TY - JOUR
T1 - Growth, mortality and turnover rates of a small detritivorous fish
AU - Wilson, Shaun K.
PY - 2004/12/21
Y1 - 2004/12/21
N2 - Growth, mortality and density estimates of the blenny Salarias patzneri were used to quantify turnover rates of a small-bodied detritivorous fish. Turnover rates of S. patzneri were then compared with prominent scarids and acanthurids, to assess the relative significance of small detritivores to secondary production on coral reefs. Instantaneous mortality, estimated from growth parameters (L∞ = 5.10, K = 3.25, t0 = 0.10), suggests that less than 99% of the S. patzneri population survives for more than 1 yr. Despite their small body size, high mortality rates combined with high densities give S. patzneri high annual biomass turnover rates that are similar to larger-bodied acanthurids and scarids. Dietary analysis determined that all post-settlement S. patzneri, from juveniles to the largest adults, are detritivorous. The high turnover rates and diet of S. patzneri emphasize the importance of small-bodied fish and detritus to coral reef trophodynamics.
AB - Growth, mortality and density estimates of the blenny Salarias patzneri were used to quantify turnover rates of a small-bodied detritivorous fish. Turnover rates of S. patzneri were then compared with prominent scarids and acanthurids, to assess the relative significance of small detritivores to secondary production on coral reefs. Instantaneous mortality, estimated from growth parameters (L∞ = 5.10, K = 3.25, t0 = 0.10), suggests that less than 99% of the S. patzneri population survives for more than 1 yr. Despite their small body size, high mortality rates combined with high densities give S. patzneri high annual biomass turnover rates that are similar to larger-bodied acanthurids and scarids. Dietary analysis determined that all post-settlement S. patzneri, from juveniles to the largest adults, are detritivorous. The high turnover rates and diet of S. patzneri emphasize the importance of small-bodied fish and detritus to coral reef trophodynamics.
KW - Blenniidae
KW - Body size
KW - Coral reef trophodynamics
KW - Detritivory
KW - Growth
KW - Mortality
KW - Secondary production
KW - Turnover rates
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=12344262269&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://doi.org/10.3354/meps284253
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:12344262269
SN - 0171-8630
VL - 284
SP - 253
EP - 259
JO - Marine Ecology Progress Series
JF - Marine Ecology Progress Series
ER -