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A Reconnaissance of the Deeper Jamaican Coral Reef Fish Communities M Northeast Gulf Science Volume 12 Article 3 Number 1 Number 1 11-1991 A Reconnaissance of the Deeper Jamaican Coral Reef Fish Communities M. Itzkowitz Lehigh University M. Haley Lehigh University C. Otis Lehigh University D. Evers Lehigh University DOI: 10.18785/negs.1201.03 Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/goms Recommended Citation Itzkowitz, M., M. Haley, C. Otis and D. Evers. 1991. A Reconnaissance of the Deeper Jamaican Coral Reef Fish Communities. Northeast Gulf Science 12 (1). Retrieved from https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol12/iss1/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Gulf of Mexico Science by an authorized editor of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Itzkowitz et al.: A Reconnaissance of the Deeper Jamaican Coral Reef Fish Communiti Northeast Gulf Science Vol. 12, No. 1 November 1991 p. 25·34 A RECONNAISSANCE OF THE DEEPER JAMAICAN CORAL REEF FISH COMMUNITIES M. Itzkowitz, M. Haley, C. Otis, D. Evers Biology Department Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA, 18015 ABSTRACT: A submersible was used to make repetitive dives in Jamaica to depths of 2S m 50 m, and 100m. With increasing depth there was a decline in both species and the numbe; of individuals. The territorial damselfish and mixed-species groups of herbivorous fishes were conspicuously absent at 100m. Few unique species appeared with increasing depth and thus the deep community resembled depauperate versions of the shallower communities. Twelve species were shared between the 3 depths but there was no significant correlation in ranked relative abundance. Thus increasing depth also influenced community organization. [Keywords: Jamaica, Caribbean, submarine, submersible, social behavior, habitat] With the advent of SCUBA many tions, allowed us to examine interspecific studies have appeared on the behavior, behavioral interactions among the spe· diversity, and habitat use of Caribbean cies common to each depth. coral reef fishes (e.g., see review by Sale The behavioral observations were 1981). These studies revealed consider· designed to look for similarities as seen able similarity in the species composition in shallow Caribbean communities. In the on many Caribbean Islands, although shallow areas most of the emphasis has quantitative differences apparently reflect been on the behavioral ecology of terri­ differences in habitat (e.g., Gladfelter et torial damselfishes (Bartels 1984; Doherty a/. 1980; Kaufman and Ebersole 1984; 1983; Ebersole 1977, 1980; Itzkowitz 1977 Alevizon eta/. 1985; Itzkowitz, pers. obs.). 1978, 1979, 1986; Mahoney 1981; Myrber~ However, SCUBA has restricted our know· and Thresher 1974; Robertson 1984· ledge of Caribbean fish communities to Robertson eta/., 1981; Schmale 1981) and depths of less than 30m, while living on the free-ranging species that often coral and the associated fish communi· form mixed-species groups (e.g., ties extend much deeper. Buckman and Ogden 1973; Itzkowitz 1974 Using submersibles, researchers 1977; Hanley 1984; Ogden and Buckma~ have the potential to investigate the 1973; Robertson eta/. 1976). The perman­ deeper coral reef fish communities. At ently territorial damselfish have specific, present, submersibles have been used to and nearly exclusive, habitat preferences broadly census large and/or deep areas with the same individual often occupying (e.g., Colin 1974; 1976; Parker and Ross its territory for many months (Itzkowitz 1986; Shipp eta/. 1986). Here we describe 1977, 1986; Schmale 1981). Their vigorous a series of repetitive submersible dives territorial defense is directed again con­ from depths of 25 to 100 m on the north specifics and other fish species which coast of Jamaica. The intent of this study may utilize resources within their terri­ was to characterize the fish fauna with tories. The aggressive exclusion of herbi· changes in depth. Also, making repetitive vorous fishes (e.g., parrottishes and dives to the same localities, and having surgeonfishes) often results in luxuriant the ability to maintain stationary posi· growths of algae within damselfish terri- Published by The Aquila Digital Community, 1991 25 1 Gulf of Mexico Science, Vol. 12 [1991], No. 1, Art. 3 26 Itzkowitz, M., M. Haley, C. Otis, and D. Evers tories (Brawley and Adey 1977; Irvine appropriate for this type of analysis. 1980; Potts 1977; Sammarco 1983). Be­ At each depth, the three sites were sides affecting algal growth, damselfish separated by a minimum of 50 m. Each attacks usually modify the swimming site was marked with a conspicuous float pattern of mixed-species groups and attached to a weight. During July 1984, often cause them to fractionate into 5 dives were made to the 25 m, 10 to the smaller units (Itzkowitz 1977). In the 50 m, and 11 to the 100m depth. Attempts present study, emphasis was placed on were made to space dives to each depth determining (1) if a species exhibited throughout the month. A single dive in­ territorial behavior and, if so, which volved visiting one depth; the three sites species were chased, and (2) if not terri­ were each observed for 30 min. During the torial, was it consistently found with other 30 min observation, the submersible individuals/species. hovered or rested between 2 and 4 m from the study site. As discussed below, all study sites were inclined between 60 and METHODS 90 degrees. The area of the study site varied depending on light penetration This study was performed on the (e.g., turbidity) but attempts were made to forereef at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. The keep the area under observation constant 2 location was ideal for submersible access (approximately 12 m ). Submarine lights as the fringing reefs are within 200 m of were used only for momentary identifica­ the shore and between 300-400 m from tions and had little affect on the fish shore, the depth quickly drops to over community. 300m. Two types of quantitative data are The PC-8 submersible was designed presented in this paper, the presence or for a pilot and one observer. The observer absence of a species ("Pres/Abs") within sat aft and viewed out a plexiglass hemis­ the study site during an observation phere that had a diameter of approxi­ period and, if present, the numbers of mately 1 m. The field of view was greater individuals of each species (i.e., "num· than 180 degrees and although visual bers"). These data were then averaged distortion occurred at the periphery, it over all observation periods at that study was minor and did not interfere with the site (i.e., x = 1.0 = always present; x observations. The submersible operated = 0.0 = never present). Means for each on stored electricity, and had a maximum of the three sites at a particular depth operating depth of 250m. were then averaged (i.e., mean of means). Three depths were selected for Unlike Pres/Abs data in which absence of study: 25, 50, and 100m. Although the a species was used in the averaging, 25m sites were within the working range observations in which a species failed to of SCUBA, the submersible was used to appear were excluded from calculations allow comparisons to the deeper areas. of the mean numbers for that species. At each depth, an initial exploration was When considering the Pres/Abs and conducted to locate sites which had fish numbers data, it is possible to determine communities. The three study sites how often a species was present at a selected typified those habitats support­ particular depth and, if present, the mean ing fish communities. Given the small number of individuals. Table 1 provides sample size per depth and the large areas the binomial nomenclature for the com­ which did not support fish communities, mon names used in the text. random site selection was deemed in- As priority was given to monitoring https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol12/iss1/3 2 DOI: 10.18785/negs.1201.03 Itzkowitz et al.: A Reconnaissance of the Deeper Jamaican Coral Reef Fish Communiti Reconnaissance of Jamaican Coral Reef Communities 27 Table 1. Genus and species for common names of fishes used in the text. DAMSELFJSH ES: dusky (Stegastes punicans), (Hypoplectrus puel/a), indigo (Hypop/ectrus indigo) bicolor (Stegastes partitus), three-spot (Stegastes shy (Hypoplectrus guttavarius) ' planifrons), cocoa (Stegastes variabilis), blue PUFFERS: b~ndtail (Sphoeroides spenglen), sharp­ chromis (Chromis cyanea), brown chromis (Chromis nose (Canth1gaster rostrata) multifineata), sunshine fish (Chromis insolatus), WRASSES: bluehead (Tha/assoma bitasciatum) Yellowtail (Microspathedon chrysurus), Chromis yellowhead (Halichoeres garnofl), creole (Ciepticu; SCOtti parra1), Spanish hagfish (Bodianus rufus) PARROTFISH ES: redband (Sparisoma aurofrenatum), BUTTERFLYFISHES: foureye (Chaetodon capis­ redtail (Sparisoma chrysopterum), stoplight (Spari­ tratus), reef (Chaetodon sedentarius), longsnout soma viride}, striped (Scarus isert1), queen (Scarus (Prognathodes aculeatus) vetula), rainbow (Scarus guacamaia) BASSLETS: blackcapped (Gramm a melacara) fairy GRUNTS: Fren-::h (Haemulon f/avo/ineatum), Mar­ (Gramma Ioreto), Heliotrope (Lipogramma klayJ) gate (Haemulon album), smallmouth (Haemulon ridgeback (Liopromona mowbray1) ' chrysargyeum), sailor's choice (Haemu/on parra1), SEA BASSES: harlequin bass (Serranus tigrinus) tomtate (Haemulon auro/ineatum) coney (Cephalopholis fulva), grays by (Petrometro: GOATFISHES: yellow (Mulloidichthys martinicus), pan cruentatum), tobacco fish (Serra nus tobacarius) spotted
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