The Effects of Algal Turf Sediments and Organic Loads on Feeding by Coral Reef Surgeonfishes.

ABSTRACT: Herbivorous and detritivorous fishes interact closely with the epilithic algal matrix (EAM) on coral reefs. While sediment and organic detrital loads within the EAM might influence this interaction, the responses of functionally distinct fishes to changing sediment and organic loads have not been investigated. Aquarium based feeding trials were performed to assess how different sediment and organic loads affected feeding by the highly abundant surgeonfishes, Ctenochaetus striatus, a detritivore, and Acanthurus nigrofuscus, a herbivore. C. striatus were highly sensitive to even small increases in sediment loads (of just 75 g m-2), displaying a significant decline in feeding rates as sediment loads increased. Although C. striatus is a specialised detritivore, changing organic loads had no ef

SUBMITTER: Tebbett SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5207718 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature