Padrões espaciais e temporais na predação do coral construtor Montastrea Cavernosa e de algas calcarias incrustantes por budiões (Pisces: Labridae: Scarinae e Sparisomatinae) no Banco dos Abrolhos, BA

Abstract

The benefits of herbivory by parrotfishes in reef systems have been relatively well studied. However, in recent years some studies have put these benefits in check. Although they feed preferentially on algae may also consume the parrotfish and coral encrusting coralline algae (ACIs), thus compromising the growth and reproduction of corals and facilitating the colonization of open spaces by non-builders. The study presented here aims to describe the spatial and temporal dynamics in density and biomass of parrotfish in the Abrolhos Bank and its relation to predation of coral Montastrea carvenosa and ACIs. The parrotfish and the two functional groups (scrapers and excavators) showed distinct spatial patterns. There was no temporal variation in the density and biomass of parrotfish. This same pattern was observed for coverage area and relative preyed on M. cavernosa and ACIs. Encrusting coralline algae covered by epilithic algae (ACICS) were the only organisms that are influenced by density and biomass of scrapers excavators. It registered a strong positive influence of biomass Sc. trispinosus in coverage without encrusting coralline algae coverage epilithic algae (ACISs) and M. cavernosa. The absence of temporal variation in the area preyed on M. cavernosa may be due to (1) low intensity of predation to detect temporal patterns clear, (2) low density and biomass of the top predator of coral, Sp.amplum, and (3) low preference for this coral parrotfish. In addition, predation on ACICS is probably beneficial for the reef system, since this substrate is competition areas between epilithic IACs and algae. Our results indicate that the parrotfish play beneficial effect on corals, stressing the need for conservation of this threatened group of overfishing.