Structure, food and shade attract juvenile coral reef fish to mangrove and seagrass habitats: a field experiment
Mangroves and seagrass beds are considered nurseries for juvenile fish, but little experimental evidence exists to elucidate which factors make them attractive habitats. A multifactorial field experiment on the use of these habitats by juvenile reef fish and their behaviour was performed during dayt...
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Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/structure-food-and-shade-attract-juvenile-coral-reef-fish-to-mang https://doi.org/10.3354/meps306257 |
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ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/347704 2024-02-04T10:04:21+01:00 Structure, food and shade attract juvenile coral reef fish to mangrove and seagrass habitats: a field experiment Verweij, M.C. Nagelkerken, I. de Graaff, D. Peeters, M. Bakker, E.J. van der Velde, G. 2006 application/pdf https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/structure-food-and-shade-attract-juvenile-coral-reef-fish-to-mang https://doi.org/10.3354/meps306257 en eng https://edepot.wur.nl/31060 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/structure-food-and-shade-attract-juvenile-coral-reef-fish-to-mang doi:10.3354/meps306257 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Wageningen University & Research Marine Ecology Progress Series 306 (2006) ISSN: 0171-8630 assemblages beds communities complexity drum sciaenops-ocellatus estuarine fish light-intensity meadows predation selection info:eu-repo/semantics/article Article/Letter to editor info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2006 ftunivwagenin https://doi.org/10.3354/meps306257 2024-01-10T23:25:37Z Mangroves and seagrass beds are considered nurseries for juvenile fish, but little experimental evidence exists to elucidate which factors make them attractive habitats. A multifactorial field experiment on the use of these habitats by juvenile reef fish and their behaviour was performed during daytime with experimental units (EUs: 1 × 1 × 0.8 m), each representing a unique combination of the factors structure, shade, and food, using artificial seagrass leaves (AS) and artificial mangrove roots (AM). Diurnally active herbivores were most abundant in EUs containing food, and grazed on algae growing on the structures, but were not attracted to structures in the absence of food. The most abundant diurnally active zoobenthivores (Eucinostomus spp.) were present in highest numbers in any EU with food, where they fed on zoobenthos or rested on the bottom. The nocturnally active zoobenthivore/zooplanktivore Ocyurus chrysurus and the diurnally active piscivore Sphyraena barracuda were primarily attracted to structure, in which they rested and were not observed to feed. Haemulon flavolineatum was mainly attracted to AS, Lutjanus mahogoni was attracted to AS or shade, whereas L. apodus, O. chrysurus and S. barracuda were found in AM as well as in AS. The data suggest that during daytime, herbivores and diurnally active zoobenthivores are probably attracted to mangroves and seagrass beds primarily by food, and nocturnally active zoobenthivores by structure (in interaction with shade) that offers shelter from predation. S. barracuda is also attracted primarily to structure, but the larger individuals probably use this for ambush predation rather than for protection. In conclusion, our experiment clarifies that presence of structure, food and shade significantly contribute to the attractiveness of mangroves and seagrass beds to juvenile reef fish Article in Journal/Newspaper Sciaenops ocellatus Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library Marine Ecology Progress Series 306 257 268 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwagenin |
language |
English |
topic |
assemblages beds communities complexity drum sciaenops-ocellatus estuarine fish light-intensity meadows predation selection |
spellingShingle |
assemblages beds communities complexity drum sciaenops-ocellatus estuarine fish light-intensity meadows predation selection Verweij, M.C. Nagelkerken, I. de Graaff, D. Peeters, M. Bakker, E.J. van der Velde, G. Structure, food and shade attract juvenile coral reef fish to mangrove and seagrass habitats: a field experiment |
topic_facet |
assemblages beds communities complexity drum sciaenops-ocellatus estuarine fish light-intensity meadows predation selection |
description |
Mangroves and seagrass beds are considered nurseries for juvenile fish, but little experimental evidence exists to elucidate which factors make them attractive habitats. A multifactorial field experiment on the use of these habitats by juvenile reef fish and their behaviour was performed during daytime with experimental units (EUs: 1 × 1 × 0.8 m), each representing a unique combination of the factors structure, shade, and food, using artificial seagrass leaves (AS) and artificial mangrove roots (AM). Diurnally active herbivores were most abundant in EUs containing food, and grazed on algae growing on the structures, but were not attracted to structures in the absence of food. The most abundant diurnally active zoobenthivores (Eucinostomus spp.) were present in highest numbers in any EU with food, where they fed on zoobenthos or rested on the bottom. The nocturnally active zoobenthivore/zooplanktivore Ocyurus chrysurus and the diurnally active piscivore Sphyraena barracuda were primarily attracted to structure, in which they rested and were not observed to feed. Haemulon flavolineatum was mainly attracted to AS, Lutjanus mahogoni was attracted to AS or shade, whereas L. apodus, O. chrysurus and S. barracuda were found in AM as well as in AS. The data suggest that during daytime, herbivores and diurnally active zoobenthivores are probably attracted to mangroves and seagrass beds primarily by food, and nocturnally active zoobenthivores by structure (in interaction with shade) that offers shelter from predation. S. barracuda is also attracted primarily to structure, but the larger individuals probably use this for ambush predation rather than for protection. In conclusion, our experiment clarifies that presence of structure, food and shade significantly contribute to the attractiveness of mangroves and seagrass beds to juvenile reef fish |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Verweij, M.C. Nagelkerken, I. de Graaff, D. Peeters, M. Bakker, E.J. van der Velde, G. |
author_facet |
Verweij, M.C. Nagelkerken, I. de Graaff, D. Peeters, M. Bakker, E.J. van der Velde, G. |
author_sort |
Verweij, M.C. |
title |
Structure, food and shade attract juvenile coral reef fish to mangrove and seagrass habitats: a field experiment |
title_short |
Structure, food and shade attract juvenile coral reef fish to mangrove and seagrass habitats: a field experiment |
title_full |
Structure, food and shade attract juvenile coral reef fish to mangrove and seagrass habitats: a field experiment |
title_fullStr |
Structure, food and shade attract juvenile coral reef fish to mangrove and seagrass habitats: a field experiment |
title_full_unstemmed |
Structure, food and shade attract juvenile coral reef fish to mangrove and seagrass habitats: a field experiment |
title_sort |
structure, food and shade attract juvenile coral reef fish to mangrove and seagrass habitats: a field experiment |
publishDate |
2006 |
url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/structure-food-and-shade-attract-juvenile-coral-reef-fish-to-mang https://doi.org/10.3354/meps306257 |
genre |
Sciaenops ocellatus |
genre_facet |
Sciaenops ocellatus |
op_source |
Marine Ecology Progress Series 306 (2006) ISSN: 0171-8630 |
op_relation |
https://edepot.wur.nl/31060 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/structure-food-and-shade-attract-juvenile-coral-reef-fish-to-mang doi:10.3354/meps306257 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Wageningen University & Research |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3354/meps306257 |
container_title |
Marine Ecology Progress Series |
container_volume |
306 |
container_start_page |
257 |
op_container_end_page |
268 |
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1789972741483397120 |