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Spatial Ecology of Reef Fishes Justin Welsh and David Bellwood
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Roles on reefs: Herbivory Introduction Transport sediment Maintain algal turfs Remove macroalgae Overall, support resilience
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Importance of resilience Introduction ?
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Who and what... We think we know. But where and why? Introduction
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Haremic versus Schooling What is the spatial ecology of roving herbivores and is there an influence of social systems?
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Introduction Chlorurus microrhinos Haremic Roving herbivore Active telemetry Case study: the parrotfishes Scarus rivulatus Schooling Roving herbivore Passive telemetry
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Algal removal Leave deep, long- lasting grazing scars Haremic Introduction Chlorurus microrhinos
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Objectives: Quantify home range size Determine the influence of physical factors Implications for ecosystem role Introduction
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Study site: Orpheus Island, Pioneer Bay Methods
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Capture Barrier netting Methods
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Capture Tagging Anesthetic MS-222 Tag (V9T-2H, Vemco) Suture Methods
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Tracking Tracking from Kayak for 3 - 5 days (Meyer and Holland 2005) Receiver (VR100, Vemco) Directional hydrophone (VH1110, Vemco) Methods
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Home range: 8,100 m 2 Core area: 1,690 m 2 Results Welsh and Bellwood 2012, Coral Reefs Vol: 31
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Core vs non-core: Physical characteristics: Results
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Results: * * Core area Non-core area * *
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Core areas centered on topographic complexity Limited mobility in haremic parrotfish What about schooling species? Summary
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Herbivores So far, highly site attached Social species? e.g. schooling? Introduction
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Scarus rivulatus Highly abundant Important herbivores Schooling species Roving herbivore? Introduction
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Objectives: Evaluate the foraging range of S. rivulatus Understand the foraging range of their schools
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Passive acoustic telemetry Introduction Heupel et al 2006 VR2W receivers V9 transmitters 60 m detection range Welsh et al. 2012, Coral Reefs
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Orpheus island array Methods
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Capture 3 schools captured using barrier nets Methods Tagging Same tagging procedure as per active tracking Monitor individuals for 7 months
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Spatial data analysis Maximum potential foraging range Chapter 2 >5% >5% <5% >5% >5% <5%
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Spatial range Results Average area occupied: 0.244 km 2 Welsh and Bellwood 2012, Coral Reefs
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Results Average area occupied by the school: 0.238 km 2 Spatial range
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Conclusion Site attached Facultative schooling Limited school fidelity Conclusion
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Introduction Chlorurus microrhinos Haremic Site attached Scarus rivulatus Schooling Site attached Herbivores from a different perspective: Regardless of social system, functional role occurs on small spatial scales
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Credits David Bellwood, Roberta Bonaldo, Simon Brandl, Rebecca Fox. Chris Goatley, Andy Hoey, Jess Hopf, Charlotte Johansson, Michael Kramer, Susannah Leahy, Carine Lefèvre, Jenn Tanner, OIRS and LIRS staff and Vemco. Photos by Joao Paulo Krajewski Funding provided by: ARC center of excellent for coral reef studies, Australian museum, James Cook University
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Schooling and feeding Feeding observations: ‣ 160 individuals, 1 min each, 4 times of the day, 2 sites Results
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Significance of schooling Results
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