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L Trophic Interactions in Caribbean Coral Reefs L Trophic Interactions in Caribbean Coral Reefs Silvia Opitz s / INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR LIVING AQUATIC RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Trophic Interactions in Caribbean Coral Reefs APR 14 19B7 Published by the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, MCPO Box 2631, 0718 Makati City, Philippines. Printed in Manila, Philippines Opitz, S. 1996. Trophic interactions in Caribbean coral reefs. I LARM Tech. Rep. 43, 341 p. $ Cover: Design emphasizes the systematic properties of coral reefs (central insert), inhabited by a variety of fishes (insert, left below), and often connected to other equally productive and equally threatened ecosystems, mangroves (insert, upper left) and seagrasses (insert, lower right). The wave at the lower right side symbolizes how the Sea interconnects these elements, also connected in the models (background diagram). Copyediting by: Marie Sol M. Sadorra Proofreading by: Marie Sol M. Sadorra, Cecille Legazpi, Francisco Torres, Jr. and Jessica A. Moya Layout by: Ariel C. Aquisap, Albert B. Contemprate and Ovidio F. Espiritu, Jr. Cover concept by: Silvia Opitz Cover design by: Alan Siegfried Esquillon Illustrations by: Albert B. Contemprate and Ovidio F. Espiritu, Jr. ISSN 011 5-5547 ISBN 971-8709-60-6 ICLARM Contribution No. 1085 CONTENTS List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................ iv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... vii ... List of Appendix Tables ........................................................................................................................ VIII . Foreword Meryl J. W~llrams ................................................................................................................. x Foreword Daniel Pauly ........................................................................................................................ xi ... Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... XIII Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 The ECOPATH Model ................................................................................................................3 Development of the Models ...................................................................................................... 10 Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 10 Chapter 2 . MATERIALS AND METHODS ............................................................................................. 12 Sources of Data ...........................................................................................................................12 Choice of Suitable System ........................................................................................................... 12 System Boundaries and the Concept of "Subsystems" ............................................................... 12 System Components ................................................................................................................... 13 Fishing Activities ................................................................................................................... 21 Methods and Data Used for the Computation of Input Parameters Required for ECOPATH 11 ................................................................................................ 22 . Diet Compos~t~onMatrix ...............................................................................................................34 Aggregation of Species and Taxa .......................................................................................... 36 ECOPATH II Parameter Estimation Routine ................................................................................40 Whole System Properties ............................................................................................................40 Graphical Representation of Models ............................................................................................40 Chapter 3 . RESULTS ........................................................................................................................... 42 Fish Species ................................................................................................................................42 Nonfish Taxa ............................................................................................................................ 79 The Models ..................................................................................................................................99 Chapter 4 . DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................... 156 Compatibility of the Models with the PRVl Coral Reef System ................................................. 156 Comparison of the Models with Other Coral Reef Areas ...................................................... 157 New Insights into Structure and Functioning of a Coral Reef as an Ecosystem Unit ................................................................................................ 160 Identification and Solution of Methodological Problems during the Modelling Process ...................................................................................................163 Gaps of Knowledge and Suggestions for Future Research .......................................................164 Chapter 5 . CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................167 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................169 References ........................................................................................................................................... 170 iii LIST OF TABLES Areal extent of subsystems of the PRVl shelf .............................................................. 13 Fish species included in the ECOPATH II models of a Caribbean coral reef ..................................................................................................................... 15 Nonfish taxa included in the ECOPATH II models of a Caribbean coral reef ..................................................................................................................... 21 Qualitative abundance levels as used to estimate average density (Nm-2) of fish species included in the models ......................................................................... 24 Conversion factors used for ECOPATH II input parameter estimation of nonfish groups ............................................................................................................. 26 Spatial distribution of Caribbean reef fishes (with emphasis on the Virgin Islands and notes on their ecology) ................................................................... 43 Number of fishers and vessels in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, 1970-1981 ...................................................................................................................55 Relative importance of the different gear in the fisheries of the PRVl area .................. 55 Yield of trap fisheries for important families in Puerto Rico .......................................... 56 Estimated asymptotic length (L, ) and weight (Wm)of Caribbean reef fishes ................ 58 Estimated average biomass of fish species in Virgin Islands reef environments ............................................................................................................... 63 Estimated growth parameters and natural mortality (M) of Caribbean reef fishes ................................................................................................................... 68 Estimated food consumption of Caribbean reef fishes ................................................. 74 Abundance (Nm-2)and mean individual live weight (g) of some nonfish taxa from Caribbean reefs and other areas ................................................................. 81 Database of ECOPATH II key input parameters of nonfish taxa for Caribbean coral reef models .................................................................................. 82 Primary productivity of coral reefs and components .................................................... 84 Parameters used to estimate annual Q/B of some bivalves ......................................... 91 Consumption of some bivalves .................................................................................... 91 Conversion efficiencies of Octopus vulgaris ..............................................................92 Parameters used to estimate consumption of 0 . vulgaris ............................................ 93 Consumption and maintenance ration of 0 . vulgaris at 28°C ...................................... 93 Food conversions of Panulirus homarus ......................................................................95 Parameters used to estimate consumption of P homarus ........................................... 95 Consumption and maintenance ration of
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