Post-larval French grunts (Haemulon flavolineatum) distinguish between seagrass, mangrove and coral reef water: Implications for recognition of potential nursery habitats

Chantal M Huijbers; E M Mollee; I Nagelkerken

doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2008.01.004

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Post-larval French grunts (Haemulon flavolineatum) distinguish between seagrass, mangrove and coral reef water: Implications for recognition of potential nursery habitats

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Post-larval French grunts (Haemulon flavolineatum) distinguish between seagrass, mangrove and coral reef water: Implications for recognition of potential nursery habitats

Chantal M Huijbers, E M Mollee and I Nagelkerken

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Vol.357(2), pp.134-139

2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2008.01.004

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Abstract

chemical senses

habitat detection

haemulidae

mangroves

reef fishes

seagrasses

Environmental cues like sound, magnetic field, oceanic currents, water chemistry or habitat structure are believed to play an important role in the orientation of reef fish towards their settlement habitat. Some species of coral reef fish are known to use seagrass beds and mangroves as juvenile habitats. Once oceanic larvae of these fish have located a coral reef from the open ocean, they still have to find embayments or lagoons harbouring these juvenile habitats. The sensory mechanisms that are used for this are still unknown. In the present study, experiments were conducted to investigate if recruits of the Frenchgrunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) respond to habitat differences in water type, as mangrove/seagrass water may differ in biotic and abiotic compounds from coral reef water. Our results show that post-larvae of a reef fish that is highly associated with mangroves and seagrass beds during its juvenile life stage, choose significantly more often for water from mangroves and seagrass beds than for water from the coral reef. These results provide a more detailed insight in the mechanisms that play a role in the detection of these juvenile habitats.

Details

Title: Post-larval French grunts (Haemulon flavolineatum) distinguish between seagrass, mangrove and coral reef water: Implications for recognition of potential nursery habitats
Authors: Chantal M Huijbers (Author) - Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
E M Mollee (Author) - Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
I Nagelkerken (Author) - Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
Publication details: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Vol.357(2), pp.134-139
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2008
DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2008.01.004
ISSN: 0022-0981
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450374102621
Output Type: Journal article

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