Journal article
Biomass and distribution of herbivorous blennies in the southern Great Barrier Reef
Journal of Fish Biology, Vol.56(4), pp.774-791
2000
Abstract
At the small scale (<1 m2), a correlation between microhabitat availability and abundance of comb–toothed blennies was apparent at Heron Island. Investigation of medium scale (>20 m2) differences, showed that community structure and biomass of herbivorous blennies differed among the 14 geomorphological zones identified. Large scale differences (>10 km2), detected using comparisons between Heron, Lady Elliot and North West reefs, revealed that species composition and biomass, but not density, differed significantly. At Heron Reef, density and biomass of comb–toothed blennies exceeded published estimates for most groups of conspicuous herbivorous fish in equivalent zones. The influence of scale on interpretation of patterns of fish distribution and the role of inconspicuous grazers such as comb–toothed blennies, deserves closer attention.
Details
- Title
- Biomass and distribution of herbivorous blennies in the southern Great Barrier Reef
- Authors
- K. A Townsend (Author) - University of QueenslandI. R Tibbetts (Author) - University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Journal of Fish Biology, Vol.56(4), pp.774-791
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2000.tb00871.x
- ISSN
- 1095-8649
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science and Engineering - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99548308002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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