Experimental removal of piscivorous groupers of the genus Cephalopholis (Serranidae) from coral habitats in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red-Sea)

Muki Shpigel, Lev Fishelson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Elimination of adult groupers (Cephalopholis spp.) from various reef formations in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) resulted in replenishment by other predatory fishes of different taxa and only partly (21.6%) by species of the same genus. Three years later, the initial population composition had not been restored. Recolonization by juvenile groupers presumably settling from the plankton was only 11.3%. Censuses of the typical piscine prey of groupers, before and 36 months after the removal of Cephalopholis, showed virtually no change in abundace and species composition.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)131-138
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Biology of Fishes
Volume31
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1991
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Predator removal
  • Prey
  • Reef fish community

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Experimental removal of piscivorous groupers of the genus Cephalopholis (Serranidae) from coral habitats in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red-Sea)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this