Fish feces reveal diverse nutrient sources for coral reefs
Type | Article | ||||||||||||
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Date | 2023-08 | ||||||||||||
Language | English | ||||||||||||
Author(s) | Van Wert Jacey C.1, Ezzat Leïla1, 2, Munsterman Katrina S.1, 3, Landfield Kaitlyn1, Schiettekatte Nina M. D.4, Parravicini Valeriano5, Casey Jordan M.6, Brandl Simon J.6, Burkepile Deron E.1, 7, Eliason Erika J.1 | ||||||||||||
Affiliation(s) | 1 : Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA, USA 2 : MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD Montpellier, France 3 : Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI, USA 4 : Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Kāne'ohe HI ,USA 5 : PSL Université Paris: EPHE‐UPVD‐CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE Université de Perpignan Perpignan ,France 6 : Department of Marine Science The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute Port Aransas TX ,USA 7 : Marine Science Institute University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA, USA |
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Source | Ecology (0012-9658) (Wiley), 2023-08 , Vol. 104 , N. 8 , P. e4119 (15p.) | ||||||||||||
DOI | 10.1002/ecy.4119 | ||||||||||||
WOS© Times Cited | 1 | ||||||||||||
Keyword(s) | consumers, coral reefs, egestion, feces, nutrient cycling, reef fish | ||||||||||||
Abstract | Consumers mediate nutrient cycling through excretion and egestion across most ecosystems. In nutrient-poor tropical waters such as coral reefs, nutrient cycling is critical for maintaining productivity. While the cycling of fish-derived inorganic nutrients via excretion has been extensively investigated, the role of egestion for nutrient cycling has remained poorly explored. We sampled the fecal contents of 570 individual fishes across 40 species, representing six dominant trophic guilds of coral reef fishes in Moorea, French Polynesia. We measured fecal macro- (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids) and micro-nutrients (calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc) and compared the fecal nutrient quantity and quality across trophic guilds, taxa, and body size. Macro- and micronutrient concentrations in fish feces varied markedly across species. Genera and trophic guild best predicted fecal nutrient concentrations. In addition, nutrient composition in feces was unique among species within both trophic guilds (herbivores and corallivores) and genera (Acanthurus and Chaetodon). Particularly, certain coral reef fishes (e.g., Thalassoma hardwicke, Chromis xanthura, Chaetodon pelewensis and Acanthurus pyroferus) harbored relatively high concentrations of micronutrients (e.g., Mn, Mg, Zn and Fe, respectively) that are known to contribute to ocean productivity and positively impact coral physiological performances. Given the nutrient-rich profiles across reef fish feces, conserving holistic reef fish communities ensures the availability of nutritional pools on coral reefs. We therefore suggest that better integration of consumer egestion dynamics into food web models and ecosystem-scale processes will facilitate an improved understanding of coral reef functioning. |
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