The influence of fish predation on the abundance cycles of an algal turf invertebrate fauna.

Abstract

A fauna of small invertebrates in a perennial algal turf habitat showed marked seasonal fluctuations in abundance. These were characterised by a summer (December) peak in the abundance of gammarid amphipods and an autumn (April) peak in polychaete densities. Invertebrate abundance was lowest during the period February-March which coincided with an influx of very high densities of juveniles (0+ year class) of the sparid fish Chrysophrys auratus. Both juvenile C. auratus and also the mullid Upeneichthys porosus achieved their highest densities over coralline turf areas and fed on the associated invertebrates. Gammarid amphipods constituted the main food items of each species. All these observations suggested a key role of fish predators in determining the observed seasonal patterns of invertebrate abundance.This hypothesis was investigated by the use of replicated fish exclusion shields and cages which excluded both species from the algal turf and also permitted an assessment of Upeneichthys porosus feeding in the absence of Chrysophrys auratus. The experiment ran from November until June and covered the period of invertebrate and fish abundance changes. Little evidence of a fish predation effect on either the densities of or the timing of abundance peaks of the invertebrate fauna was detected. Sediment analysis of the cage and control experimental sites revealed no evidence of a cage effect on the microhabitat. It is suggested that seasonal changes in the abundance of invertebrates occurs independently of the high densities of predatory fish recorded in this habitat.