DOCSLIB.ORG

Petition to List Eight Species of Pomacentrid Reef Fish, Including the Orange Clownfish and Seven Damselfish, As Threatened Or Endangered Under the U.S

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Petition to List Eight Species of Pomacentrid Reef Fish, Including the Orange Clownfish and Seven Damselfish, As Threatened Or Endangered Under the U.S BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE PETITION TO LIST EIGHT SPECIES OF POMACENTRID REEF FISH, INCLUDING THE ORANGE CLOWNFISH AND SEVEN DAMSELFISH, AS THREATENED OR ENDANGERED UNDER THE U.S. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT Orange Clownfish (Amphiprion percula) photo by flickr user Jan Messersmith CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY SUBMITTED SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 Notice of Petition Rebecca M. Blank Acting Secretary of Commerce U.S. Department of Commerce 1401 Constitution Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20230 Email: [email protected] Samuel Rauch Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries NOAA Fisheries National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration 1315 East-West Highway Silver Springs, MD 20910 E-mail: [email protected] PETITIONER Center for Biological Diversity 351 California Street, Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94104 Tel: (415) 436-9682 _____________________ Date: September 13, 2012 Shaye Wolf, Ph.D. Miyoko Sakashita Center for Biological Diversity Pursuant to Section 4(b) of the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b), Section 553(3) of the Administrative Procedures Act, 5 U.S.C. § 553(e), and 50 C.F.R.§ 424.14(a), the Center for Biological Diversity hereby petitions the Secretary of Commerce and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”), through the National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS” or “NOAA Fisheries”), to list eight pomacentrid reef fish and to designate critical habitat to ensure their survival. The Center for Biological Diversity (“Center”) is a non-profit, public interest environmental organization dedicated to the protection of imperiled species and their habitats through science, policy, and environmental law. The Center has more than 350,000 members and online activists throughout the United States. The Center and its members are concerned with the conservation of endangered species, including the petitioned damselfish and anemonefish, and the effective implementation of the ESA. ii NMFS has jurisdiction over this petition. This petition sets in motion a specific process, placing definite response requirements on NMFS. Specifically, NMFS must issue an initial finding as to whether the petition “presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.” 16 U.S.C. §1533(b)(3)(A). NMFS must make this initial finding “[t]o the maximum extent practicable, within 90 days after receiving the petition.” Id. Petitioner needs not demonstrate that the petitioned action is warranted, rather, Petitioner must only present information demonstrating that such action may be warranted. While Petitioner believes that the best available science demonstrates that listing the eight pomacentrid species as threatened or endangered is in fact warranted, there can be no reasonable dispute that the available information indicates that listing these species as either threatened or endangered may be warranted. As such, NMFS must promptly make a positive initial finding on the petition and commence a status review as required by 16 U.S.C. § 1533(b)(3)(B). The eight pomacentrid species covered by this petition are: Amphiprion percula (Orange clownfish) Chromis atripectoralis (Black-axil chromis) Chromis viridis (Blue-green damselfish) Dascyllus albisella (Hawaiian damselfish) Dascyllus reticulatus (Reticulated damselfish or Two-stripe damselfish) Microspathodon chrysurus (Yellowtail damselfish or Jewel damselfish) Plectroglyphidodon dickii (Blackbar devil or Dick’s damselfish) Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus (Blue-eye damselfish) Authors: Shaye Wolf, Miyoko Sakashita, and Patrick Doherty, Center for Biological Diversity iii Table of Contents Executive Summary........................................................................................................................ 1 Part One: Natural History and Threats to the Petitioned Clownfish and Damselfish Species ....... 5 I. Introduction to Pomacentrids (Damselfish and Anemonefish) ............................................... 5 A. Description of the Pomacentrids........................................................................................ 5 B. Taxonomy........................................................................................................................... 5 C. Range and Distribution.......................................................................................................5 D. Habitat Requirements.........................................................................................................6 E. Diet and Foraging Ecology................................................................................................. 8 F. Reproductive Ecology and Development ........................................................................... 9 G. Lifespan............................................................................................................................ 10 H. Ecological Importance ..................................................................................................... 10 II. Species Accounts for the Petitioned Clownfish and Damselfish Species: Natural History and Threats................................................................................................................................ 11 A. Anemonefish……………………………………………………………………………12 1. Amphiprion percula (Orange clownfish)………………………………….................. 12 B. Damselfish: Caribbean and Indo-Pacific Species Occurring in U.S. Waters................... 14 2. Chromis atripectoralis (Black-axil chromis)…………………………….................... 14 3. Chromis viridis (Blue-green damselfish)………………………………….................. 15 4. Dascyllus albisella (Hawaiian dascyllus)……………………………….. ................... 17 5. Dascyllus reticulatus (Reticulated damselfish or Two-stripe damselfish)….. ............. 20 6. Microspathodon chrysurus (Yellowtail damselfish or Jewel damselfish).................... 21 7. Plectroglyphidodon dickii (Blackbar devil or Dick’s damselfish)………. .................. 24 8. Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus (Blue-eye damselfish)………………................... 26 Part Two: The Petitioned Reef Fish Are Threatened or Endangered Based on the Endangered Species Act Listing Factors .......................................................................................................... 28 I. Criteria for Listing Species as Endangered or Threatened under the Endangered Species Act and the Time Horizon for the Foreseeable Future .................................................................... 28 A. Listing Criteria ................................................................................................................. 28 B. The Foreseeable Future .................................................................................................... 28 II. Each of the Petitioned Fish Species Is Threatened or Endangered Based on the Five Endangered Species Act Listing Factors .................................................................................. 32 A. The Present or Threatened Destruction, Modification, or Curtailment of Habitat or Range (Listing Factor A): Coral Reef Habitat Loss Due to Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Pollution Resulting in Ocean Warming and Ocean Acidification Threatens the Petitioned Reef Fish ............................................................................................................................... 32 1. Overview of climate change and current greenhouse gas emission trends................... 34 2. Ocean warming threatens the coral reef and anemone habitat of the petitioned pomacentrid reef fish…………………………………………………………… ............ 36 3. Ocean acidification threatens the coral reef habitat of the petitioned pomacentrid reef fish………………………………………………………………………………............. 49 B. Other Natural or Manmade Factors Affecting The Continued Existence of the Petitioned Pomacentrid Reef Fish (Listing Factor E): Direct Impacts of Ocean Acidification and Ocean Warming on Pomacentrid Reef Fish..................................................................................... 55 1. Direct impacts of ocean acidification to the petitioned clownfish and damselfish....... 55 iv 2. Ocean warming adversely affects damselfish reproduction and aerobic performance. 61 C. Overutilization for Commercial, Recreational, Scientific, or Educational Purposes (Listing Factor C): Over-Harvest for the Global Marine Aquarium Trade .......................... 65 D. Existing Regulatory Mechanisms Are Inadequate to Address Threats to the Petitioned Pomacentrid Species From Greenhouse Gas Pollution, Degradation of their Coral Reef Habitat, and the Marine Aquarium Trade (Listing Factor D)............................................... 68 1. Regulatory mechanisms addressing greenhouse gas pollution are inadequate to . protect the petitioned pomacentrid species………………………………………… ................... 68 2. Regulatory mechanisms for protecting coral reef habitat are inadequate…................. 71 3. Regulatory mechanisms for the marine aquarium trade are inadequate… ................... 72 Critical Habitat Designation ......................................................................................................... 73 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 74 References Cited ........................................................................................................................... 74 v Executive Summary The damselfish and anemonefish of the family
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pacific Plate Biogeography, with Special Reference to Shorefishes
    Pacific Plate Biogeography, with Special Reference to Shorefishes VICTOR G. SPRINGER m SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • NUMBER 367 SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoo/ogy Smithsonian Studies in Air and Space Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report the research and collections of its various museums and bureaux or of professional colleagues in the world cf science and scholarship. The publications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world. Papers or monographs submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Press, subject to its own review for format and style, only through departments of the various Smithsonian museums or bureaux, where the manuscripts are given substantive review.
    [Show full text]
  • Community Structure and Biogeography of Shore Fishes in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea
    Helgol Mar Res (2002) 55:252–284 DOI 10.1007/s10152-001-0090-y ORIGINAL ARTICLE Maroof A. Khalaf · Marc Kochzius Community structure and biogeography of shore fishes in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea Received: 2 April 2001 / Received in revised form: 2 November 2001 / Accepted: 2 November 2001 / Published online: 24 January 2002 © Springer-Verlag and AWI 2002 Abstract Shore fish community structure off the Jorda- Introduction nian Red Sea coast was determined on fringing coral reefs and in a seagrass-dominated bay at 6 m and 12 m Coral reefs are one of the most complex marine ecosys- depths. A total of 198 fish species belonging to 121 gen- tems in which fish communities reach their highest de- era and 43 families was recorded. Labridae and Poma- gree of diversity (Harmelin-Vivien 1989). Morphological centridae dominated the ichthyofauna in terms of species properties and the geographical region of the coral reef richness and Pomacentridae were most abundant. Nei- determine the structure of the fish assemblages (Sale ther diversity nor species richness was correlated to 1980; Thresher 1991; Williams 1991). The ichthyofauna depth. The abundance of fishes was higher at the deep of coral reefs can be linked to varying degrees with adja- reef slope, due to schooling planktivorous fishes. At cent habitats (Parrish 1989) such as seagrass meadows 12 m depth abundance of fishes at the seagrass-dominat- (Ogden 1980; Quinn and Ogden 1984; Roblee and ed site was higher than on the coral reefs. Multivariate Ziemann 1984; Kochzius 1999), algal beds (Rossier and analysis demonstrated a strong influence on the fish as- Kulbicki 2000) and mangroves (Birkeland 1985; Thollot semblages by depth and benthic habitat.
    [Show full text]
  • "Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean Biogeography"
    A review of contemporary patterns of endemism for shallow water reef fauna in the Red Sea Item Type Article Authors DiBattista, Joseph; Roberts, May B.; Bouwmeester, Jessica; Bowen, Brian W.; Coker, Darren James; Lozano-Cortés, Diego; Howard Choat, J.; Gaither, Michelle R.; Hobbs, Jean-Paul A.; Khalil, Maha T.; Kochzius, Marc; Myers, Robert F.; Paulay, Gustav; Robitzch Sierra, Vanessa S. N.; Saenz Agudelo, Pablo; Salas, Eva; Sinclair-Taylor, Tane; Toonen, Robert J.; Westneat, Mark W.; Williams, Suzanne T.; Berumen, Michael L. Citation A review of contemporary patterns of endemism for shallow water reef fauna in the Red Sea 2015:n/a Journal of Biogeography Eprint version Post-print DOI 10.1111/jbi.12649 Publisher Wiley Journal Journal of Biogeography Rights This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: DiBattista, J. D., Roberts, M. B., Bouwmeester, J., Bowen, B. W., Coker, D. J., Lozano-Cortés, D. F., Howard Choat, J., Gaither, M. R., Hobbs, J.-P. A., Khalil, M. T., Kochzius, M., Myers, R. F., Paulay, G., Robitzch, V. S. N., Saenz-Agudelo, P., Salas, E., Sinclair-Taylor, T. H., Toonen, R. J., Westneat, M. W., Williams, S. T. and Berumen, M. L. (2015), A review of contemporary patterns of endemism for shallow water reef fauna in the Red Sea. Journal of Biogeography., which has been published in final form at http:// doi.wiley.com/10.1111/jbi.12649. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving. Download date 23/09/2021 15:38:13 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10754/583300 1 Special Paper 2 For the virtual issue, "Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean Biogeography" 3 LRH: J.
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding Transformative Forces of Aquaculture in the Marine Aquarium Trade
    The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fogler Library Summer 8-22-2020 Senders, Receivers, and Spillover Dynamics: Understanding Transformative Forces of Aquaculture in the Marine Aquarium Trade Bryce Risley University of Maine, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd Part of the Marine Biology Commons Recommended Citation Risley, Bryce, "Senders, Receivers, and Spillover Dynamics: Understanding Transformative Forces of Aquaculture in the Marine Aquarium Trade" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3314. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/3314 This Open-Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SENDERS, RECEIVERS, AND SPILLOVER DYNAMICS: UNDERSTANDING TRANSFORMATIVE FORCES OF AQUACULTURE IN THE MARINE AQUARIUM TRADE By Bryce Risley B.S. University of New Mexico, 2014 A THESIS Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (in Marine Policy and Marine Biology) The Graduate School The University of Maine May 2020 Advisory Committee: Joshua Stoll, Assistant Professor of Marine Policy, Co-advisor Nishad Jayasundara, Assistant Professor of Marine Biology, Co-advisor Aaron Strong, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies (Hamilton College) Christine Beitl, Associate Professor of Anthropology Douglas Rasher, Senior Research Scientist of Marine Ecology (Bigelow Laboratory) Heather Hamlin, Associate Professor of Marine Biology No photograph in this thesis may be used in another work without written permission from the photographer.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of Parental and Embryonic Predator Environments on Offspring
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Atherton, Jennifer Ann (2015) The effect of parental and embryonic predator environments on offspring. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46280/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/46280/ The effect of parental and embryonic predator environments on offspring Thesis submitted by Jennifer Ann ATHERTON BSc (Hons) in December 2015 For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Statement on the Contribution of Others This thesis includes collaborative work with my primary supervisor Prof. Mark McCormick, as well as Kine Oren. My other supervisors Dr. Ashley Frisch and Prof. Geoff Jones provided guidance in initial discussions while determining the direction of my thesis, and Dr. Ashley Frisch provided editorial assistance. While undertaking these collaborations, I was responsible for research concept and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of results. My co-authors provided intellectual guidance, editorial assistance, financial support and/or technical assistance. Financial support was provided by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (M. McCormick), the James Cook University Graduate Research Funding Scheme and the College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University. James Cook University provided laboratory space at the MARFU aquarium complex.
    [Show full text]
  • Trait Decoupling Promotes Evolutionary Diversification of The
    Trait decoupling promotes evolutionary diversification of the trophic and acoustic system of damselfishes rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Bruno Fre´de´rich1, Damien Olivier1, Glenn Litsios2,3, Michael E. Alfaro4 and Eric Parmentier1 1Laboratoire de Morphologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Applied and Fundamental Fish Research Center, Universite´ de Lie`ge, 4000 Lie`ge, Belgium 2Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland Research 3Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Ge´nopode, Quartier Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland 4Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA Cite this article: Fre´de´rich B, Olivier D, Litsios G, Alfaro ME, Parmentier E. 2014 Trait decou- Trait decoupling, wherein evolutionary release of constraints permits special- pling promotes evolutionary diversification of ization of formerly integrated structures, represents a major conceptual the trophic and acoustic system of damsel- framework for interpreting patterns of organismal diversity. However, few fishes. Proc. R. Soc. B 281: 20141047. empirical tests of this hypothesis exist. A central prediction, that the tempo of morphological evolution and ecological diversification should increase http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.1047 following decoupling events, remains inadequately tested. In damselfishes (Pomacentridae), a ceratomandibular ligament links the hyoid bar and lower jaws, coupling two main morphofunctional units directly involved in both feeding and sound production. Here, we test the decoupling hypothesis Received: 2 May 2014 by examining the evolutionary consequences of the loss of the ceratomandib- Accepted: 9 June 2014 ular ligament in multiple damselfish lineages. As predicted, we find that rates of morphological evolution of trophic structures increased following the loss of the ligament.
    [Show full text]
  • The Importance of Live Coral Habitat for Reef Fishes and Its Role in Key Ecological Processes
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Coker, Darren J. (2012) The importance of live coral habitat for reef fishes and its role in key ecological processes. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/23714/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/23714/ THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVE CORAL HABITAT FOR REEF FISHES AND ITS ROLE IN KEY ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES Thesis submitted by Darren J. Coker (B.Sc, GDipResMeth) May 2012 For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville, Queensland, Australia Statement of access I, the undersigned, the author of this thesis, understand that James Cook University will make it available for use within the University Library and via the Australian Digital Thesis Network for use elsewhere. I understand that as an unpublished work this thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and I do not wish to put any further restrictions upon access to this thesis. Signature Date ii Statement of sources Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at my university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation and Management of Ornamental Coral Reef Wildlife: Successes, Shortcomings, and Future Directions Q ⇑ Laura E
    Biological Conservation 169 (2014) 225–237 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Biological Conservation journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/biocon Review Conservation and management of ornamental coral reef wildlife: Successes, shortcomings, and future directions q ⇑ Laura E. Dee a, Stephanie S. Horii a, Daniel J. Thornhill b, a Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2400 Bren Hall, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA b Department of Conservation Science and Policy, Defenders of Wildlife, 1130 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA article info abstract Article history: Trade in ornamental coral reef wildlife supports a multi-million dollar industry but in some places threat- Received 23 August 2013 ens vulnerable coral reef species and ecosystems due to unsustainable practices and lack of effective reg- Received in revised form 12 November 2013 ulation. To supply this trade, fishers sometimes deplete fish populations and rely on practices, such as Accepted 14 November 2013 cyanide fishing, that harm coral reef organisms and habitats. The number of countries involved, dispersed fishing localities, and the diversity of species in trade present considerable impediments to conservation and management. For instance, traditional fisheries management techniques such as stock assessments Keywords: and total catch limits may not be feasible for ornamental fisheries, which are characterized by limited Aquarium trade data on population dynamics, stock status, and collection effort, as well as instances of illegal, underre- Coral reef conservation Coral reef fisheries ported, and unregulated fishing. A number of strategies to monitor, regulate, and manage the trade have Ornamental fisheries been implemented with varying efficacy. In order to learn from previous attempts and identify promising Sustainable fisheries management approaches, we reviewed selected management practices and regulations from diverse settings, with attention to the effectiveness of each approach.
    [Show full text]
  • Reef Fishes of the Bird's Head Peninsula, West
    Check List 5(3): 587–628, 2009. ISSN: 1809-127X LISTS OF SPECIES Reef fishes of the Bird’s Head Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia Gerald R. Allen 1 Mark V. Erdmann 2 1 Department of Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum. Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Perth, Western Australia 6986. E-mail: [email protected] 2 Conservation International Indonesia Marine Program. Jl. Dr. Muwardi No. 17, Renon, Denpasar 80235 Indonesia. Abstract A checklist of shallow (to 60 m depth) reef fishes is provided for the Bird’s Head Peninsula region of West Papua, Indonesia. The area, which occupies the extreme western end of New Guinea, contains the world’s most diverse assemblage of coral reef fishes. The current checklist, which includes both historical records and recent survey results, includes 1,511 species in 451 genera and 111 families. Respective species totals for the three main coral reef areas – Raja Ampat Islands, Fakfak-Kaimana coast, and Cenderawasih Bay – are 1320, 995, and 877. In addition to its extraordinary species diversity, the region exhibits a remarkable level of endemism considering its relatively small area. A total of 26 species in 14 families are currently considered to be confined to the region. Introduction and finally a complex geologic past highlighted The region consisting of eastern Indonesia, East by shifting island arcs, oceanic plate collisions, Timor, Sabah, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and widely fluctuating sea levels (Polhemus and the Solomon Islands is the global centre of 2007). reef fish diversity (Allen 2008). Approximately 2,460 species or 60 percent of the entire reef fish The Bird’s Head Peninsula and surrounding fauna of the Indo-West Pacific inhabits this waters has attracted the attention of naturalists and region, which is commonly referred to as the scientists ever since it was first visited by Coral Triangle (CT).
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Register/Vol. 80, No. 163/Monday, August 24, 2015/Notices
    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 163 / Monday, August 24, 2015 / Notices 51235 Council to comment more quickly on FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: determination, we first consider proposed activities and projects, and Krista Graham, NMFS, Pacific Islands whether a group of organisms enable the Council to work more Regional Office, (808) 725–5152; or constitutes a ‘‘species’’ under the ESA, effectively in addressing fish habitat and Kimberly Maison, NMFS, Pacific Islands then whether the status of the species ecosystem issues in our region. Regional Office, (808) 725–5143; or qualifies it for listing as either Chelsey Young, NMFS, Office of threatened or endangered. Section 3 of Special Accommodations Protected Resources, (301) 427–8491. the ESA defines ‘‘species’’ to include The meeting is physically accessible SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ‘‘any subspecies of fish or wildlife or to people with disabilities. Requests for plants, and any distinct population sign language interpretation or other Background segment of any species of vertebrate fish auxiliary aid should be directed to M. On September 14, 2012, we received or wildlife which interbreeds when Jan Saunders, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 a petition from the Center for Biological mature.’’ On February 7, 1996, NMFS days prior to the meeting date. Diversity (Center for Biological and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Dated: August 19, 2015. Diversity, 2012) to list eight species of (USFWS; together, the Services) adopted pomacentrid reef fish as threatened or a policy describing what constitutes a Emily H. Menashes, endangered under the ESA and to distinct population segment (DPS) of a Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable designate critical habitat for these taxonomic species (the DPS Policy; 61 Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
    [Show full text]
  • The Distribution of Planktivorous Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) on the Great Barrier Reef and the Relative Influences of Habitat and Predation
    diversity Article The Distribution of Planktivorous Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) on the Great Barrier Reef and the Relative Influences of Habitat and Predation Michael J. Emslie *, Murray Logan and Alistair J. Cheal Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia; [email protected] (M.L.); [email protected] (A.J.C.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 7 January 2019; Accepted: 25 February 2019; Published: 28 February 2019 Abstract: Planktivorous damselfishes (Pomacentridae) are diverse and abundant on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), are important prey for commercially harvested coral trout (Plectropomus spp.) and their feeding mode plays a central role in transferring energy from the plankton to the reef. However, little is known about their distribution patterns throughout the GBR and how those patterns are influenced by predators and habitat despite increasing pressures on both. Here we quantify the distribution and abundance of GBR planktivorous damselfishes, then examine the role of coral trout and habitat in shaping their assemblages. The assemblage structure of planktivorous damselfishes varied across the continental shelf, yet their total abundances varied sub-regionally, dependent on differences in coral habitat. Latitudinal patterns were relatively weak. Damselfish assemblages generally retained characteristics of their sub-regional setting over 20 years and assemblage degradation was only associated with major coral losses. Damselfish numbers were not negatively influenced by top-down control from coral trout. Instead, numbers of coral trout and damselfishes were both positively associated with coral habitat and each other. Our findings suggest that a complexity of factors and interactions shape reef fish assemblages and reinforce the fundamental importance of coral as the foundation of healthy reef communities.
    [Show full text]