Regional variation in the structure and function of parrotfishes on Arabian reefs

Andrew S. Hoey; David A. Feary; John A. Burt; Grace Vaughan; Morgan S. Pratchett; Michael L. Berumen

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.035

Regional variation in the structure and function of parrotfishes on Arabian reefs

Andrew S. Hoey, David A. Feary, John A. Burt, Grace Vaughan, Morgan S. Pratchett, Michael L. Berumen

Biology

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

Abstract

Parrotfishes (f. Labridae) are a unique and ubiquitous group of herbivorous reef fishes. We compared the distribution and ecosystem function (grazing and erosion) of parrotfishes across 75 reefs in Arabia. Our results revealed marked regional differences in the abundance, and taxonomic and functional composition of parrotfishes between the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Arabian Gulf. High densities and diversity of parrotfishes, and high rates of grazing (210% year^-1) and erosion (1.57 kg m^-2 year^-1) characterised Red Sea reefs. Despite Arabian Sea and Red Sea reefs having broadly comparable abundances of parrotfishes, estimates of grazing (150% year^-1) and erosion (0.43 kg m^-2 year^-1) were markedly lower in the Arabian Sea. Parrotfishes were extremely rare within the southern Arabian Gulf, and as such rates of grazing and erosion were negligible. This regional variation in abundance and functional composition of parrotfishes appears to be related to local environmental conditions.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	524-531
Number of pages	8
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	105
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.035
State	Published - Apr 30 2016

Keywords

Arabian Gulf
Arabian Sea
Bioerosion
Ecosystem process
Herbivory
Red Sea

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Pollution

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.035

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title = "Regional variation in the structure and function of parrotfishes on Arabian reefs",

abstract = "Parrotfishes (f. Labridae) are a unique and ubiquitous group of herbivorous reef fishes. We compared the distribution and ecosystem function (grazing and erosion) of parrotfishes across 75 reefs in Arabia. Our results revealed marked regional differences in the abundance, and taxonomic and functional composition of parrotfishes between the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Arabian Gulf. High densities and diversity of parrotfishes, and high rates of grazing (210% year-1) and erosion (1.57 kg m-2 year-1) characterised Red Sea reefs. Despite Arabian Sea and Red Sea reefs having broadly comparable abundances of parrotfishes, estimates of grazing (150% year-1) and erosion (0.43 kg m-2 year-1) were markedly lower in the Arabian Sea. Parrotfishes were extremely rare within the southern Arabian Gulf, and as such rates of grazing and erosion were negligible. This regional variation in abundance and functional composition of parrotfishes appears to be related to local environmental conditions.",

keywords = "Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Bioerosion, Ecosystem process, Herbivory, Red Sea",

author = "Hoey, {Andrew S.} and Feary, {David A.} and Burt, {John A.} and Grace Vaughan and Pratchett, {Morgan S.} and Berumen, {Michael L.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank M McCormick, A Bauman, Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, and Fujeirah Municipality for field and/or logistic support. Comments from an anonymous reviewer improved the manuscript. Financial support was provided by the Australian Research Council (ASH, MSP), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (ASH, MLB), the United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health (DAF), and New York University—Abu Dhabi Institute (JB). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier Ltd.",

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AU - Hoey, Andrew S.

AU - Feary, David A.

AU - Burt, John A.

AU - Vaughan, Grace

AU - Pratchett, Morgan S.

AU - Berumen, Michael L.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank M McCormick, A Bauman, Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, and Fujeirah Municipality for field and/or logistic support. Comments from an anonymous reviewer improved the manuscript. Financial support was provided by the Australian Research Council (ASH, MSP), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (ASH, MLB), the United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health (DAF), and New York University—Abu Dhabi Institute (JB). Publisher Copyright: © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

PY - 2016/4/30

Y1 - 2016/4/30

N2 - Parrotfishes (f. Labridae) are a unique and ubiquitous group of herbivorous reef fishes. We compared the distribution and ecosystem function (grazing and erosion) of parrotfishes across 75 reefs in Arabia. Our results revealed marked regional differences in the abundance, and taxonomic and functional composition of parrotfishes between the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Arabian Gulf. High densities and diversity of parrotfishes, and high rates of grazing (210% year-1) and erosion (1.57 kg m-2 year-1) characterised Red Sea reefs. Despite Arabian Sea and Red Sea reefs having broadly comparable abundances of parrotfishes, estimates of grazing (150% year-1) and erosion (0.43 kg m-2 year-1) were markedly lower in the Arabian Sea. Parrotfishes were extremely rare within the southern Arabian Gulf, and as such rates of grazing and erosion were negligible. This regional variation in abundance and functional composition of parrotfishes appears to be related to local environmental conditions.

AB - Parrotfishes (f. Labridae) are a unique and ubiquitous group of herbivorous reef fishes. We compared the distribution and ecosystem function (grazing and erosion) of parrotfishes across 75 reefs in Arabia. Our results revealed marked regional differences in the abundance, and taxonomic and functional composition of parrotfishes between the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Arabian Gulf. High densities and diversity of parrotfishes, and high rates of grazing (210% year-1) and erosion (1.57 kg m-2 year-1) characterised Red Sea reefs. Despite Arabian Sea and Red Sea reefs having broadly comparable abundances of parrotfishes, estimates of grazing (150% year-1) and erosion (0.43 kg m-2 year-1) were markedly lower in the Arabian Sea. Parrotfishes were extremely rare within the southern Arabian Gulf, and as such rates of grazing and erosion were negligible. This regional variation in abundance and functional composition of parrotfishes appears to be related to local environmental conditions.

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KW - Bioerosion

KW - Ecosystem process

KW - Herbivory

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Regional variation in the structure and function of parrotfishes on Arabian reefs

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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