Title: ECOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF DEPTH RANGES IN CORAL-FEEDING BUTTERFLYFISH: ARE DEEP REEFS A REFUGE?

Abstract: Declining coral abundance on many reefs globally is altering the composition of coral reef fish communities. Many reef fish species depend on live coral for a range of ecological processes, but coral specialists such as obligate coral feeders are among the most threatened. The most severe declines in coral abundance often occur in shallow water and deeper reefs may therefore provide a refuge for reef fish if they can maintain suitable stable habitat in the face of shallow water reef degradation. However, the ecological factors influencing depth distributions in coral reef fishes are currently poorly understood, and our ability to assess the depth refuge potential has therefore been limited. Here, we analyse how resource use, territorial area, territorial behavior, movement, and body condition of an obligate coral feeding butterflyfish species varies along a depth gradient from 0-40m. We relate patterns in these behaviours to changes in the availability and nutritional quality of food sources along the depth gradient and across time to demonstrate that suitable deep-water habitat can provide a refuge for an obligate coral feeding reef fish in a clear-water, low-latitude reef system.

Authors: MacDonald C, Bridge TC, Jones GP

Presentation: Oral

Session: 28A

Date: 06/20/16

Time: 14:15

Location: 308 A/B

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