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

Mar Pollut Bull. 2016 Apr 30;105(2):524-31. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.035. Epub 2015 Nov 19.

Authors

Andrew S Hoey¹, David A Feary², John A Burt³, Grace Vaughan³, Morgan S Pratchett⁴, Michael L Berumen⁵

Affiliations

¹ ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville Q4811, Australia; Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Andrew.hoey1@jcu.edu.au.
² School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
³ Biology, New York University, Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
⁴ ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville Q4811, Australia.
⁵ Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 26608505
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.035

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 kgm(-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 kgm(-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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animal Distribution
Animals
Biodiversity*
Coral Reefs*
Indian Ocean
Oman
Perciformes / physiology*
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates