The effect of kelp bed disturbance on the abundance and feeding behaviour of fishes on high-relief reefs

On high-relief reefs, research has shown that the abundance and diversityof non-cryptic fishes is greater in kelp beds cleared of their canopycompared to those left intact. Greater abundance may be caused by anincrease in the availability of food resources associated with damaged kelp,exposed unders...

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Main Authors: Salter, Z., Harvey, Euan, Kendrick, G., Murray, Kevin
Format: Journal Article
Published: Taylor and Francis 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31851
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author Salter, Z.
Harvey, Euan
Kendrick, G.
Murray, Kevin
author_facet Salter, Z.
Harvey, Euan
Kendrick, G.
Murray, Kevin
author_sort Salter, Z.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description On high-relief reefs, research has shown that the abundance and diversityof non-cryptic fishes is greater in kelp beds cleared of their canopycompared to those left intact. Greater abundance may be caused by anincrease in the availability of food resources associated with damaged kelp,exposed understory algae and newly colonised turfing algae. We investigatethe effect of a disturbance to the kelp canopy on two response variables, theabundance and feeding behaviour of six common non-cryptic fish species.We found that Kyphosus sydneyanus (herbivore) and Notolabrus parilus(generalist carnivore) move preferentially into 1-month old clearance plotsto feed, whereas Kyphosus cornelii and Odax cyanomelas only graze in theseplots incidentally. Kyphosus sydneyanus responded with greater abundanceand feeding rate in 1-month old clearance plots that were dominated bythe microscopic filamentous brown alga, Hincksia mitchelliae. Small-scaledisturbances that remove kelps from kelp canopies result in a shift towardsfilamentous algae that either supplements dietary needs or is a preferredfood choice for K. sydneyanus.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-318512017-09-13T15:17:11Z The effect of kelp bed disturbance on the abundance and feeding behaviour of fishes on high-relief reefs Salter, Z. Harvey, Euan Kendrick, G. Murray, Kevin cryptic fish species disturbance feeding behaviour kelp bed Kyphosus sydneyanus filamentous algae On high-relief reefs, research has shown that the abundance and diversityof non-cryptic fishes is greater in kelp beds cleared of their canopycompared to those left intact. Greater abundance may be caused by anincrease in the availability of food resources associated with damaged kelp,exposed understory algae and newly colonised turfing algae. We investigatethe effect of a disturbance to the kelp canopy on two response variables, theabundance and feeding behaviour of six common non-cryptic fish species.We found that Kyphosus sydneyanus (herbivore) and Notolabrus parilus(generalist carnivore) move preferentially into 1-month old clearance plotsto feed, whereas Kyphosus cornelii and Odax cyanomelas only graze in theseplots incidentally. Kyphosus sydneyanus responded with greater abundanceand feeding rate in 1-month old clearance plots that were dominated bythe microscopic filamentous brown alga, Hincksia mitchelliae. Small-scaledisturbances that remove kelps from kelp canopies result in a shift towardsfilamentous algae that either supplements dietary needs or is a preferredfood choice for K. sydneyanus. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31851 10.1080/10236244.2010.483051 Taylor and Francis restricted
spellingShingle cryptic fish species
disturbance
feeding behaviour
kelp bed
Kyphosus sydneyanus
filamentous algae
Salter, Z.
Harvey, Euan
Kendrick, G.
Murray, Kevin
The effect of kelp bed disturbance on the abundance and feeding behaviour of fishes on high-relief reefs
title The effect of kelp bed disturbance on the abundance and feeding behaviour of fishes on high-relief reefs
title_full The effect of kelp bed disturbance on the abundance and feeding behaviour of fishes on high-relief reefs
title_fullStr The effect of kelp bed disturbance on the abundance and feeding behaviour of fishes on high-relief reefs
title_full_unstemmed The effect of kelp bed disturbance on the abundance and feeding behaviour of fishes on high-relief reefs
title_short The effect of kelp bed disturbance on the abundance and feeding behaviour of fishes on high-relief reefs
title_sort effect of kelp bed disturbance on the abundance and feeding behaviour of fishes on high-relief reefs
topic cryptic fish species
disturbance
feeding behaviour
kelp bed
Kyphosus sydneyanus
filamentous algae
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31851