Depth-Variable Settlement Patterns and Predation Influence on Newly Settled Reef Fishes (Haemulon spp., Haemulidae)
During early demersal ontogeny, many marine fishes display complex habitat-use patterns. Grunts of the speciose genus Haemulon are among the most abundant fishes on western North Atlantic coral reefs, with most species settling to shallow habitats (≤12 m). To gain understanding into cross-shelf dist...
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ftnsoutheastern:oai:nsuworks.nova.edu:occ_facarticles-1236 2023-05-15T17:36:15+02:00 Depth-Variable Settlement Patterns and Predation Influence on Newly Settled Reef Fishes (Haemulon spp., Haemulidae) Jordan, Lance K. B. Lindeman, Kenyon C. Spieler, Richard E. 2012-12-14T08:00:00Z application/pdf https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/146 https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1236&context=occ_facarticles unknown NSUWorks https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/146 https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1236&context=occ_facarticles Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles Analysis of variance Coral reefs Death rates Fishes Habitats Neostriatum Predation Reefs Marine Biology Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology article 2012 ftnsoutheastern 2022-04-10T21:23:46Z During early demersal ontogeny, many marine fishes display complex habitat-use patterns. Grunts of the speciose genus Haemulon are among the most abundant fishes on western North Atlantic coral reefs, with most species settling to shallow habitats (≤12 m). To gain understanding into cross-shelf distributional patterns exhibited by newly settled stages of grunts (<2 cm total length), we examined: 1) depth-specific distributions of congeners at settlement among sites at 8 m, 12 m, and 21 m, and 2) depth-variable predation pressure on newly settled individuals (species pooled). Of the six species identified from collections of newly settled specimens (n = 2125), Haemulon aurolineatum (tomtate), H. flavolineatum(French grunt), and H. striatum (striped grunt) comprised 98% of the total abundance; with the first two species present at all sites. Prevalence of H. aurolineatum and H. flavolineatumdecreased substantially from the 8-m site to the two deeper sites. In contrast, H. striatum was absent from the 8-m site and exhibited its highest frequency at the 21-m site. Comparison of newly settled grunt delta density for all species on caged (predator exclusion) and control artificial reefs at the shallowest site (8-m) revealed no difference, while the 12-m and 21-m sites exhibited significantly greater delta densities on the caged treatment. This result, along with significantly higher abundances of co-occurring piscivorous fishes at the deeper sites, indicated lower predation pressure at the 8-m site. This study suggests habitat-use patterns of newly settled stages of some coral reef fishes that undergo ontogenetic shifts are a function of depth-variable predation pressure while, for at least one deeper-water species, proximity to adult habitat appears to be an important factor affecting settlement distribution. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic Nova Southeastern University: NSU Works |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Nova Southeastern University: NSU Works |
op_collection_id |
ftnsoutheastern |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Analysis of variance Coral reefs Death rates Fishes Habitats Neostriatum Predation Reefs Marine Biology Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology |
spellingShingle |
Analysis of variance Coral reefs Death rates Fishes Habitats Neostriatum Predation Reefs Marine Biology Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Jordan, Lance K. B. Lindeman, Kenyon C. Spieler, Richard E. Depth-Variable Settlement Patterns and Predation Influence on Newly Settled Reef Fishes (Haemulon spp., Haemulidae) |
topic_facet |
Analysis of variance Coral reefs Death rates Fishes Habitats Neostriatum Predation Reefs Marine Biology Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology |
description |
During early demersal ontogeny, many marine fishes display complex habitat-use patterns. Grunts of the speciose genus Haemulon are among the most abundant fishes on western North Atlantic coral reefs, with most species settling to shallow habitats (≤12 m). To gain understanding into cross-shelf distributional patterns exhibited by newly settled stages of grunts (<2 cm total length), we examined: 1) depth-specific distributions of congeners at settlement among sites at 8 m, 12 m, and 21 m, and 2) depth-variable predation pressure on newly settled individuals (species pooled). Of the six species identified from collections of newly settled specimens (n = 2125), Haemulon aurolineatum (tomtate), H. flavolineatum(French grunt), and H. striatum (striped grunt) comprised 98% of the total abundance; with the first two species present at all sites. Prevalence of H. aurolineatum and H. flavolineatumdecreased substantially from the 8-m site to the two deeper sites. In contrast, H. striatum was absent from the 8-m site and exhibited its highest frequency at the 21-m site. Comparison of newly settled grunt delta density for all species on caged (predator exclusion) and control artificial reefs at the shallowest site (8-m) revealed no difference, while the 12-m and 21-m sites exhibited significantly greater delta densities on the caged treatment. This result, along with significantly higher abundances of co-occurring piscivorous fishes at the deeper sites, indicated lower predation pressure at the 8-m site. This study suggests habitat-use patterns of newly settled stages of some coral reef fishes that undergo ontogenetic shifts are a function of depth-variable predation pressure while, for at least one deeper-water species, proximity to adult habitat appears to be an important factor affecting settlement distribution. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jordan, Lance K. B. Lindeman, Kenyon C. Spieler, Richard E. |
author_facet |
Jordan, Lance K. B. Lindeman, Kenyon C. Spieler, Richard E. |
author_sort |
Jordan, Lance K. B. |
title |
Depth-Variable Settlement Patterns and Predation Influence on Newly Settled Reef Fishes (Haemulon spp., Haemulidae) |
title_short |
Depth-Variable Settlement Patterns and Predation Influence on Newly Settled Reef Fishes (Haemulon spp., Haemulidae) |
title_full |
Depth-Variable Settlement Patterns and Predation Influence on Newly Settled Reef Fishes (Haemulon spp., Haemulidae) |
title_fullStr |
Depth-Variable Settlement Patterns and Predation Influence on Newly Settled Reef Fishes (Haemulon spp., Haemulidae) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Depth-Variable Settlement Patterns and Predation Influence on Newly Settled Reef Fishes (Haemulon spp., Haemulidae) |
title_sort |
depth-variable settlement patterns and predation influence on newly settled reef fishes (haemulon spp., haemulidae) |
publisher |
NSUWorks |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/146 https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1236&context=occ_facarticles |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_source |
Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles |
op_relation |
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/146 https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1236&context=occ_facarticles |
_version_ |
1766135679658491904 |