Journal of Fish Biology
Volume 90, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 265-282

Environmental drivers of diurnal visits by transient predatory fishes to Caribbean patch reefs (Article)

Harborne A.R.* , Selwyn J.D. , Lawson J.M. , Gallo M.
  • a Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181, United States, Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, Goddard Building, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
  • b HoBi Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, United States
  • c Fisheries Centre, The University of British Columbia, Aquatic Ecosystems and Research Laboratory, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • d Marine Spatial Ecology Laboratory and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Biological Sciences, Goddard Building, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia, Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University & Research, P. O. Box 338, Wageningen, 6700 AH, Netherlands

Abstract

Video cameras recorded the diurnal visitation rates of transient (large home range) piscivorous fishes to coral patch reefs in The Bahamas and identified 11 species. Visits by bar jack Caranx ruber, mutton snapper Lutjanus analis, yellowtail snapper Ocyurus chrysurus, barracuda Sphyraena barracuda and cero Scomberomorus regalis were sufficiently frequent to correlate with a range of biophysical factors. Patch-reef visitation rates and fish abundances varied with distance from shore and all species except S. regalis were seen more frequently inshore. This pattern is likely to be caused by factors including close proximity to additional foraging areas in mangroves and on fore-reefs and higher abundances close to inshore nursery habitats. Visitation rates and abundances of C. ruber, L. analis, O. chrysurus and S. regalis also varied seasonally (spring v. winter), possibly as fishes responded to temperature changes or undertook spawning migrations. The abundance of each transient predator species on the patch reefs generally exhibited limited diurnal variability, but L. analis was seen more frequently towards dusk. This study demonstrates that the distribution of transient predators is correlated spatially and temporally with a range of factors, even within a single lagoon, and these drivers are species specific. Transient predators are considered an important source of mortality shaping reef-fish assemblages and their abundance, in combination with the biomass of resident predators, was negatively correlated with the density of prey fishes. Furthermore, transient predators are often targeted by fishers and understanding how they utilize seascapes is critical for protecting them within reserves. © 2016 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles

Author Keywords

The Bahamas barracuda marine reserves mangroves video analysis snapper

Index Keywords

Behavior, Animal coral reef Bahamas Biomass Fishes fish Animals Environment Caribbean Region physiology Caribbean animal Circadian Rhythm Coral Reefs animal behavior
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84997824447&doi=10.1111%2fjfb.13180&partnerID=40&md5=bab13dfbc42a1583a576cb8773b2b3ce
DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13180
ISSN: 00221112
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English