DOCSLIB.ORG

Literature Review

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Literature Review: SEAGRASS AND MANGROVE HABITATS AS REEF FISH NURSERY HABITATS AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS FROM COASTAL CONSTRUCTION IN FLORIDA, USA (CONTRACT ORDER #: GA133F06SE5828) FINAL Submitted to: Jocelyn Karazsia National Marine Fisheries Service 400 North Congress Ave, Suite 120 West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 561-616-8880 x207 [email protected] Submitted by: Stephanie Williams 22E Calle Muñoz Rivera PO BOX 360 Rincón, Puerto Rico 00677-0360 March 2007 INTRODUCTION: The 1996 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act set forth a new mandate for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), regional fishery management councils, and other Federal agencies to identify and protect important marine and anadromous fish habitat, such as mangroves, seagrasses, coral reefs, hard bottom reefs, and wetlands. The purpose of this project is to complete a literature review of references, including university theses and dissertations, scientific studies, reports, books, and gray literature, regarding the role of seagrasses and mangroves in coral reef ecology and reef fish productivity; and the impacts of coastal construction to reef fish nursery habitats, fish stocks, and the implications of these impacts for the fisheries of Florida, USA. Coastal construction includes beach nourishment, dredging, dock and marina construction, shoreline hardening, and the construction of other structures that result in the elimination or degradation of mangrove and seagrass habitats. This project supports local efforts to implement coastal construction best management practices and to provide information on cumulative impacts on coral reef fish nursery habitats in Florida, USA. References were compiled in the form of an annotated bibliography containing the complete citation of the work, a summarized abstract, the reference location, and keywords. The reference search included visiting offices, libraries, and computer/internet search engines of federal agencies, specifically NMFS, and U.S. Geological Survey’s and NOAA’s CoRIS Website; from local agencies, specifically the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management; from universities, specifically Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, Nova-Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; and internet searches database searches and other gray literature. The literature review also provides a location of where the reference can be obtained, as well as keywords. The references for the literature review were organized into seven different sections: I. MANGROVES: ROLE/ STATUS/ TRENDS/ IMPACTS/ RESTORATION II. SEAGRASS: ROLE/ STATUS/ TRENDS/ IMPACTS/ RESTORATION III. COASTAL HABITATS: VALUE/ POLLUTION/ RESTORATION/ RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IV. CORAL REEF DIVERSITY & FISH PRODUCTIVITY: ROLE/ STATUS/ IMPACTS/ MITIGATION V. BEACH NOURISHMENT: STATUS/ IMPACTS/ MANAGEMENT VI. FISHERIES & MARINE NURSERIES GENERAL: IMPACTS/ MANAGEMENT VII. REFERENCES OF SPECIFIC STUDIES OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA All reference searches were focused on Florida within the past 10 years. Any other specific studies performed in other countries that are related and emphasize the importance of the topics of interest were placed in the section entitled: VII. REFERENCES OF SPECIFIC STUDIES OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA. References from past literature reviews developed for the NMFS were to be used as a complement to this report and are accessible on the CoRIS website. Therefore, repetitions should be minimal. This project builds on ongoing efforts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) / National Marine Fisheries Service in the state of Florida, USA, to strengthen existing management of reef resources. This work addresses specific management needs identified by the NMFS. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS: PAGE: I. MANGROVES: ROLE/ STATUS/ TRENDS/ IMPACTS/ RESTORATION . 4-13 II. SEAGRASS: ROLE/ STATUS/ TRENDS/ IMPACTS/ RESTORATION . 13-22 III. COASTAL HABITATS: VALUE/ POLLUTION/ RESTORATION/RESOURCE MANAGEMENT . 23-35 IV. CORAL REEF DIVERSITY & FISH PRODUCTIVITY: ROLE/STATUS/ IMPACTS/ MITIGATION . .35-54 V. BEACH NOURISHMENT: STATUS/ IMPACTS/ MANAGEMENT . .54-58 VI. FISHERIES & MARINE NURSERIES GENERAL: IMPACTS/ MANAGEMENT . 58-66 VII. REFERENCES OF SPECIFIC STUDIES OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA. 66-76 3 I. MANGROVES: ROLE/ STATUS/ TRENDS/ IMPACTS/ RESTORATION: Barr, J. G., T. L. O’Halloran, J. D. Fuentes, T. A. Frankovich, J. C. Zieman, and D. L. Childers. 2004. New flux tower facility tracks CO2 in the Florida coastal Everglades: Mangrove forest provides significant carbon sink. The Network Newsletter. 17(1). Spring 2004. Florida Coastal Everglades LTER. Abstract: Mangrove ecosystems represent a potentially significant carbon sink because of year- round physiologically active foliage, as well as carbon exchanges at the estuary interface and continuous accretion of sediments. During June 2003, a 30-m tall triangular tower was erected in a riverine mangrove forest to rise as a platform to set up flux measurement systems. The study site, located along the Shark River in the western region of the Florida Everglades, includes red (Rhizophora mangle), black (Avicennia germinans), and white (Languncularia lacemosa) mangroves. Continuous field measurements from an eddy covariance system provided the net exchange of carbon dioxide across the forest-atmosphere interface every half hour. The carbon dioxide fluxes to the mangrove forest showed strong diurnal variations and unusually high values, with maximum daytime fluxes reaching 30 micro-moles (CO2) m-2(ground area) s-1. Photosynthetically active irradiance and temperature mainly transform the diurnal patterns of carbon dioxide fluxes. This supports the hypothesis that mangrove forests constitute an important carbon sink. Reference Location: Internet Search: The Network News: LTER Network Newsletter http://intranet.lternet.edu/archives/documents/Newsletters/NetworkNews/spring04 /spring04_pg05.htm Keyword(s): Coastal Everglades, Florida, Carbon Sink, Biosphere Brooks. R. A., and S. S. Bell. 2005. A multivariate study of mangrove morphology (Rhizophora mangle) using both above and below-water plant architecture. Estuarine and Shelf Coast Science. 65(3): 440-448. Abstract: This descriptive study of the architecture of the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle L., habitat of Tampa Bay, Florida, was conducted to observe if plant architecture could be used to discriminate overwash from fringing forest types. Seven above-water features, including tree height and leaf area, and ten below-water features, including root density and root complexity, were measured in eight mangrove stands. A multivariate technique was used to test the ability of different models comprising above-water, below-water, or whole tree architecture to classify forest type. Based on habitat architecture, the results of this study do not support a sharp distinction between overwash and fringing mangrove forests in Tampa Bay, but rather indicate that the two are architecturally undistinguishable. Within this northern portion of the geographic range of red mangroves, a more appropriate classification system based on architecture may be one in which overwash and fringing forest types are combined into a single, “tide dominated” category. Reference Location: Wimberly Library, Florida Atlantic University: Internet Database Search: Current Contents Connect, Boca Raton, Florida, USA Keyword(s): Mangrove, Fringing Mangrove, Habitat Classification, Prop Root, Morphology, Rhizophora mangle, Plant Architecture, Tampa Bay, Florida, Burton, M. L., K. J. Brennan, R. C, Munoz, and R. O . Parker, Jr. 2005. Preliminary evidence of increased spawning aggregations of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) at Riley’s Hump two years after establishment of Tortugas South Ecological Reserve. Fishery Bulletin. 103(2): 404-410. 4 Abstract: This study describes the re-formation of a spawning aggregation of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis). A review of four consecutive years of survey data indicates that the aggregation may be increasing in size. Juveniles and subadults are found in a variety of habitats such as vegetated sand bottoms, bays, and mangrove estuaries. Adults are found offshore on coral reefs and other complex hardbottom habitat. Mutton snapper are highly prized by Florida fishermen for their size and fighting ability, and the majority of landings occur from Cape Canaveral to the Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas. Reference Location: Internet Search: ASFA: Aquatic Pollution and Environmental Quality, Green Library, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA Keyword(s): Resource Conservation, Fishery Surveys, Lutjanus analis, Reproductive Behaviour, Organism Aggregations, Fishery Management, Spawning Migrations, Coral Reefs, Marine Parks, Fishery Resources, Riley’s Hump, Tortugas South Ecological Reserve, Florida, Brazil Davis, S. M., D. L. Childers, J. J. Lorenz, H. R. Wanless, and T. E. Hopkins. 2005. A conceptual model of ecological interactions in the mangrove estuaries of the Florida Everglades. Wetlands. 25(4): 832-842. Abstract: Because of their location at the lower end of the Everglades drainage basin, Everglades mangrove estuaries have been affected by upstream water management practices that have altered the freshwater heads and flows and that affect salinity gradients. Two major
Recommended publications
  • Phylogeny of the Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) and Patterns of Asymmetrical Diversification in Body Size and Feeding Ecology

    Phylogeny of the Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) and Patterns of Asymmetrical Diversification in Body Size and Feeding Ecology

    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.07.430149; this version posted February 8, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. Phylogeny of the damselfishes (Pomacentridae) and patterns of asymmetrical diversification in body size and feeding ecology Charlene L. McCord a, W. James Cooper b, Chloe M. Nash c, d & Mark W. Westneat c, d a California State University Dominguez Hills, College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, 1000 E. Victoria Street, Carson, CA 90747 b Western Washington University, Department of Biology and Program in Marine and Coastal Science, 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 c University of Chicago, Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, and Committee on Evolutionary Biology, 1027 E. 57th St, Chicago IL, 60637, USA d Field Museum of Natural History, Division of Fishes, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605 Corresponding author: Mark W. Westneat [email protected] Journal: PLoS One Keywords: Pomacentridae, phylogenetics, body size, diversification, evolution, ecotype Abstract The damselfishes (family Pomacentridae) inhabit near-shore communities in tropical and temperature oceans as one of the major lineages with ecological and economic importance for coral reef fish assemblages. Our understanding of their evolutionary ecology, morphology and function has often been advanced by increasingly detailed and accurate molecular phylogenies. Here we present the next stage of multi-locus, molecular phylogenetics for the group based on analysis of 12 nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences from 330 of the 422 damselfish species.
  • Embryonic Development of Percula Clownfish, Amphiprion Percula (Lacepede, 1802)

    Embryonic Development of Percula Clownfish, Amphiprion Percula (Lacepede, 1802)

    Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 4 (2): 84-89, 2009 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2009 Embryonic Development of Percula Clownfish, Amphiprion percula (Lacepede, 1802) 11K.V. Dhaneesh, T.T. Ajith Kumar and 2T. Shunmugaraj 1Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University Parangipettai-608 502, Tamilnadu, India 2Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Cochin, Kerala, India Abstract: The Percula clownfish, Amphiprion percula (Lacepede, 1802) were reared in marine ornamental fish hatchery by using estuarine water to study their spawning behaviour, egg deposition and embryonic development. The spawning was recorded year round with the reproductive cycle between 14-21 days. The eggs were adhesive type, capsule shaped and bright orange in colour measuring 2.0-2.3 mm length and 1.0-1.2 mm width containing fat globules. The process of embryonic development was divided into 26 stages based on the morphological characteristics of the developing embryo. The time elapsed for each embryonic developmental stage was recorded. Hatching took place 151-152 hours after fertilization. Key words: Percula clownfish Captive condition Morphology Embryonic development INTRODUCTION transported to the hatchery at Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, The anemonefish, Amphiprion percula is a tropical Tamil Nadu, India. For the better health and survival, the coral reef fish belonging to the family Pomacentridae fishes and anemones were packed in individual polythene and sub family Amphiprioninae and they are one of the bags filled with sufficient oxygen. After transportation, most popular attractions in the marine ornamental fish the fishes and anemones were accommodated in a trade.
  • (Actinopterygii: Pomacentridae) from Micronesia, with Comments on Its Phylogenetic Relationships Shang-Yin Vanson Liu1,2*†, Hsuan-Ching Hans Ho3† and Chang-Feng Dai1

    (Actinopterygii: Pomacentridae) from Micronesia, with Comments on Its Phylogenetic Relationships Shang-Yin Vanson Liu1,2*†, Hsuan-Ching Hans Ho3† and Chang-Feng Dai1

    Liu et al. Zoological Studies 2013, 52:6 http://www.zoologicalstudies.com/content/52/1/6 RESEARCH Open Access A new species of Pomacentrus (Actinopterygii: Pomacentridae) from Micronesia, with comments on its phylogenetic relationships Shang-Yin Vanson Liu1,2*†, Hsuan-Ching Hans Ho3† and Chang-Feng Dai1 Abstract Background: Many widely distributed coral reef fishes exhibit cryptic lineages across their distribution. Previous study revealed a cryptic lineage of Pomacentrus coelestis mainly distributed in the area of Micronesia. Herein, we attempted to use molecular and morphological approaches to descript a new species of Pomacentrus. Results: The morphological comparisons have been conducted between cryptic species and P. coelestis. Pomacentrus micronesicus sp. nov. is characterized by 13 to 16 (typically 15) anal fin rays (vs. 13 to 15, typically 14 rays in P. coelestis) and 15 or 16 rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch (vs. 13 or 14 rakers in P. coelestis). Divergence in cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences of 4.3% is also indicative of species-level separation of P. micronesicus and P. coelestis. Conclusions: P. micronesicus sp.nov.isdescribedfromtheMarshallIslands, Micronesia on the basis of 21 specimens. Both morphological and genetic evidences support its distinction as a separate species from P. coelestis. Keywords: Cryptic species; Pomacentrus micronesicus; Speciation Background Japan and is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region Marine organisms that are morphologically undistinguish- (Allen 1991). Liu et al. (2012) conducted a phylogeographic able but genetically distinct are known as ‘cryptic species’ study of P. coelestis across its distribution using both (Knowlton 2000). In the past decade, DNA sequencing the mtDNA control region and microsatellite loci as has provided an independent means of testing the validity genetic markers and revealed two deeply divergent clades; of existing taxonomic units, revealing cases of inappropriate the first clade was shown to encompass the ‘true’ P.
  • Abudefduf Taurus (Night Sergeant)

    Abudefduf Taurus (Night Sergeant)

    UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Ecology Abudefduf taurus (Night Sergeant) Family: Pomacentridae (Damselfish and Clownfish) Order: Perciformes (Perch and Allied Fish) Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish) Fig. 1. Night sergeant, Abudefduf taurus. [http://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/gallery/family/1604, downloaded 18 February 2017] TRAITS. The night sergeant is also called the pilotfish or dovetail, and was formerly known as Glyphidodon taurus (IUCN, 2017). This fish can be identified by its tawny yellow coloured nape of the neck, with 5-6 dark irregular bars along the body from the nape to the peduncle (narrow part of the body that attaches the tail), and a black spot that is sometimes seen on the upper base of the pectoral fin (fin behind the operculum) (Fig. 1). It is heavy-bodied; compressed, oblong, fairly deep, robust and heavily scaled body; single row of teeth with flat or notched tips; bluntly forked caudal fin, a total of 13 dorsal spines and 11-12 soft dorsal rays in a single continuous dorsal fin, 2 anal spines and 10 anal soft rays. The night sergeant can have a maximum body length of 25cm, with a common length of 20cm, and is the largest species in the Pomacentridae family (Robins and Ray, 1986). UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Ecology DISTRIBUTION. Night sergeants are widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical eastern and western Atlantic Ocean (Fig. 2). In the western Atlantic this includes southern Florida down the coast of the United States of America and the Caribbean Sea.
  • Pomacentridae): Structural and Expression Variation in Opsin Genes

    Pomacentridae): Structural and Expression Variation in Opsin Genes

    Molecular Ecology (2017) 26, 1323–1342 doi: 10.1111/mec.13968 Why UV vision and red vision are important for damselfish (Pomacentridae): structural and expression variation in opsin genes SARA M. STIEB,*† FABIO CORTESI,*† LORENZ SUEESS,* KAREN L. CARLETON,‡ WALTER SALZBURGER† and N. J. MARSHALL* *Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia, †Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Basel 4051, Switzerland, ‡Department of Biology, The University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA Abstract Coral reefs belong to the most diverse ecosystems on our planet. The diversity in col- oration and lifestyles of coral reef fishes makes them a particularly promising system to study the role of visual communication and adaptation. Here, we investigated the evolution of visual pigment genes (opsins) in damselfish (Pomacentridae) and exam- ined whether structural and expression variation of opsins can be linked to ecology. Using DNA sequence data of a phylogenetically representative set of 31 damselfish species, we show that all but one visual opsin are evolving under positive selection. In addition, selection on opsin tuning sites, including cases of divergent, parallel, conver- gent and reversed evolution, has been strong throughout the radiation of damselfish, emphasizing the importance of visual tuning for this group. The highest functional variation in opsin protein sequences was observed in the short- followed by the long- wavelength end of the visual spectrum. Comparative gene expression analyses of a subset of the same species revealed that with SWS1, RH2B and RH2A always being expressed, damselfish use an overall short-wavelength shifted expression profile. Inter- estingly, not only did all species express SWS1 – a UV-sensitive opsin – and possess UV-transmitting lenses, most species also feature UV-reflective body parts.
  • Orange Clownfish (Amphiprion Percula)

    Orange Clownfish (Amphiprion Percula)

    NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-PIFSC-52 April 2016 doi:10.7289/V5J10152 Status Review Report: Orange Clownfish (Amphiprion percula) Kimberly A. Maison and Krista S. Graham Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce About this document The mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and to conserve and manage coastal and oceanic marine resources and habitats to help meet our Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs. As a branch of NOAA, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) conducts or sponsors research and monitoring programs to improve the scientific basis for conservation and management decisions. NMFS strives to make information about the purpose, methods, and results of its scientific studies widely available. NMFS’ Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) uses the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS series to achieve timely dissemination of scientific and technical information that is of high quality but inappropriate for publication in the formal peer- reviewed literature. The contents are of broad scope, including technical workshop proceedings, large data compilations, status reports and reviews, lengthy scientific or statistical monographs, and more. NOAA Technical Memoranda published by the PIFSC, although informal, are subjected to extensive review and editing and reflect sound professional work. Accordingly, they may be referenced in the formal scientific and technical literature. A NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS issued by the PIFSC may be cited using the following format: Maison, K. A., and K. S. Graham. 2016. Status Review Report: Orange Clownfish (Amphiprion percula).
  • Seed Production and Culture of Marine Ornamental Fishes G

    Seed Production and Culture of Marine Ornamental Fishes G

    Course Manual Seed Production and Culture of Marine Ornamental Fishes G. Gopakumar, A. K. Abdul Nazar and R. Jayakumar Mandapam Regional Centre of CMFRI Mandapam Camp - 623 520, Tamil Nadu, India Introduction The marine ornamental fish trade has been expanding in recent years and has grown into a multimillion dollar enterprise. The ornamental animals are the highest valued products that are mostly harvested from coral reef environments. The global marine ornamental trade is estimated at US$ 200-330 million. The trade is operated throughout the tropics. Philippines, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Australia, Fiji, Maldives and Palau supplied more than 98% of the total number of marine ornamental fish exported in recent years. It is a multi-stakeholder industry ranging from specimen collectors, culturists, wholesalers, transhippers, retailers, and hobbyists to researchers, government resource managers and conservators and hence involves a series of issues to be addressed and policies to be formulated for developing and expanding a sustainable trade. It is well understood that a long term sustainable trade of marine ornamental fishes can be developed only through the development and commercialization of hatchery production technologies for the species which are in high demand in the trade. Global scenario In recent years it has been reported that nearly 1500 species of marine ornamental fishes are traded globally and most of these are associated with coral reefs. Nearly 98% of the marine ornamental fishes marketed are wild collected from coral reefs of tropical countries. Among the most commercially traded families of reef fishes, family Pomacentridae dominate, accounting for nearly 43% of all fish traded.
  • Long-Term Cleaning Patterns of the Sharknose Goby (Elacatinus Evelynae)

    Long-Term Cleaning Patterns of the Sharknose Goby (Elacatinus Evelynae)

    Long-term cleaning patterns of the sharknose goby (Elacatinus evelynae) ANGOR UNIVERSITY Dunkley, Katie; Ellison, Amy; Mohammed, Ryan S.; van Oosterhout, Cock; Whittey, Kathryn E.; Perkins, Sarah E.; Cable, Jo Coral Reefs DOI: 10.1007/s00338-019-01778-9 PRIFYSGOL BANGOR / B Published: 01/04/2019 Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Cyswllt i'r cyhoeddiad / Link to publication Dyfyniad o'r fersiwn a gyhoeddwyd / Citation for published version (APA): Dunkley, K., Ellison, A., Mohammed, R. S., van Oosterhout, C., Whittey, K. E., Perkins, S. E., & Cable, J. (2019). Long-term cleaning patterns of the sharknose goby (Elacatinus evelynae). Coral Reefs, 38(2), 321-330. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-019-01778-9 Hawliau Cyffredinol / General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal ? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. 29. Sep. 2021 Coral Reefs https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-019-01778-9 REPORT Long-term cleaning patterns of the sharknose goby (Elacatinus evelynae) 1 1 2 3 Katie Dunkley • Amy R.
  • First Record of Abudefduf Cfr Saxatilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes: Pomacentridae) from the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean)

    First Record of Abudefduf Cfr Saxatilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes: Pomacentridae) from the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean)

    BioInvasions Records (2014) Volume 3, Issue 1: 53–56 Open Access doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/bir.2014.3.1.10 © 2014 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2014 REABIC Rapid Communication First record of Abudefduf cfr saxatilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes: Pomacentridae) from the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean) Alan Deidun1* and Luca Castriota2 1Physical Oceanography Unit, University of Malta, Msida, Malta 2Institute for Environmental Research and Protection (ISPRA), Palermo, Italy E-mail: [email protected] (AD), [email protected] (LC) *Corresponding author Received: 31 January 2014 / Accepted: 6 March 2014 / Published online: 14 March 2014 Handling editor: Vadim Panov Abstract The first sighting of Abudefduf individuals from Maltese (Central Mediterranean) coastal waters is reported. The individuals (6-7) were photographed in the field but were not collected. The pattern of body colouration of these individuals is consistent with that reported by most previous authors for A. saxatilis, marking the first record of this Atlantic species from Maltese waters. Key words: Maltese Islands, Central Mediterranean, Abudefduf, non-indigenous species Introduction that are mainly associated with shallow coral reefs in tropical and sub-tropical seas. Jointly, The Mediterranean Sea is currently besieged by the distribution of the twenty Abudefduf species an unprecedented influx of non-native marine girdles the globe. To date, two Abudefduf species species moving in, mainly through the Suez Canal have been recorded from the Mediterranean – the (the so-called Lessepsian phenomemon) and, to a Atlantic A. saxatilis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sergeant lesser extent, through the Gibraltar Straits. The major), recorded from just one locality in the total number of confirmed non-indigenous western half of the Mediterranean Basin (Tarra- marine species in the Basin is approaching the gona, Spain – Azzurro et al.
  • Pomacentridae) ~

    Pomacentridae) ~

    HelgoiEnder wiss. Meeresunters. 30, 412-426 (1977) Community structure, social organization and ecological requirements of coral reef fish (Pomacentridae) ~ H. W. FRICKE Max-Planck-Institut fi~r Verhaltensphysiologie; Seewiesen, Federal Republic of Germany ABSTRACT: In the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), 25 species of damselfish (Pomacentridae) which form typical interspecific communities were studied. Several species are typical for different depth zones, others are "ubiquitous". Damselfish are variously specialized in feeding (herbi- vore, omnivore, plankton-carnivore); habitat (bottom-dwelling, midwater); home-and-shelter site (selective or unselective). Environmental factors and social structures were found to be interlinked. Species with the same social structure are similarly specialized ecologically. A hypothetical flow diagram shows the effects of abiotic and biotic factors on group size, available food, and social structure. Damselfish are extremely flexible to environmental change, showing intraspeciflc modification of group structure, feeding habits, reproductive strategy etc. Experimental results suggest a strong selection against "redundant" males. This research is considered a pilot study for future field work, aimed at a prediction of environ- mental influences on behaviour. INTRODUCTION Biologists are becoming aware that ecosystems are the most complicated biological systems they have to deal with. They are confronted with the difficult task of defining their working level, whether this is the tropic structure of a food chain, communities containing different species, various populations of the same species, or individuals or groups. All are intercausally connected and form what is commonly called the ,,eco- system". Each single organism displays a variety of activities - to gain energy - or to escape consumption by members of higher trophic levels.
  • Perciformes: Pomacentridae) of the Eastern Pacific

    Perciformes: Pomacentridae) of the Eastern Pacific

    LINNE AN .«ito/ BIOLOGICAL “W s o c í e T Y JournalLirmean Society Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 102, 593-613. With 9 figures Patterns of morphological evolution of the cephalic region in damselfishes (Perciformes: Pomacentridae) of the Eastern Pacific ROSALÍA AGUILAR-MEDRANO1*, BRUNO FRÉDÉRICH2, EFRAÍN DE LUNA 3 and EDUARDO F. BALART1 laboratorio de Necton y Ecología de Arrecifes, y Colección Ictiológica, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S. 23090 México 2Laboratoire de Morphologie fonctionnelle et évolutive, Institut de Chimie (B6c), Université de Liège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium 3Departamento de Biodiversidad y Sistemática, Instituto de Ecología, AC, Xalapa, Veracruz 91000 México Received 20 May 2010; revised 21 September 2010; accepted for publication 22 September 2010 Pomacentridae are one of the most abundant fish families inhabiting reefs of tropical and temperate regions. This family, comprising 29 genera, shows a remarkable diversity of habitat preferences, feeding, and behaviours. Twenty-four species belonging to seven genera have been reported in the Eastern Pacific region. The present study focuses on the relationship between the diet and the cephalic profile in the 24 endemic damselfishes of this region. Feeding habits were determined by means of underwater observations and the gathering of bibliographic data. Variations in cephalic profile were analyzed by means of geometric morphometries and phylogenetic methods. The present study shows that the 24 species can be grouped into three main trophic guilds: zooplanktivores, algivores, and an intermediate group feeding on small pelagic and benthic preys. Shape variations were low within each genus except for Abudefduf. Phylogenetically adjusted regression reveals that head shape can be explained by differences in feeding habits.
  • A Chromosome-Scale Reference Assembly of the Genome of the 2 Orange Clownfish Amphiprion Percula 3 4 Robert Lehmann1, Damien J

    A Chromosome-Scale Reference Assembly of the Genome of the 2 Orange Clownfish Amphiprion Percula 3 4 Robert Lehmann1, Damien J

    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/278267; this version posted March 7, 2018. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. 1 Finding Nemo’s Genes: A chromosome-scale reference assembly of the genome of the 2 orange clownfish Amphiprion percula 3 4 Robert Lehmann1, Damien J. Lightfoot1, Celia Schunter1, Craig T. Michell2, Hajime 5 Ohyanagi3, Katsuhiko Mineta3, Sylvain Foret4,5, Michael L. Berumen2, David J. Miller4, 6 Manuel Aranda2, Takashi Gojobori3, Philip L. Munday4 and Timothy Ravasi1,* 7 8 1 KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program, Division of Biological and Environmental 9 Sciences & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 10 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 11 2 Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences & 12 Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, 13 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 14 3 Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and 15 Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 16 4 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, 17 Queensland, 4811, Australia. 18 5 Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian 19 National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia. 20 21 Keywords: 22 Orange Clownfish, Amphiprion percula, Nemo, Functional Genomics, Chromosome-Scale 23 Assembly, Fish Genomics, Coral Reef Fish. 24 25 Running Title: 26 The Nemo Genome 27 28 *Corresponding Author: 29 Timothy Ravasi, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering, King 30 Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi 31 Arabia, [email protected] 32 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/278267; this version posted March 7, 2018.