Foraging behavior of the sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) in a subtropical rocky reef, Brazil

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Foraging behavior of the sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) in a subtropical rocky reef, Brazil Johnatas A. Alves1, 2*, Ana C. Resende3, Jemili C. Viaggi4, Henry L. Spach1, 2, Alberto T. Correia1, 5, 6 and Felippe Daros1 1 Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes CEM/UFPR, Brazil 2 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia - UFPR, Brazil 3 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Brazil 4 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Neotropical-UNIRIO, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 5 Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, CIIMAR., Portugal 6 Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade Fernando Pessoa, UFP-FCS, Portugal Territorial reef fishes, such as damselfishes species (Pomacentridae), can influence the composition, diversity and relative abundances of algae and invertebrate communities (e.g. corals) in tropical and subtropical reefs. The present study aimed to analyzed and characterize, through stomach content analysis and underwater observations, the foraging behavior (food and feeding sites) of the sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) in a Brazilian subtropical rocky reef. This species is geographically widespread on the western Atlantic Ocean and it is one of most common fish on Brazilian reefs, playing an important ecological role in reef communities. The study was undertaken in a sheltered and shallow (3m) rocky reef on the Forno beach (22o58’09.74”S / 42o00’47.67”W) at Arraial do Cabo, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feeding behaviour observations occurred from 07:30 am to 12:30 pm, by snorkeling. Using the focal animal Sampling were recorded the feeding sites (water column or substrate) of the individuals. Only the first bite of each individual was recorded to minimize the risk of non-independent data. The data included fish from three total length size classes: class 1, less than 100 mm; class 2, between 100 mm and 200 mm; and class 3, more than 200 mm. Moreover twenty fishes were collected with spearfishing during the same time period for stomach contents analysis. The items found inside the stomachs were stored in 70% ethanol and identified to the highest taxonomic level. The first bites of 822 individuals, 283 of the class 1, 274 of the class 2 and 265 of the class 3 were recorded. The feeding activity started approximately 90 minutes after sunrise and increases until late morning or early afternoon, suggesting that solar radiation can influences the feeding behavior. Most individuals of all classes were observed foraging in the water column, but there was patterns between fish size and feeding sites. The ratio between the feeding site (water column / substrate) in percentage by size class was (94% / 6%) for class 1, (89% / 11%) to the class 2, and (68% / 32%) for class 3. In the substrate most of bites were on turf algae, but bites on macroalgae, crustose coraline algae, colonial cnidarians (Millepora alcicornis) and zoanthids (Palythoa caribaeorum) were also observed. Individuals of class 1 rarely bites on the substrate, in class 2 the most bites were in water column, but the individuals start to bite in the substrate, and individuals of class 3 are generalists, feeding in many sites. The species commonly forms large feeding aggregations, with individuals of all size class. Among the stomach content, it was observed turf algae, macroalgae (red algae, brown algae and green algae), fish eggs and larvae, bivalves, decapod larvae, amphipod and, possibly debritus (e.g. shells). Field observations revealed that A. saxatilis prefer foraging on water column, suggesting that they may be feeding using mid-water prey, such as plankton and macroalgae suspended in the water column. On the substrate, most bites were on the turf algae, consuming both algae and invertebrates (e.g. bivalves). The sergeant major feeds on a variety sites and items, showing a generalist feeding behavior and the food consumed mainly reflect those organisms abundant and most readily available. The hereby data allow us to classify this specie as opportunistic omnivore. This work provides for the first time data on the feeding behaviour of A. saxatilis in the SW Atlantic Ocean. Acknowledgements We thanks the comments of Dr. Carlos Ferreira and Dr. Sérgio Floeter, the ICMBio for research permits and Melina Frederico and Pedro Mendes for help in the field work. J.A.A., A.C.R. and J.C.V. acknowledge individual grants from Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES) and National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq). F.A.M.D. benefited from a PhD Grant (CAPES–BEX1901906/13-5). This research was supported by CNPq (473181/2012-6 and 401190/2014-5). Keywords: Reef fish ecology, Rocky reef, Feeding Behavior, Damselfish, Pomacentridae Conference: XIX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies, Porto, Portugal, 5 Sep - 9 Sep, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: 1. ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY AND VULNERABLE ECOSYSTEMS Citation: Alves JA, Resende AC, Viaggi JC, Spach HL, Correia AT and Daros F (2016). Foraging behavior of the sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis) in a subtropical rocky reef, Brazil . Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XIX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.05.00111 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 23 May 2016; Published Online: 03 Sep 2016. * Correspondence: Mr. Johnatas A Alves, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes CEM/UFPR, Pontal do Sul, Brazil, johnatas_alves@yahoo.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Johnatas A Alves Ana C Resende Jemili C Viaggi Henry L Spach Alberto T Correia Felippe Daros Google Johnatas A Alves Ana C Resende Jemili C Viaggi Henry L Spach Alberto T Correia Felippe Daros Google Scholar Johnatas A Alves Ana C Resende Jemili C Viaggi Henry L Spach Alberto T Correia Felippe Daros PubMed Johnatas A Alves Ana C Resende Jemili C Viaggi Henry L Spach Alberto T Correia Felippe Daros Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.