Scholarlink

<p>Parrotfishes (Labridae: Scarinae) are key components of reef environments worldwide. Their fused beak-like teeth enable them to play important ecological roles, including the opening of bare spaces that benthic organisms may colonize. However, the extent to which this role is played can vary among species and individuals due to morphological traits. <i>Scarus trispinosus</i> is considered the main excavator parrotfish in the southwestern Atlantic due to its large size, robust jaw apparatus and the prevalence of grazing scars it leaves on the reef benthos. Large individuals of the species, however, have been threatened by overfishing. Here, we assessed the dynamics of bite scars of <i>S. trispinosus</i> on the on the reef benthos of the Abrolhos Archipelago, Brazil. Bite scars taken on epilithic algal matrices were marked and photographed for eight consecutive days. We tested whether individual body size and the number of consecutive bites affect the recolonization of the scar area over time. The mean scar area (1.78 ± 1.04 cm<sup>2</sup>) decreased significantly over eight days, but the colors within the scar remained significantly different from the control areas after this period. Both individual body size and the number of consecutive bites had a significant positive effect on scar size. We estimated that <i>S. trispinosus</i> opens bare space at a rate of 0.6 ± 0.34 m<sup>2</sup> ind<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> for individuals larger than 40&#xa0;cm. This study provides novel information on the effects of the foraging activity of the endangered <i>S. trispinosus</i>, highlighting its unique role on Brazilian reefs and its functional vulnerability.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Dynamics of grazing scars of Scarus trispinosus, the largest and most endangered parrotfish of the southwestern Atlantic

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月6日

查看全文
  • Arilda S. Rossi,
  • Natalia C. Roos,
  • João L. L. Feitosa,
  • Fabiana C. Félix-Hackradt,
  • Carlos W. Hackradt

摘要

Parrotfishes (Labridae: Scarinae) are key components of reef environments worldwide. Their fused beak-like teeth enable them to play important ecological roles, including the opening of bare spaces that benthic organisms may colonize. However, the extent to which this role is played can vary among species and individuals due to morphological traits. Scarus trispinosus is considered the main excavator parrotfish in the southwestern Atlantic due to its large size, robust jaw apparatus and the prevalence of grazing scars it leaves on the reef benthos. Large individuals of the species, however, have been threatened by overfishing. Here, we assessed the dynamics of bite scars of S. trispinosus on the on the reef benthos of the Abrolhos Archipelago, Brazil. Bite scars taken on epilithic algal matrices were marked and photographed for eight consecutive days. We tested whether individual body size and the number of consecutive bites affect the recolonization of the scar area over time. The mean scar area (1.78 ± 1.04 cm2) decreased significantly over eight days, but the colors within the scar remained significantly different from the control areas after this period. Both individual body size and the number of consecutive bites had a significant positive effect on scar size. We estimated that S. trispinosus opens bare space at a rate of 0.6 ± 0.34 m2 ind−1 d−1 for individuals larger than 40 cm. This study provides novel information on the effects of the foraging activity of the endangered S. trispinosus, highlighting its unique role on Brazilian reefs and its functional vulnerability.