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Fishes (Gobiidae and Labridae) associated with the mushroom coral Heliofungia actiniformis (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) in the Philippines

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Arthur R. Bos at American University in Cairo
Arthur R. Bos
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Abstract

Fish associations with corals are relatively common, but the only fish known to be associated with the mushroom coral Heliofungia actiniformis has been the white pipefish Siokunichthys nigrolineatus. This is the first observations of fishes, other than S. nigrolineatus, associated with the mushroom coral H. actiniformis. Moreover, this is the first record of various fish species cohabiting in a single H. actiniformis individual, resembling cases involving various shrimp species in the same coral host and clown fishes in a single sea anemone.
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Fishes (Gobiidae and Labridae) associated with the mushroom
coral Heliofungia actiniformis (Scleractinia: Fungiidae)
in the Philippines
Although the presence of fish on coral colonies and
individual polyps of the Anthozoa is relatively common
(e.g., Munday et al. 1997), the only fish known to be
associated with Heliofungia actiniformis is the white pipefish
Siokunichthys nigrolineatus (see Hoeksema et al. 2011).
Other fishes may hover over individuals of this large solitary
coral polyp, but without direct contact with the tentacles.
In an attempt to find S. nigrolineatus, I searched several
hundred polyps of H. actiniformis at 3–28 m depth in the
Davao Gulf between July 2010 and May 2011. Instead of
S. nigrolineatus, I regularly observed members of the
Gobiidae (Eviota lachdeberei,E. pellucida, and Trimma sp.,
Fig. 1a) and Labridae (Bodianus diana,Cirrhilabrus
exquisitus,Oxycheilinus celebicus, and O. orientalis) among
the tentacles of H. actiniformis. About every 15th coral polyp
was inhabited by one or two fish and, at a few occasions,
specimens of more than one fish species were present on a
single coral polyp (Fig. 1b). These fishes dwelled within the
coral canopy apparently without being adversely affected.
Although these fishes survive outside this coral microhabitat,
I repeatedly observed one specimen of E. lachdeberei
occupying the same coral polyp over a period of 5 days. The
representatives of the Gobiidae were mostly adult specimens,
whereas those of the Labridae were exclusively juveniles.
Small juveniles (£4 cm TL) resided among the tentacles,
whereas larger juveniles hovered over the tentacles or swam
along the coral periphery. This is the first observation of
fishes, other than S. nigrolineatus, associated with the mushroom coral H. actiniformis. Moreover, this is the first record of
various fish species cohabiting in a single H. actiniformis individual, resembling cases involving various shrimp species in the
same coral host (Hoeksema and Fransen 2011) and clown fishes in a single sea anemone (Bos 2011).
References
Bos AR (2011) Clownfishes Amphiprion clarkii and A. sandaracinos (Pomacentridae) coexist in the sea anemone Stichodactyla mertensii. Coral Reefs
30:369
Hoeksema BW, Fransen CHJM (2011) Space partitioning by symbiotic shrimp species cohabitating in the mushroom coral Heliofungia actiniformis at
Semporna, eastern Sabah. Coral Reefs 30:519
Hoeksema BW, van der Meij S, Fransen CHJM (2011) The mushroom coral as a habitat. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 91: doi:10.1017/S0025315411001445
Munday PL, Jones GP, Caley MJ (1997) Habitat specialisation and the distribution and abundance of coral-dwelling gobies. Mar Ecol Prog Ser
152:227–239
A. R. Bos (&)
The Netherlands Center for Biodiversity Naturalis, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
e-mail: arthurrbos@yahoo.com
A. R. Bos
Biology Department, American University Cairo, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Fig. 1 Gobies aTrimma sp. (undescribed species), bEviota pellucida and
E. lachdeberei, and the shrimp Cuapetes lacertae among tentacles of Heliofungia
actiniformis
123
Received: 23 July 2011 / Accepted: 7 October 2011/ Published online: 21 October 2011
Springer-Verlag 2011
Coral Reefs (2012) 31:133
DOI 10.1007/s00338-011-0834-3
Reef sites
... However, this shelter can become temporarily lost when the corals become buried or overturned (Bongaerts et al., 2012;Hoeksema and Bongaerts, 2016). Individuals of other associated symbiotic species, which may include many other invertebrates and various fish species, dwell on the external upper side of mushroom corals (Bos, 2012;Hoeksema and Farenzena, 2012;Hoeksema and Ten Hove, 2014;Bos andHoeksema, 2015, 2017;Montano et al., 2015). Hence, it is expected that mushroom corals may potentially offer different habitats to associated symbiotic copepods. ...
... However, this shelter can become temporarily lost when the corals become buried or overturned (Bongaerts et al., 2012;Hoeksema and Bongaerts, 2016). Individuals of other associated symbiotic species, which may include many other invertebrates and various fish species, dwell on the external upper side of mushroom corals (Bos, 2012;Hoeksema and Farenzena, 2012;Hoeksema and Ten Hove, 2014;Bos andHoeksema, 2015, 2017;Montano et al., 2015). Hence, it is expected that mushroom corals may potentially offer different habitats to associated symbiotic copepods. ...
... The finding of generalist symbionts living in association with various coral species across a range of fungiid genera is also reported for other taxa, such as coral-excavating mussels (Kleemann and Hoeksema, 2002;Owada and Hoeksema, 2011), coral barnacles , epitoniid snails (Gittenberger and Hoeksema, 2013), hydroids of the genus Zanclea (Montano et al., 2015), coral gall crabs (van der Meij and Hoeksema, 2013; Van der Meij et al., 2015;Hoeksema et al., 2018), sessile ctenophores (Alamaru et al., 2016(Alamaru et al., , 2017, and cryptobenthic fishes (Bos, 2012;Bos andHoeksema, 2015, 2017). Interestingly, some coral-dwelling polychaetes of the genus Spirobranchus, which are commonly found on large ranges of hosts (Molodtsova et al., 2016;Perry et al., 2017), are scarcely recorded from fungiid corals (Hoeksema and ten Hove, 2014). ...
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... However, this shelter can become temporarily lost when the corals become buried or overturned (Bongaerts et al., 2012;Hoeksema and Bongaerts, 2016). Individuals of other associated symbiotic species, which may include many other invertebrates and various fish species, dwell on the external upper side of mushroom corals (Bos, 2012;Hoeksema and Farenzena, 2012;Hoeksema and Ten Hove, 2014;Bos andHoeksema, 2015, 2017;Montano et al., 2015). Hence, it is expected that mushroom corals may potentially offer different habitats to associated symbiotic copepods. ...
... However, this shelter can become temporarily lost when the corals become buried or overturned (Bongaerts et al., 2012;Hoeksema and Bongaerts, 2016). Individuals of other associated symbiotic species, which may include many other invertebrates and various fish species, dwell on the external upper side of mushroom corals (Bos, 2012;Hoeksema and Farenzena, 2012;Hoeksema and Ten Hove, 2014;Bos andHoeksema, 2015, 2017;Montano et al., 2015). Hence, it is expected that mushroom corals may potentially offer different habitats to associated symbiotic copepods. ...
... The finding of generalist symbionts living in association with various coral species across a range of fungiid genera is also reported for other taxa, such as coral-excavating mussels (Kleemann and Hoeksema, 2002;Owada and Hoeksema, 2011), coral barnacles , epitoniid snails (Gittenberger and Hoeksema, 2013), hydroids of the genus Zanclea (Montano et al., 2015), coral gall crabs (van der Meij and Hoeksema, 2013; Van der Meij et al., 2015;Hoeksema et al., 2018), sessile ctenophores (Alamaru et al., 2016(Alamaru et al., , 2017, and cryptobenthic fishes (Bos, 2012;Bos andHoeksema, 2015, 2017). Interestingly, some coral-dwelling polychaetes of the genus Spirobranchus, which are commonly found on large ranges of hosts (Molodtsova et al., 2016;Perry et al., 2017), are scarcely recorded from fungiid corals (Hoeksema and ten Hove, 2014). ...
Lack of host specificity of copepod crustaceans associated with mushroom corals in the Red Sea
Article
  • Jul 2018
The radiation of symbiotic copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda) living in association with stony corals (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) is considered host-specific and linked to the phylogenetic diversification of their hosts. However, symbiotic copepods are poorly investigated, occurrence records are mostly anecdotal, and no explicit analysis exists regarding their relationship with the hosts. Here, we analysed the occurrence of symbiotic copepods on different co-occurring and phylogenetically closely related scleractinian corals. We used an innovative approach of DNA extraction from single microscopic specimens that preserves the shape of the organisms for integrative morphological studies. The rationale of the study involved: (i) sampling of mushroom corals (Fungiidae) belonging to 13 species and eight genera on different reefs along the Saudi coastline in the Red Sea, (ii) extraction of all the associated copepods, (iii) morphological screening and identification of copepod species, (iv) use of DNA taxonomy on mitochondrial and nuclear markers to determine species boundaries for morphologically unknown copepod species, (v) reconstruction of phylogenies to understand their evolutionary relationships, and (vi) analysis of the ecological drivers of the occurrence, diversity and host specificity of the copepods. The seven species of coral-associated copepods, all new to science, did not show any statistically significant evidence of host-specificity or other pattern of ecological association. We thus suggest that, contrary to most assumptions and previous anecdotal evidence on this coral-copepod host-symbiont system, the association between copepods and their host corals is rather labile, not strict, and not phylogenetically constrained, changing our perception on evolutionary patterns and processes in symbiotic copepods.
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... To generate the comprehensive list of marine fishes present in southern Mindanao, we supplemented the fish market survey with data from: (1) underwater fish visual census (CL Nañola, AC Eballe, GS Gumanao, and RB Sobradil) conducted in Davao Gulf from 2019 to 2022; and (2) published literature on Pujada Bay (Nañola et al. 2011, Eballe 2014, Davao Gulf (Motomura et al. 2001, Alcala et al. 2008, Nañola et al. 2011, Bos 2012, Bos and Gumanao 2013, Bucol and Alcala 2015, Gumanao et al. 2016, Bos and Hoeksema 2015, Cabasan et al. 2017, Elumba et al. 2019, Gumanao et al. 2022, Labrador et al. 2022, Gumanao et al. 2023, Fortaleza et al. 2024, and Sarangani Bay (Alcala et al. 2008, Nañola et al. 2011, Tea et al. 2018; and (3) the National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) published by Emperua et al. (2018) and Villanueva (2018). ...
The marine fishes from southern Mindanao, Philippines, including a DNA barcode reference library of commercially important species
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2025
  • B MAR SCI
The Philippines has been long known for its multispecies fisheries, and while there is a growing effort to document fish diversity, collections-based species inventories remain insufficient in southern Mindanao. Market survey efforts conducted in Pujada Bay, Davao Gulf, and Sarangani Bay in the last ten years resulted in documenting 556 species of marine fishes from 82 families, while underwater fish visual census (FVC) surveys conducted in Davao Gulf from 2019 to 2022 revealed 365 species in 42 families. Combining the data from market surveys, FVC, and published literature, we present 771 species of marine fishes (770 teleosts, 1 elasmobranch) belonging to 94 families. Of the 771 species documented, 130 are deep reef and deepwater species, while 20 species await further taxonomic investigations for species-level identifications.Moreover, 498 cytochrome oxidase I (COI) genetic barcodes were produced representing 357 species from 59 families, which covers 46% of the total number of species reported and 63% of the market survey data. Genetic distances based on taxonomic ranks were concordant with other barcoding studies on marine fishes. Samples (20 species) with pairwise genetic distances that did not conform with the expected intra- and interspecific threshold suggest cases that also need to be investigated further (e.g., incomplete lineage sorting, introgressive hybridization, crypticspeciation). All market survey data used in genetic barcoding correspond to tissue samples, live-color photographs, and preserved specimens. This work complements the DNA barcode libraries reported recently in the country, and this serves as an additional reference for future biodiversity management and conservation efforts.
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... Scleractinian corals are known to host a variety of organisms belonging to different phyla [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Among coral ectosymbionts, the acoel flatworms of the genus Waminoa (Order Acoela, Family Convolutidae) have been studied only recently. ...
The Association of Waminoa with Reef Corals in Singapore and Its Impact on Putative Immune- and Stress-Response Genes
Article
Full-text available
Waminoa spp. are acoel flatworms mainly found as ectosymbionts on scleractinian corals. Although Waminoa could potentially represent a threat to their hosts, not enough information is available yet regarding their ecology and effect on the coral. Here, the Waminoa sp.–coral association was analyzed in Singapore reefs to determine the prevalence, host range, and preference, as well as the flatworm abundance on the coral surface. Moreover, the impact of Waminoa sp. on the expression of putative immune- and stress-response genes (C-type lectin, C3, Hsp70 and Actin) was examined in the coral Lobophyllia radians. The association prevalence was high (10.4%), especially in sites with lower sedimentation and turbidity. Waminoa sp. showed a wide host range, being found on 17 coral genera, many of which are new association records. However, only few coral genera, mostly characterized by massive or laminar morphologies appeared to be preferred hosts. Waminoa sp. individuals displayed variable patterns of coral surface coverage and an unequal distribution among different host taxa, possibly related to the different coral growth forms. A down-regulation of the expression of all the analyzed genes was recorded in L. radians portions colonized by Waminoa individuals compared to those without. This indicated that Waminoa sp. could affect components of the immune system and the cellular homeostasis of the coral, also inhibiting its growth. Therefore, Waminoa sp. could represent a potential further threat for coral communities already subjected to multiple stressors.
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... Selain itu Hoeksema dan Fransen (2011) mengungkapkan bahwa tujuh spesies udang ditemukan pada spesies ini. Beberapa jenis ikan cryptobenthic seperti Eviota pellucida dan E. Lachdeberei juga menggunakan tentakel Heliofungia actiniformis sebagai mikro habitat (Bos 2012). ...
Biodiversitas dan Sebaran Karang Jamur (Fungiidae) di Perairan Teluk Amurang, Minahasa Selatan
Article
  • Dec 2017
strong>Biodiversity and Distribution of Mushroom Coral (Fungiidae) in The Amurang Bay, South Minahasa. Mushroom coral is the one of sclerectinians that has essential role to form coral reefs. This kind of species act as a microhabitat for other marine organisms such as shrimp. cryptobenthic fish, barnacle and crab. Most of these unique species have an ability to move from one habitat to another during benthic phase. The aim of this research was to determine the community structure and distribution of mushroom corals. This research was conducted in February 2017 at 4 research stations using belt transect method with 50x2m2 length of transects. The results showed that 431 individuals consisting of 19 species and 11 genus were recorded. Generally, the range of values of diversity index (H) was between 0,85-1,06 (low to medium level). The evennes index (J) values was ranged from 0,81 to 0,89 (high level) while the richness index (D) was 2,47-3,58 (low level). Lythophyllon repanda, Lythophyllon concinna and Fungia fungites were the most dominant mushroom coral spesies in the Amurang Bay waters.
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... obs.); [42] Acanthaster (Bos et al., 2013) and Drupella (Gumanao, pers. obs.); [43] a conservative estimate based on the presence of 56 scleractinian genera and 35 mushroom coral species(Gumanao, 2009;Bos and Hoeksema, 2017); [44]Nañola and Ingles (2003),Bos (2012Bos ( , 2014, Gumanao (2012, 2013),Bos and Smits (2013), Hoeksema (2015, 2017), Gumanao et al. (2016), Bos et al. (2018); [45] Mancao et al. (2008), Horigue et al. (2012), Cabral et al. (2014); [46] Wood (1977, 1979); [47] Aripen et al. (2002); [48] Spait (2001), Jakobsen et al. (2007); [49] Abdul-Hadi et al. (2013), Gallagher et al. (2016); [50] Ali et al. (2014); [51] Ali et al. (2015); [52] Mathias and Langham (1978), Pilcher and Cabanban (2000), Spait (2001), Theng et al. (2003), Waheed et al. (2007); [53] Adnan et al. (2015), Mobilik et al. (2016); [54] Woodman et al. (2004), Reef Check Malaysia (2010); [55] Cabanban and Nais (2003); [56] Phillips (1979); [57] Waheed and Hoeksema (2014); [58] Spait (2001); [59] in 2012 and 2016 (Aw and Syed Hussein, 2012; Waheed pers. obs.); [60] Syed Hussein and Nooramli (2016); [61] Nyanti and Johnston (1992), Waheed et al. (2011), Huang et al. (2015), Waheed and Hoeksema (2014); [62] Townsend (2015); [63] Pang et al. (2016); [64] Tunkul Abdul Rahman Park (Nyanti and Johnston, 1992); [65] the population of the Brunei-Muara District conglomerate is much larger; [66] Chou et al. (1987), DeVantier and Turak (2009), Turak and DeVantier (2009); [67] Turak and DeVantier (2009), Lane and Lim (2013); [68] De Silva (1987); [69] Yong et al. (2006), most reports are about Brunei Bay and not about the offshore reefs (e.g. ...
Urban coral reefs: Degradation and resilience of hard coral assemblages in coastal cities of East and Southeast Asia
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Full-text available
  • Aug 2018
  • MAR POLLUT BULL
Given predicted increases in urbanization in tropical and subtropical regions, understanding the processes shaping urban coral reefs may be essential for anticipating future conservation challenges. We used a case study approach to identify unifying patterns of urban coral reefs and clarify the effects of urbanization on hard coral assemblages. Data were compiled from 11 cities throughout East and Southeast Asia, with particular focus on Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Naha (Okinawa). Our review highlights several key characteristics of urban coral reefs, including “reef compression” (a decline in bathymetric range with increasing turbidity and decreasing water clarity over time and relative to shore), dominance by domed coral growth forms and low reef complexity, variable city-specific inshore-offshore gradients, early declines in coral cover with recent fluctuating periods of acute impacts and rapid recovery, and colonization of urban infrastructure by hard corals. We present hypotheses for urban reef community dynamics and discuss potential of ecological engineering for corals in urban areas.
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... Data of the present study, and those published by Gumanao et al. actiniformis, were firstly found to be associated with mushroom corals (Bos, 2012;Bos & Hoeksema, 2015 Eye migration is genetically controlled (Palmer, 2016) and individuals usually follow the same orientation; hence 'right-eyed flounders', the common name for the Pleuronectidae. However, a few exceptions of mixed populations do exist. ...
Twenty-eight Additions to the Length-Weight and Length-Length Relationships of Indo-Pacific Fishes from the Davao Gulf, Philippines
Article
  • Oct 2017
  • J APPL ICHTHYOL
Selected fish were measured on markets along the Davao Gulf, Philippines between 2009 and 2016, augmenting the number of Length-Weight relationships (LWR) published earlier for the same area. LWRs were calculated for 28 fishes including those of 12 firstly reported, rare species. SL-TL and SL-FL relationships were determined for 28 and 25 species (also including 8 and 12 newly reported relationships, respectively). Minimum size at which individuals start developing forked tails are provided for Cheilinus fasciatus (SL = 15.0 cm), Plectorhinchus polytaenia (SL = 27.0 cm), Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (SL = 18.0 cm) and Thalassoma hardwicke (SL = 11.5 cm). The flatfish Psettodes erumei had a right-left eyed ratio of 0.55.
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... Data of the present study, and those published by Gumanao et al. actiniformis, were firstly found to be associated with mushroom corals (Bos, 2012;Bos & Hoeksema, 2015 Eye migration is genetically controlled (Palmer, 2016) and individuals usually follow the same orientation; hence 'right-eyed flounders', the common name for the Pleuronectidae. However, a few exceptions of mixed populations do exist. ...
Twenty-eight Additions to the Length-Weight and Length-Length Relationships of Indo-Pacific Fishes from the Davao Gulf, Philippines
Article
Full-text available
Selected fish were measured on markets along the Davao Gulf, Philippines between 2009 and 2016, augmenting the number of Length-Weight relationships (LWR) published earlier for the same area. LWRs were calculated for 28 fishes including those of 12 firstly reported, rare species. SL-TL and SL-FL relationships were determined for 28 and 25 species (also including 8 and 12 newly reported relationships, respectively). Minimum size at which individuals start developing forked tails are provided for Cheilinus fasciatus (SL = 15.0 cm), Plectorhinchus polytaenia (SL = 27.0 cm), Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (SL = 18.0 cm) and Thalassoma hardwicke (SL = 11.5 cm). The flatfish Psettodes erumei had a right-left eyed ratio of 0.55.
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... They can cause damage to the host coral by eroding its skeleton or by smothering its New interspecific associations have been discovered recently by targeting specific corals in order to examine their possible role as host, involving a shrimp, a worm and snail in the Caribbean (Brinkmann and Fransen 2016;Hoeksema et al. 2017;Potkamp, Vermeij, and Hoeksema in press). Many associates, including new species, have been found in or near Indo-Pacific mushroom corals: (1) hiding underneath corals, such as snails and sessile ctenophores (Alamaru, Brokovich, and (Cheng et al. 2016;Hoeksema and Farenzena 2012;Fransen and Rauch 2013);(5) in between the tentacles, like shrimps and fishes (Bos 2012;Hoeksema and Fransen 2011). Branching corals can offer shelter in between their branches (Stella, Jones, and Pratchett 2010) and some associates of octocorals use camouflage as hiding strategy, as demonstrated by pygmy seahorses (Figure 2; Lourie and Kuiter 2008;Reijnen, van der Meij, and van Ofwegen 2011) and ovulid snails (Reijnen 2010;Sánchez et al. 2016). ...
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... Recent studies in the Indo-Pacific targeting scleractinian species for associated fauna have resulted in new host records for small or hidden species of, for example, parasitic snails (Gittenberger and Gittenberger 2011;Gittenberger and Hoeksema 2013), benthic ctenophores Alamaru et al. 2016), copepods (Ivanenko et al. 2014), hydroids (Montano et al. 2014(Montano et al. , 2015a, cryptobenthic fish (Bos 2012;Bos and Hoeksema 2015), and commensal shrimps (Fransen and Rauch 2013;Ďuriš and Lin 2016). New host records were also obtained during recent studies of Scleractinia-associated fauna in the Caribbean. ...
Helioseris cucullata as a host coral at St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean
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Full-text available
  • Mar 2017
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Habitat specialisation and the distribution and abundance of coral-dwelling gobies
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 1997
Many fishes on coral reefs are known to associate with particular microhabitats. If these associations help determine population dynamics then we would expect (1) a close association between the abundances of these fishes and the abundances of the most frequently used microhabitats, and (2) changes in the abundance of microhabitats would result in a corresponding change in fish population sizes. We examined habitat associations among obligate coral-dwelling gobies (genus Gobiodon) and then investigated relationships between the spatial and temporal availability of habitats and the abundances of Gobiodon species among locations and among zones on the reef at Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef). Out of a total of 11 Acropora species found to be used by Gobiodon, each species of Gobiodon occupied 1 or 2 species of Acropora significantly more often than expected from the availability of these corals on the reef. Across reef zones, the abundance of most species of Gobiodon was closely correlated with the abundance of coral species most frequently inhabited. However, the abundance of 1 species, G. axillaris, was not correlated with the availability of most frequently used corals across reef zones or among locations. For G, axillaris, therefore, factors other than habitat availability were more important in determining differences in abundance among zones and locations. Also, correlations between the abundance of 2 species, G. histrio and G, quinquestrigatus, and the coral species they most frequently used was less consistent among locations than among zones. This suggests that the relative importance of habitat availability in determining the abundance of these species of Gobiodon is reduced at the spatial scale of locations around Lizard Island. The population dynamics of Gobiodon during this study were closely Linked to the population dynamics of host corals. Because of a crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) outbreak the abundance of corals declined in particular reef zones. Corresponding with this loss of habitat was a decline in Gobiodon abundance. This study demonstrated that the abundance of habitat specialised fishes can be closely correlated with the spatial and temporal availability of suitable habitats among and within reefs.
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The mushroom coral as a habitat
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2012
  • J MAR BIOL ASSOC UK
The evolution of symbiotic relationships involving reef corals has had much impact on tropical marine biodiversity. Because of their endosymbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) corals can grow fast in tropical shallow seas where they form reefs that supply food, substrate and shelter for other organisms. Many coral symbionts are host-specific, depending on particular coral species for their existence. Some of these animals have become popular objects for underwater photographers and aquarists, whereas others are hardly noticed or considered pests. Loss of a single coral host species also leads to the disappearance of some of its associated fauna. In the present study we show which mushroom corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) are known to act as hosts for other organisms, such as acoel flatworms, copepods, barnacles, gall crabs, pontoniine shrimps, mytilid bivalves, epitoniid snails, coralliophilid snails, fish and certain types of zooxanthellae. Several of these associated organisms appear to be host-specific whereas other species are generalists and not even necessarily restricted to fungiid hosts. Heliofungia actiniformis is one of the most hospitable coral species known with a recorded associated fauna consisting of at least 23 species. The availability of a phylogeny reconstruction of the Fungiidae enables comparisons of closely related species of mushroom corals regarding their associated fauna. Application of a phylogenetic ecological analysis indicates that the presence or absence of associated organisms is evolutionarily derived or habitat-induced. Some associations appear to be restricted to certain evolutionary lineages within the Fungiidae, whereas the absence of associated species may be determined by ecomorphological traits of the host corals, such as coral dimensions (coral diameter and thickness) and polyp shape (tentacle size).
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Clownfishes Amphiprion clarkii and A. sandaracinos (Pomacentridae) coexist in the sea anemone Stichodactyla mertensii
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2011
Coexistence of clownfish has been observed in several host anemones, usually combined with aggressive behavior among the fish due to the territorial instinct of damselfish. This is the first observation of Amphiprion clarkii and A. sandaracinos in the sea anemone Stichodactylus mertensii, where fish do not perform aggressively towards one another, but rather accept each others presence. Moreover, this coexistence was preferred above the migration to nearby available anemones.
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The mushroom coral as a habitat Habitat specialisation and the distribution and abundance of coral-dwelling gobies The Netherlands
  • Jan 1997
  • 10-1017227
  • Hoeksema
  • Bw
  • Van
  • S Meij
  • Fransen
  • Jones Pl Gp Munday
  • Caley
  • Mj
Hoeksema BW, van der Meij S, Fransen CHJM (2011) The mushroom coral as a habitat. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 91: doi:10.1017/S0025315411001445 Munday PL, Jones GP, Caley MJ (1997) Habitat specialisation and the distribution and abundance of coral-dwelling gobies. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 152:227–239 A. R. Bos (&) The Netherlands Center for Biodiversity Naturalis, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
The Netherlands Center for The Netherlands e-mail: arthurrbos@yahoo.com A. R
  • A R Bos
  • Ra Leiden
A. R. Bos (&) The Netherlands Center for Biodiversity Naturalis, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands e-mail: arthurrbos@yahoo.com A. R. Bos Biology Department, American University Cairo, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo 11835, Egypt Fig. 1 Gobies a Trimma sp. (undescribed species), b Eviota pellucida and E. lachdeberei, and the shrimp Cuapetes lacertae among tentacles of Heliofungia actiniformis 123