Ch 6 Flashcards
What are the bright colors of fish for?
Mate recognition Reproduction Warning coloration Camouflage Disruptive coloring hides fish or confuses predator
How does reef architecture affect fish assemblage?
Higher diversity higher fish diversity. Measured with chain transect
How does shape relate to maneuverability?
Fast - barracuda
Cruisers - tuna
High maneuverability - butterfly fish
How does mouth position determine food?
Terminal/end mouth - herbivorous ie blue tang and parrotfish
Bottom mouth - detritivores and benthic ie. goatfish
Upper mouth- planktivorous ie. chromis, sergant major, damsel
What do herbivores mostly eat?
Mostly Turf algae, macro algae and coral
What are types of invertebrates feeders?
Angelfish, butterfly fish, Indonesia parrotfish
What are types of coralivores?
Crown of thornes and butterfly fish
What are piscivorous fish?
Sit and wait
Ambush
ie frog fish
What trophic level generally has the highest biomass?
Primary producers
What trophic level has the highest biomass in coral reefs?
Top predators
How does removing the top predator affect the food web?
It releases low levels from predation. ie groupers in Exuma Cays park. Groupers lack larger predators. They are eating other fish that may control algae. Algae is overgrowing coral.
Even with increased herbivory why are some reefs still declining?
Increased sea surface temp - sst
Reduced herbivory
Disease
Runoff
How do invasions affect food webs?
Invasive species do not have natural predators. ie lionfish eat a lot nothing to control them.
