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Density and height of Sargassum influence rabbitfish (f. Siganidae) settlement on inshore reef flats of the Great Barrier Reef

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Abstract

Macroalgal beds have been suggested to be an important settlement habitat for a diversity of reef fishes, yet few studies have considered how the composition or structure of macroalgal beds may influence fish settlement. The aim of this study was to investigate how the physical characteristics of Sargassum beds, a common macroalga on inshore coral reefs, influence the abundance of recently-settled rabbitfishes (Siganidae) on Orpheus Island, Great Barrier Reef. The abundance of recently-settled rabbitfish (< 3 cm total length), the density and height of Sargassum thalli, and benthic composition were quantified within replicate 1-m2 quadrats across 15 mid-reef flat sites. A total of 419 recently-settled rabbitfish from three species (Siganus doliatus, S. lineatus and S. canaliculatus) were recorded across 150 quadrats (range 0–16 individuals m−2), with S. doliatus accounting for the majority (85.2%) of individuals recorded. The abundance of S. doliatus and S. lineatus was greatest at moderate Sargassum densities (ca. 20–30 holdfasts m−2) and generally increased with Sargassum height and the cover of ‘other’ macroalgae. These findings demonstrate the potential importance of the physical characteristics of macroalgal beds to the settlement of rabbitfishes on inshore reef flats.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of Orpheus Island Research Station for field support; Philip Jones for field assistance; and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. Financial support was provided by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (ASH). This research was conducted under permission from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (G38567.1, G38858.1) and the James Cook University Animal Ethics Committee (A2597). On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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  1. Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    S. Tang, A. Graba-Landry & A. S. Hoey

  2. College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    S. Tang

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  1. S. Tang
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Correspondence to A. S. Hoey.

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Tang, S., Graba-Landry, A. & Hoey, A.S. Density and height of Sargassum influence rabbitfish (f. Siganidae) settlement on inshore reef flats of the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 39, 467–473 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01908-8

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