Comparisons of habitat use and diet of herbivorous kyphosids (Genus Kyphosus) in tropical and temperate reefs
type: CreativeWork
description: Kyphosids are a well-represented group of mainly herbivorous fishes distributed worldwide. Species within the genus Kyphosus are commonly found in both tropical and temperate areas, with Western Australia having especially high Kyphosus diversity and abundance compared to other regions. Despite being common fishes, much of the ecology of this Genus has not been described. The aim of this study is to compare habitat and food resource use of Kyphosus species in both tropical and temperate reef areas of Western Australia to provide new information about their ecological roles in these systems. To achieve this, the relationship between the abundances of three temperate species (K. sydneyanus, K. gladius, and K. cornelii) and environmental characteristics has been investigated across 20 sites within Marmion Marine Park, on the south-west coast of Australia. All temperate Kyphosus species were found to be significantly more abundant in high-relief reef areas (P < 0.01) and particularly inshore areas (0 to 1 nm from the coast). Juveniles (Lt < 30 cm) were present only in shallow reefs (0 to 6 m) and mostly inshore. Distance-based redundancy analysis showed that most of the variability in juvenile abundance (72-77%) was explained by reef structures (i.e. number of arches, caves, drop-offs, and general vertical relief) and algal assemblages (i.e. E. radiata, green algae, and Sargassum spp.). Changes in abundance of adult fish (Lt ≥ 30cm) were less strongly related to environmental variables (52- 58%), although the number of caves and drop-offs was positively correlated with all three species. Analysis of the stomach contents of K. sydneyanus, K. gladius, and K. cornelii showed strong differences in diet composition between all species (p < 0.001). An ontogenetic shift in was also present in the first two species (p < 0.001). K. sydneyanus and K. gladius consumed mostly brown macroalgae. However, K. sydneyanus consumed more Sargassum spp. (up to 44% in adults), while K. gladi…
abstract: Kyphosids are a well-represented group of mainly herbivorous fishes distributed worldwide. Species within the genus Kyphosus are commonly found in both tropical and temperate areas, with Western Australia having especially high Kyphosus diversity and abundance compared to other regions. Despite being common fishes, much of the ecology of this Genus has not been described. The aim of this study is to compare habitat and food resource use of Kyphosus species in both tropical and temperate reef areas of Western Australia to provide new information about their ecological roles in these systems. To achieve this, the relationship between the abundances of three temperate species (K. sydneyanus, K. gladius, and K. cornelii) and environmental characteristics has been investigated across 20 sites within Marmion Marine Park, on the south-west coast of Australia. All temperate Kyphosus species were found to be significantly more abundant in high-relief reef areas (P < 0.01) and particularly inshore areas (0 to 1 nm from the coast). Juveniles (Lt < 30 cm) were present only in shallow reefs (0 to 6 m) and mostly inshore. Distance-based redundancy analysis showed that most of the variability in juvenile abundance (72-77%) was explained by reef structures (i.e. number of arches, caves, drop-offs, and general vertical relief) and algal assemblages (i.e. E. radiata, green algae, and Sargassum spp.). Changes in abundance of adult fish (Lt ≥ 30cm) were less strongly related to environmental variables (52- 58%), although the number of caves and drop-offs was positively correlated with all three species. Analysis of the stomach contents of K. sydneyanus, K. gladius, and K. cornelii showed strong differences in diet composition between all species (p < 0.001). An ontogenetic shift in was also present in the first two species (p < 0.001). K. sydneyanus and K. gladius consumed mostly brown macroalgae. However, K. sydneyanus consumed more Sargassum spp. (up to 44% in adults), while K. gladi…
author: Turco, Aldo
keywords: Marine, Ecology, Fish Ecology, Temperate, Tropical, Kyphosidae, Kyphosus, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
date published: 2017-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-27T19:22:38Z
provider: Edith Cowan University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia