Seaweed survival after consumption by the greenbeak parrotfish, Scarus trispinosus

• Published in: Coral reefs Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 329 - 334
• Main Authors: Tâmega, F. T. S., Figueiredo, M. A. O., Ferreira, C. E. L., Bonaldo, R. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algae; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Fish; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Herbivores; Life Sciences; Oceanography; Brazil; Brazil; Herbivory; Marginal reef; Labridae; Reef fish; Macroalgae
• ISSN: 0722-4028; 1432-0975
• DOI: 10.1007/s00338-015-1373-0

We assessed the survival of seaweed (macroalgae and cyanobacteria) after consumption by the greenbeak parrotfish, Scarus trispinosus , in northeastern Brazil. Samples of S. trispinosus feces were collected, inoculated on filter paper, and kept in the laboratory and field for 60 and 30 d, respectively. Comparisons of samples inoculated with feces to those without (controls) revealed a marked increase in the abundance and diversity of seaweed in samples inoculated with feces in both laboratory and field experiments. These results were consistent between summer and winter, although the seaweed species differed. A total of one cyanobacterium and 16 macroalgal taxa (nine rhodophytes, five heterokontophytes, and two chlorophytes) were recorded in the inoculated samples. Rhodophyta also presented the highest abundance across treatments, possibly because of their higher resistance to parrotfish digestion, greater ingestion, or both. The survival of cyanobacteria and macroalgae after consumption by S. trispinosus suggests that parrotfishes may contribute to seaweed dispersion on tropical reefs.