.3354/meps12771

M3 - Article

SN - 0171-8630

VL - 605

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JO - Marine Ecology Progress Series

JF - Marine Ecology Progress Series

ER -

Trophic plasticity in an obligate corallivorous butterflyfish

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

Disciplines

Access to Document

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