Diversity among Macroalgae-Consuming Fishes on Coral Reefs: A Transcontinental Comparison

Despite significant differences in the diversity and biomass of macroalgae-consuming fishes between Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia) and the Keppel Islands (Great Barrier Reef), only four species dominated Sargassum consumption in both systems. Ningaloo exhibited 23 species feeding on brown algae, compared to just eight in the Keppel Islands, with an order of magnitude higher biomass of herbivorous fishes. Naso unicornis and Kyphosus vaigiensis emerged as consistent dominant feeders across both sites. This transcontinental comparison highlights the functional redundancy of key herbivore species, underscoring their critical role in coral reef resilience despite spatial variations in community composition.

Vergés, A., Bennett, S., & Bellwood, D. R. (2012). Diversity among Macroalgae-Consuming Fishes on Coral Reefs: A Transcontinental Comparison. PLoS ONE, 7(9), e45543. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0045543