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05 Dierking FB107(4) Diet composition and prey selection of the introduced grouper species peacock hind (Cephalopholis argus) in Hawaii Item Type article Authors Dierking, Jan; Williams, Ivor D.; Walsh, William J. Download date 26/09/2021 05:07:33 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/25426 464 Abstract—The introduced grouper Diet composition and prey selection species peacock hind (Cephalopholis argus), was the dominant large-body of the introduced grouper species peacock hind piscivore on the Main Hawaiian Island (MHI) reefs assessed by underwater ( Cephalopholis argus) in Hawaii visual surveys in this study. However, published data on C. argus feeding Jan Dierking (contact author)1,2 ecology are scarce, and the role of this 3,4 species in Hawaiian reef ecosystems Ivor D. Williams is presently not well understood. Here William J. Walsh3 we provide the first comprehensive E-mail address for contact author: [email protected] assessment of the diet composition, prey electivity (dietary importance 1 Department of Zoology of prey taxa compared to their avail- University of Hawaii ability on reefs), and size selectiv- 2538 The Mall ity (prey sizes in the diet compared Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 to sizes on reefs) of this important 2 Present address: Centre d’Océanologie de Marseille, UMR CNRS 6540 predator in the MHI. Diet consisted Université de la Méditerranée, Station Marine d’Endoume 97.7% of fishes and was characterized Rue de la Batterie des Lions by a wide taxonomic breadth. Surpris- 13007 Marseille, France ingly, feeding was not opportunistic, 3 Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, Honokohau Marina as indicated by a strongly divergent 74-380B Kealakehe Pkwy electivity for different prey fishes. In Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 addition, whereas some families of large-body species were represented 4 Hawaii Cooperative Fishery Research Unit in the diet exclusively by recruit-size Department of Zoology individuals (e.g., Aulostomidae), sev- University of Hawaii at Manoa eral families of smaller-body species Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 were also represented by juveniles or adults (e.g., Chaetodontidae). Both the strength and mechanisms of the effects of C. argus predation are therefore likely to differ among prey families. This study provides the The grouper species peacock hind are of large commercial importance basis for a quantitative estimate of (Cephalopholis argus) (Serranidae: in coral reef fisheries (Heemstra and prey consumption by C. argus, which Epinephelinae), a reef fish predator Randall, 1993). However, data on the would further increase understanding that is native over most of the Indo- general feeding ecology of this family of impacts of this species on native Pacific region, was introduced to the remain surprisingly scarce (Beukers- fishes in Hawaii. Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) in 1956 Stewart and Jones, 2004). In addition, as part of an introduction program of although concern about declines of snapper and grouper species intended many grouper species worldwide due to enhance nearshore fisheries (Ran- to overfishing has led to a renewed dall, 1987). Today, this non-native research focus on this family (Mor- predator occupies a dominant posi- ris et al., 2000), much of the work to tion in the guild of large piscivores date has concentrated on a limited on many reefs in the MHI (see Results number of species, e.g., the coral trout section). As impacts of piscivores on (Plectropomus leopardus) in Austra- prey fishes have been demonstrated lia (e.g., Kingsford, 1992; St. John, in a number of studies (e.g., Webster, 1999), the Nassau grouper (Epineph- 2002; Hixon and Jones, 2005), the elus striatus) in the Caribbean Sea abundance of C. argus raises the ques- (e.g., Eggleston et al., 1998), or the tion of how, if at all, it affects native dusky grouper (Epinephelus margin- reef fishes in Hawaii. However, the atus) in the Mediterranean Sea (e.g., only published study of C. argus feed- Renones et al., 2002). ing in the MHI to date was based on Most studies of grouper diet have a sample of 10 specimens (Hobson, been based on analysis of stomach Manuscript submitted 18 December 2008. Manuscript accepted 24 June 2009. 1974), which is insufficient to eluci- contents. However, because of the Fish. Bull. 107:464–476 (2009). date feeding patterns. difficulty of obtaining large grouper Groupers are among the most com- samples (Beukers-Stewart and Jones, The views and opinions expressed mon predatory reef fishes worldwide 2004), as well as the high prevalence or implied in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily (Parrish, 1987). They play an impor- of empty stomachs due to prey regur- reflect the position of the National tant role in shaping reef communities gitation during capture and because Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA. (Goeden, 1982; Parrish, 1987) and of the characteristics of grouper feed- Dierking et al.: Diet composition and prey selection of Cephalopholis argus in Hawaii 465 ing ecology (Dierking and Meyer, in 160° W 156° W press), detailed descriptions of grou- per diet remain rare. Notably, only N km one study of C. argus diet (Randall and Brock, 1960), and a few studies of Oahu 0 100 other grouper species (but see Kings- ford, 1992; St. John, 1999; Beukers- Stewart and Jones, 2004), have been 21° N based on more than 50 full stomachs. Interpretation of feeding patterns is 150° E 150° W further complicated by the lack of stud- Hawaii ies comparing dietary composition with N America ** Japan * prey availability in the wild (but see *** Pacific Ocean ** Beukers-Stewart and Jones, 2004). * *** We examined the feeding patterns 20° N ** Main Hawaiian Islands ** of C. argus based on stomach content * * analysis of the largest sample of this 19° N Kona coast species (n=285) available to date. In Australia 20° S addition, we assessed the patterns in the context of the composition of the Figure 1 reef fish assemblage in Hawaii, which Map of the Main Hawaiian Islands, with peacock hind (Cephalopholis was determined by underwater visual argus) collection sites marked by open circles, and underwater visual surveys. The main goal was to describe survey sites along the Kona coast marked by asterisks (Note: asterisks the diet composition, prey electivity (di- were moved offshore from actual survey locations to avoid overlap with etary importance of a taxon compared sample site symbols). to its availability on reefs), and size selectivity (prey sizes in the diet com- pared to sizes on reefs) of C. argus in Hawaii. Second- ary goals were to assess the mechanisms by which Table 1 this non-native predator may affect prey fishes and to Morphometic relationships between total length (TL), provide data required for the quantitative estimation of standard length (SL, in cm), and wet mass (M, in g) prey consumption by this species. for peacock hind (Cephalopholis argus) in Hawaii. r2 = regression fit. Material and methods Relationship a b n r2 M = a TLb 0.0125 3.122 110 0.98 Study organism and sampling sites M = a SLb 0.0309 3.013 110 0.97 To our knowledge, the establishment of C. argus in SL = a + b TL –0.244 0.8494 304 0.99 Hawaii represents the first documented case of the suc- cessful invasion of a non-native habitat by a grouper. Today this generally piscivorous species (Parrish, 1987) sealed in plastic bags to avoid stomach content loss is found around all of the MHI. It is particularly abun- from regurgitation commonly observed in groupers (Di- dant along the western coastline of the island of Hawaii erking and Meyer, in press). In the laboratory, standard (Kona coast hereafter, following common terminology length (SL) and total length (TL) (equal to fork length in Hawaii), which harbors some of the least disturbed in C. argus due to their rounded caudal fin shape) were reefs in the MHI and is the source of important economic recorded to the nearest mm. Wet mass (M) of C. argus revenues from diving tourism and the aquarium fish from the Oahu sites was measured to the nearest 5 g. industry (Tissot et al., 2004). Despite its abundance, a Based on these measures, morphometric relationships fishery for C. argus never developed because it turned (SL-M, TL-M, SL-TL) (Table 1) were calculated. The out to be a carrier of ciguatoxin, the agent of ciguatera SL-M equation was then used to estimate the wet mass fish poisoning (Dierking and Campora, 2009). of Kona specimens, which could not be measured in the Cephalopholis argus specimens from the Kona coast field owing to scale malfunctioning. (n=179, 11 sites) and from the island of Oahu (n=106, 6 sites) (Fig. 1) were obtained by spearfishing with scuba Diet composition in July 2003. Divers attempted to spear all sighted individuals regardless of size or behavior pattern (e.g., To determine the diet composition of C. argus, stomachs active swimming, resting). Collections took place be- of all specimens were opened and any prey items were tween 0924 and 1522 hours at a mean depth of 11.6 m. removed. The analysis of contents then followed the Speared specimens were immediately (i.e., underwater) procedures described by Hyslop (1980). Specifically, for 466 Fishery Bulletin 107(4) the two island samples and the combined overall sample, around the benthos. Sites were surveyed 4 to 6 times the vacuity rate (i.e., the proportion of empty stomachs) during the year 2003, generally between 0840 and 1600 was determined. Differences in vacuity between islands hours. The detailed sampling regime was described were assessed with a chi-square test. For full stomachs, by Tissot et al. (2004). Surveys were conducted under the number of prey items was counted, and the SL and the direction of the West Hawaii Aquarium Project TL of fish prey and the carapace length of crustacean (WHAP, a collaboration of the Hawaii Division of Aquatic prey were determined to the nearest mm, where diges- Resources (HDAR), the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and tion state allowed reliable measurements.
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