Parrotfish predation on massive Porites on the Great Barrier Reef
Parrotfish predation on massive Porites on the Great Barrier Reef
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DOI：
10.1007/s00338-010-0669-3
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发表时间：
2011-03-01
期刊：
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Bellwood, D. R.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Bonaldo, R. M.;Bellwood, D. R.
对北大堡礁（GBR）蜥蜴岛四个珊瑚礁区域的鹦嘴鱼在珊瑚群上的吃草痕迹进行了量化。礁滩和波峰上鹦嘴鱼吃草痕迹的丰度最高，其中有大量滨珊瑚。鹦嘴鱼吃草疤痕的数量比所有其他珊瑚物种的总和还要多。大型滨珊瑚是所有四个珊瑚礁区中唯一被鹦嘴鱼积极选择放牧的珊瑚类型。大型滨珊瑚上鹦嘴鱼吃草疤痕的密度以及新疤痕形成率在礁顶和平坦处最高，反映出这些栖息地的大型滨珊瑚覆盖率较低，而鹦嘴鱼丰度较高。总体而言，鹦嘴鱼对珊瑚的捕食压力可能会影响整个珊瑚礁梯度中首选珊瑚物种的丰度，尤其是大型滨珊瑚。鹦嘴鱼捕食珊瑚对大堡礁珊瑚礁的影响可能比之前想象的更为重要。
Parrotfish grazing scars on coral colonies were quantified across four reef zones at Lizard Island, Northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The abundance of parrotfish grazing scars was highest on reef flat and crest, with massive Porites spp. colonies having more parrotfish grazing scars than all other coral species combined. Massive Porites was the only coral type positively selected for grazing by parrotfishes in all four reef zones. The density of parrotfish grazing scars on massive Porites spp., and the rate of new scar formation, was highest on the reef crest and flat, reflecting the lower massive Porites cover and higher parrotfish abundance in these habitats. Overall, it appears that parrotfish predation pressure on corals could affect the abundance of preferred coral species, especially massive Porites spp, across the reef gradient. Parrotfish predation on corals may have a more important role on the GBR reefs than previously thought.