Algal resistance to herbivory on a caribbean barrier reef

Field and laboratory research at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize showed that macroalgae, grouped in functional-form units resisted fish and urchin herbivory in the following order (from high to low resistance); Crustose-Group, Jointed Calcareous-Group, Thick Leathery-Group, Coarsely Branched-Group, Filamento...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Coral reefs 1983, Vol.2 (2), p.111-118
Main Authors: LITTLER, M. M, TAYLOR, P. R, LITTLER, D. S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Autoecology
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Marine
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Summary:Field and laboratory research at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize showed that macroalgae, grouped in functional-form units resisted fish and urchin herbivory in the following order (from high to low resistance); Crustose-Group, Jointed Calcareous-Group, Thick Leathery-Group, Coarsely Branched-Group, Filamentous-Group and Sheet-Group; thereby supporting the hypothesis that crustose, calcareous and thick algae have evolved antipredator defenses and should show the greatest resistance to herbivory with a gradation of increasing palatability towards filaments and sheets. Of the 21 species examined, several had exceptionally low losses to fish grazing, probably due to chemical defences.
ISSN:0722-4028
1432-0975
DOI:10.1007/bf02395281