Foraging and microhabitat use by crustacean-feeding wrasses on coral reefs

Kramer, M.J., Bellwood, O., and Bellwood, D.R. (2016) Foraging and microhabitat use by crustacean-feeding wrasses on coral reefs. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 548. pp. 277-282.

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Abstract

Crustaceans are an important component of coral reef ecosystems, occupying a broad range of microhabitats, but achieving the greatest biomass in dead coral and coral rubble. These 2 microhabitats are therefore hypothesised to be focal foraging locations for crustacean-feeding fishes. The present study investigated the relationship between foraging in wrasses (Labridae), a major group of crustacean predators, and 5 major microhabitats on a coral reef: live coral, dead coral, coral rubble, sand and the epilithic algal matrix (EAM). Although the greatest biomass of crustaceans typically occurs in dead coral and coral rubble, crustacean-feeding wrasses displayed positive selection for a more diverse range of microhabitats. In contrast, sand and live coral were not positively selected by any taxa. The relationships between crustacean predators and their prey appear to be more complicated than previously assumed, and may be mediated by habitat structure, preferred prey, predation risk and behavioural and morphological adaptations.

Item ID: 45478
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1616-1599
Keywords: crustacea, Labridae, foraging, dead coral, coral rubble, predation
Funders: Australian Research Council (ARC)
Date Deposited: 22 Jun 2016 07:43
FoR Codes: 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 80%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3109 Zoology > 310913 Invertebrate biology @ 10%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3109 Zoology > 310914 Vertebrate biology @ 10%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 60%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 30%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960507 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments @ 10%
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