Growth, mortality and turnover rates of a small detritivorous fish

• Published in: Marine ecology. Progress series (Halstenbek) 2004-12, Vol.284, p.253-260
• Main Author: Wilson, Shaun K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal age determination; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Coral reefs; Density estimation; Diet; Fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herbivorous fishes; Marine; Mortality; Otolith organs; Reefs; Salarias patzneri; Sea water ecosystems; Synecology
• ISSN: 0171-8630; 1616-1599
• DOI: 10.3354/meps284253

Growth, mortality and density estimates of the blennySalarias patzneriwere used to quantify turnover rates of a small-bodied detritivorous fish. Turnover rates ofS. patzneriwere 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 theS. patzneripopulation survives for more than 1 yr. Despite their small body size, high mortality rates combined with high densities giveS. patznerihigh annual biomass turnover rates that are similar to larger-bodied acanthurids and scarids. Dietary analysis determined that all post-settlementS. patzneri, from juveniles to the largest adults, are detritivorous. The high turnover rates and diet ofS. patzneriemphasize the importance of small-bodied fish and detritus to coral reef trophodynamics.