Other Techniques
From coraldigest
Other Techniques
- Filter Feeders
- Suspension Feeders: Distinguished from filter feeders because they actively capture food particles from the water with tentacles [1]
- Planktivores - Eat plankton. Include fishes such as Blue Chromis, Brown Chromis, and Creole Wrasse [4]
- Physical Properties
- tend to have small bodies that are streamlined and have forked tails to enhance propulsion [5]
- catching tiny fragile plankton requires small mouth without strongly developed teeth but with jaws capable of rapid and extensive protrusion to snatch the prey[6]
- smaller species tend to have monochromatic coloring - makes it harder for predators to see them [7]
- keen eyesight and binocular vision to pick out and catch plankton [8]
- Behavioral Properties
- One study found that planktivores were most likely to be found on the incurrent side of the reef, where there was an input of zooplankton [9]
- Large species such as Whale Shark or Giant Manta swim through water column with open mouth to catch plankton. Don't need to worry about predators due to size [10]
- Smaller species often found in schools if feeding off reef - subject to more predation [11]
- some species feed off bottom of reef keep belly close to substrate [12]
- Some species are nocturnal (Cardinalfishes, Squirrelfishes) [15]
- Effects of Planktivores
- Affect density and composition of zooplankton passing over reef [18]
- have potential to influence the abundance of larval forms leaving a reef or approaching to settle [19]
- may be important source of coral mortality during coral spawning season (Westneat and Resnig 1988)
- Study at Poor Knights Islands - high biomass of planktivorous fish helped support large population of piscivores [20]
- eat plankton offshore but defecate throughout the day on the reef - fecal material, not zooplankton, actually reaches the reef surface (Hammer et al 1988)
- Physical Properties
- Detritivores
Notes
- ↑ http://www.coralscience.org/main/articles/aquaculture-a-husbandry-4/filter-feeders
- ↑ http://www.coralscience.org/main/articles/aquaculture-a-husbandry-4/filter-feeders
- ↑ http://www.coralscience.org/main/articles/aquaculture-a-husbandry-4/filter-feeders
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/reptiles-amphibians-fish/reef-life/session2/index.html
- ↑ http://nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/reptiles-amphibians-fish/reef-life/session2/index.html
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/48/m048p103.pdf
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/151487/
- ↑ http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/48/m048p103.pdf
- ↑ http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/48/m048p103.pdf
- ↑ http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/48/m048p103.pdf