Mixed-species schooling behavior and protective mimicry involving coral reef fish from the genus Haemulon (Haemulidae)

Pedro Henrique Cipresso Pereira,Beatrice Padovani Ferreira,João Lucas Leão Feitosa

doi:10.1590/s1679-62252011005000037

Pedro Henrique Cipresso Pereira, Beatrice Padovani Ferreira + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1679-62252011005000037

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Journal: Neotropical Ichthyology	Publication Date: Oct 21, 2011
Citations: 21	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Abstract

The present study analyzed heterotypic schooling behavior and protective mimicry relationships involving species of the genus Haemulon and other coral reef fishes on coastal reefs at Tamandaré, Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil. The work was performed during 35 hours of direct observation using the "focal animal" method. The observed events involved 14 species of reef fish in eight different families. The phenomenon of mixed schooling appeared to be related to the large number of individuals of the genus Haemulon present in reef environments and to the tendency of individuals with limited populations to try to aggregate in schools (e.g. genus Scarus).

Highlights

The aggregation of individuals is a biological phenomenon observed from the lowest life forms to the largest organisms, and involves virtually all taxa, habitats, trophic levels, life history strategies, and many other biological characteristics (Parrish & Edelstein-Keshet, 1999; Camazine et al, 2001).The family Haemulidae comprises 17 genera and about 145 species distributed throughout the world, occurring mainly in marine and estuarine environments (Lindeman & Toxey, 2002; Nelson, 2006)
The genus Haemulon is represented by 15 species distributed along the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific coasts, with one species being found in both regions (Rocha & Rosa, 1999)
The schooling grunts that were used most frequently by other reef fish were Haemulon aurolineatum and H. squamipinna, (73% of the interactions each); whereas H. plumieri had the lowest rate use on the interactions (33%)

Summary

Introduction

The aggregation of individuals is a biological phenomenon observed from the lowest life forms (bacteria) to the largest organisms (whales), and involves virtually all taxa, habitats, trophic levels, life history strategies, and many other biological characteristics (Parrish & Edelstein-Keshet, 1999; Camazine et al, 2001).The family Haemulidae (grunts) comprises 17 genera and about 145 species distributed throughout the world, occurring mainly in marine and estuarine environments (Lindeman & Toxey, 2002; Nelson, 2006). The genus Haemulon is represented by 15 species distributed along the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific coasts, with one species being found in both regions (Rocha & Rosa, 1999) This genus numerically dominates shallow reef communities and typical schools of up to hundreds of individuals are found over natural or artificial structures with adult, juvenile, and newly settled fish (Mateo & Tobias, 2001; Brotto et al, 2007). They represent an excellent group for ecological studies due to its diverse ecomorphology, great abundance, and ecological and economic importance (Lindeman & Toxey, 2002; Rocha et al, 2008). Fish typically present this kind of behavior to gain access to the defended resources of territory holders, decrease search times for patchily distributed resources, and provide increased protection from predation with species that have similar body shapes and colorations (Ehrlich & Ehrlich, 1973; Itzkowitz, 1977; Debrot & Myrberg, 1988; Ward et al, 2002)

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