scholarly journals The Distribution of Planktivorous Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) on the Great Barrier Reef and the Relative Influences of Habitat and Predation

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Emslie ◽  
Murray Logan ◽  
Alistair J Cheal
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Feeding Mode ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Coral Trout ◽  
Latitudinal Patterns

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.

scholarly journals The role of clouds in coral bleaching events over the Great Barrier Reef

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenhui ZHAO ◽  
Yi HUANG ◽  
Steven T Siems ◽  
Michael J Manton
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Coral Bleaching ◽  
Barrier Reef

A new species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea, Acanthocolpidae) with a bizarre oral sucker: S. adlardi sp. nov. from the common coral trout Plectropomus leopardus (Lacepède, 1802) (Perciformes, Serranidae) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef

2007 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney Bray ◽  
Thomas Cribb ◽  
Andrea Waeschenbach ◽  
D. Littlewood
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Oral Sucker ◽  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Coral Trout ◽  
Lizard Island ◽  
The Common ◽  
Plectropomus Leopardus ◽  
A New Species

AbstractA new species of Acanthocolpidae, Stephanostomum adlardi is described from the serranid Plectropomus leopardus from Lizard Island in the northern Great Barrier Reef. It differs from all previously described acanthocolpids in the structure of the oral sucker which is extended into dorsal and ventral lobes each bearing a row of spines. A phylogenetic tree estimated from combined nuclear small and partial large ribosomal RNA gene sequences shows that, despite the unusual oral sucker structure, the species is a true member of the genus Stephanostomum. The molecular results also suggest that Monostephanostomum nolani is derived from within Stephanostomum.

Population estimates and size structure of Plectropomus leopardus (Pisces : Serranidae) in relation to no-fishing zones: mark-release-resighting and underwater visual census

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Zeller ◽  
G. R. Russ
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Visual Census ◽  
Underwater Visual Census ◽  
Coral Trout ◽  
Population Size Estimates ◽  
Lizard Island ◽  
Plectropomus Leopardus

A mark–release–resighting (MRR) technique was used to estimate population size of the coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, on coral reefs fringing Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Fish were captured by hook-and-line fishing, and marked with individual freeze-brand numbers in August 1995. An underwater visual census (UVC) technique was used during September and October 1995 both for resighting of marked fish and to make an independent estimate of fish density and thus population size. The study area was 750 966 m2 . The UVC sampled 154 000 m2 (20.5%) of this area. Six different methods of analysis of MRR gave similar population size estimates (e.g. Petersen 12 873; 95% CI 9989–15 754) extrapolated to the 4.5 million-m2 reef area from datum to 20-m depth around Lizard Island. UVC gave a population size estimate (24 182; 95% CI 21 860–26 504) twice that of MRR. The lower estimate derived from MRR may be the result of tag-induced mortality, or of the relative difficulty in discriminating between marked and unmarked trout by UVC. This is only the second estimate of population size of coral trout on an area of the Great Barrier Reef.

Responses of coral and fish assemblages to a severe but short-lived tropical cyclone on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Coral Reefs ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cheal ◽  
G. Coleman ◽  
S. Delean ◽  
I. Miller ◽  
K. Osborne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Cyclone ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Barrier Reef

Emergence of serranid pigment abnormality syndrome (SPAS) in wire netting cod (Epinephelus quoyanus) from Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 1201
Author(s):  
B. K. Diggles ◽  
I. Ernst ◽  
S. Wesche
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Course Of Disease ◽  
Coral Trout ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Causative Factors ◽  
Abnormal Pigmentation

Coral reefs worldwide are under increasing stress from anthropogenic impacts, but there are relatively few reports of increased rates of disease in coral reef fish. Herein we report the emergence of abnormal skin lesions in wild-caught wire netting cod (Epinephelus quoyanus) near Heron Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef. The lesion involves conspicuous darkening and disorganisation of the brown ‘wire netting’ colouration pattern typical of this species, most commonly on the lower jaw, premaxilla and head, with occasional involvement of the flanks and dorsal fin in some fish. The lesion was not present during research conducted in the mid-1990s; however, since it was first recorded in 2012, the prevalence of grossly visible lesions has increased to 16.9% in 2017, with fish >340mm long most affected (prevalence 64.7%). These data suggest emergence of the lesion is a recent phenomenon and that causative factors may be age related. Abnormal pigmentation lesions have only been observed to affect E. quoyanus and coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus; since 2010). Given the species affected and the currently unknown aetiology of these lesions, we name the condition serranid pigment abnormality syndrome (SPAS). Further research is required to determine its geographic distribution, establish causation and describe the course of disease in E. quoyanus.

Changes in algal, coral and fish assemblages along water quality gradients on the inshore Great Barrier Reef

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 384-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Fabricius ◽  
Glenn De’ath ◽  
Laurence McCook ◽  
Emre Turak ◽  
David McB. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Inshore Great Barrier Reef

scholarly journals Cross-shelf distribution patterns of tropical juvenile cephalopods sampled with light-traps

1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 707 ◽  
Author(s):  
NA Moltschaniwskyj ◽  
PJ Doherty
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Present Knowledge ◽  
Outer Shelf ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Light Traps ◽  
Coral Sea ◽  
Reef Environments ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Abundant Genus

This paper describes the cephalopod genera caught with light-traps at different locations and depths in the waters of the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Multiple stations were sampled in four locations: (I) the coastal GBR Lagoon, (2) inter-reef passages (Magnetic and Palm), (3) near-reef environments (Keeper, Helix, Faraday and Myrmidon) ranging from mid- to outer-shelf locations, and (4) the Coral Sea. A total of 13 cephalopod genera was caught from monthly cruises conducted from October to January of 1990-91 and 1991-92. Octopus, the most abundant juvenile cephalopod, was present in relatively high numbers at all shelf locations; few were caught in the Coral Sea. Photololigo, the most abundant squid, was rarely caught outside the GBR Lagoon. In contrast, Sthenoteuthis, the second most abundant squid, was caught at all locations. Deep samples from most locations were dominated by Octopus. Abralia was found only near the bottom of the GBR Lagoon; in contrast, Euprymna, the fourth most abundant genus, was collected only at the surface. Cephalopod communities from the GBR Lagoon had higher abundances of Octopus, Photololigo and Abralia compared with communities from the three other areas. Reef passages and reef locations shared similar communities, with the squid component dominated by Sthenoteuthis. Very low numbers of cephalopods were caught in the Coral Sea by light attraction. High concentrations of cephalopods detected in the middle of the GBR Lagoon are consistent with present knowledge about oceanographic processes over this shelf.

scholarly journals The Great Bacterial Reef: Communication and development in human oral bacterial biofilms

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Paul E Kolenbrander ◽  
Patricia I Diaz ◽  
Nicholas S Jakubovics ◽  
Alexander H Rickard ◽  
Natalia I Chalmers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Oral Hygiene ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Dental Plaque ◽  
Oral Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Biofilms ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Barrier Reef

Consider that The Great Barrier Reef is home to thousands of species of plants and animals with spatiotemporally predictable fish communities on coral reefs, and compare this with the fact that human oral bacteria develop spatiotemporally predictable dental plaque communities on enamel after each oral hygiene procedure. This reassembling of oral bacterial communities over a time interval of only a few hours offers an opportunity to investigate the role of communication in community architecture and composition.

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