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The hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus, an economically important, reef-associated protogynous teleost, has gained additional interest from fisheries managers due to evidence of overfishing in the southeastern United States. This study collected data on age and growth of hogfish in southeast Florida (SEFL), an understudied part of the species' range. Hogfish (n = 227) were collected from three reef tracts at different depths between January 2016 and August 2017. The average maximum potential length (L∞) was 414 mm overall and showed evidence of Lee's Phenomenon occurring relative to the eastern Gulf of Mexico, an area of presumed lower fishing pressure, where L∞ was 920 mm. Hogfish growth was also found to vary significantly by reef location in SEFL. Otolith-based aging revealed that SEFL hogfish growth past age 3 significantly decreased as reef depth increased between the three reef tracts [length at age 9 (L9) = 564, 405, 351 mm FL]. By L9, hogfish from the shallowest reef tract (4–6 m) were on average 61% longer and four times the weight of individuals collected from the deepest reef tract (15–25 m). Annual survival also increased with depth (42%, 65%, 73%), with a linear relationship to growth at L9 where R2 = 1.0, indicating there are inherent tradeoffs between growth and longevity in hogfish of southeast Florida.

Understanding ontogenetic linkages among fish habitats is critical for conservation of fish populations and the ecosystems on which they rely. Natural tags such as stable isotopes are effective for investigating ecological questions regarding fish movement and habitat use. We analyzed stable isotopes from sequentially deposited laminae of hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus eye lenses from the eastern Gulf of Mexico (eGOM) to investigate trophic and geographic changes across individual life histories. We documented evidence of 1 to 2 step trophic level increases through δ15N increases. We also observed depth separation at the juvenile stage, evidenced by δ13C variation early in life. These results suggest that adult hogfish in deeper habitats likely inhabited deeper juvenile habitats (i.e. nearshore reefs), while adult hogfish inhabiting shallower adult habitats likely used shallower juvenile habitats (i.e. estuaries). This novel finding for eGOM hogfish contradicts prior literature that solely discusses seagrass as juvenile habitat. We used muscle tissue isotopes to characterize juvenile hogfish habitats and linear discriminant function analysis (LDA) to determine the habitats previously inhabited by adults in this study. The LDA revealed Cedar Key as the most used juvenile hogfish habitat in this study, but more evidence is needed to determine its status as a nursery. This study provides the first evidence for ontogenetic migration of individual hogfish using natural tags as tracers and demonstrates a mechanism for identifying juvenile habitats based on eye lens stable isotope analysis. Identifying ontogenetic patterns and habitat use can help to better conserve stocks and essential fish habitats.

WOS: 000507309200009 In this report, a very intriguing (although isolated) occurrence record of blackbar hogfish, Bodianus speciosus (Bowdich, 1825), is being made, at a significant distance from its known range. This record could be a useful addition to our understanding of alien species and their appearance in new areas, especially considering its relatively large size. The specimen was captured by spearfishing on a rocky bottom at the depth of 11 m in Horozgedigi Bay (Aegean Sea, Turkey, Aliaga, 38 degrees 44'57.5 '' N, 26 degrees 53'47.3 '' E). Standard length (SL), fork length (FL), total length (TL), total net weight (W), age, and stomach content were analysed. The specimen was a 4-year-old female and, measuring 267 mm TL and weighing 354.95 g. Examination of the stomach content indicated that the specimen was feeding on Mollusca and Crustacea. Based on our knowledge on the biology and distribution of the species, the best explanation for its presence in the eastern Mediterranean is translocation, presumably as an aquarium release, which is known, important introduction vector to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Selvagens Islands, which are a marine protected area located at the southernmost point of the Portuguese maritime zone, have been associated with fish harboring ciguatoxins (CTX) and linked to ciguatera fish poisonings. This study reports the results of a field sampling campaign carried out in September 2018 in these remote and rarely surveyed islands. Fifty-six fish specimens from different trophic levels were caught for CTX-like toxicity determination by cell-based assay (CBA) and toxin content analysis by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Notably, high toxicity levels were found in fish with an intermediate position in the food web, such as zebra seabream (Diplodus cervinus) and barred hogfish (Bodianus scrofa), reaching levels up to 0.75 µg CTX1B equivalent kg−1. The LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed that C-CTX1 was the main toxin, but discrepancies between CBA and LC-MS/MS in D. cervinus and top predator species, such as the yellowmouth barracuda (Sphyraena viridis) and amberjacks (Seriola spp.), suggest the presence of fish metabolic products, which need to be further elucidated. This study confirms that fish from coastal food webs of the Selvagens Islands represent a high risk of ciguatera, raising important issues for fisheries and environmental management of the Selvagens Islands. European Food Safety Authority | Ref. GP/EFSA/AFSCO/2015/03 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. PTDC/CTA-AMB/30557/2017 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UID/Multi/04326/2020 Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A-2018/207 Generalitat de Catalunya | Ref. CERCA

The formation of fish spawning aggregations (FSAs) is an essential part of the life history of many economically important fish species; however, their status are often poorly described in the literature either due to their occurrence in remote locations, during seasons with unsafe ocean conditions, or because they move on space and time scales that are difficult to predict and validate. Even in areas that are relatively accessible and heavily fished, such as southeast Florida, regionally relevant information describing FSA dynamics is generally absent from the literature and unaccounted for in existing management plans. We propose that this can be attributed to the fact that information is often held by stakeholders or found in unpublished manuscripts and reports. These sources are not widely disseminated and are therefore difficult to locate and integrate into fisheries management decisions. In this paper, we present a case study demonstrating the value of regional data syntheses as a tool to improve management activities in southeast Florida. Specifically, we engaged with local stakeholders to collect reports of FSA occurrence, and used Web of Science queries to collate information describing the reproductive dynamics of locally occurring snapper and grouper species. Reports were combined with regional FSA literature and provided to managers as a support tool to anticipate FSA occurrence, and to guide policy development and future FSA research. Resource users identified 13 potential aggregations from five species, but Web of Science queries revealed a paucity of information. Echosounder, camera, and fisheries dependent surveys were then used to corroborate reportedly active cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus), hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus), and gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis) aggregations. Variability in the spatiotemporal aspects of FSA occurrence make them difficult to study, but this may also explain how certain species have avoided detrimental impacts from aggregation fishing. These data represent a first step toward describing FSAs that have historically occurred in the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area and can be used by managers to prioritize future research efforts focused on species or hotspots of multispecies activity along the northern extent of the Florida Reef Tract.

The multispecific and multigear character of small scale fisheries is complex and often difficult to understand, especially when basic data necessary for evaluation are scarce. In this study the distribution of spatial and temporal fishing pressure of operative fishery units OU was analysed. Each unit was integrated per vessel which, through similar forms of operation, takes advantage of the same species in the central region of the Gulf of California. The identification of the OU is based on a survey about the forms of operation and they were complemented with the catch data per species collected by the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fishing from 1998 to 2010. A hierarchical cluster analysis was applied and nine OUs were determined, which included: jig-caught jumbo squid; amberjacks with surface fishing nets; octopus with diving gear; groupers with hooks; shark with surface fishing nets; stingrays with bottom-set net; triggerfishes, mojarras, ocean whitefish and hogfish with hooks; weakfish, snappers, parrotfishes and grunts with bottom-set nets; Pacific sierra with surface fishing nets. The interaction processes between OUs are described through thematic maps in relation to the use of fishing areas and pressure by overlapping activities. It is proposed that when the fishermen have more than one fishing permit, they should choose what OU to work. Furthermore, if the permit is for finfish fishing they need to decide in what operative unit it is best to participate, accounting for factors such as abundance, price and distance to the fishing location. All of the OUs are relevant for the economy of the fishermen of the region and their interaction is necessary for maintaining fishery production.

Based on material deposited in collections, photographic records and other reports from fishermen and divers, the occurrence of the hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus (Labridae) is confirmed in the south-western Atlantic Ocean, near the Brazilian coast as far south as southern Brazil. The recognized range of this species should therefore be extended c. 3000 km further south.

A new labrid fish Terelabrus flavocephalus sp. nov., the third species of the genus, is described on the basis of a single specimen collected from the Republic of the Maldives. The new species is characterized by 46 scale rows in longitudinal series; 44 pored lateral-line scales; 13 gill rakers, including rudiments; main supratemporal sensory canal (STC) with 9 branches posteriorly; areas bounded by STC and postotic sensory canals (dorsal view) with embedded scales; least distance between anteroventral margin of orbit and maxilla 0.4 % of standard length; no red blotches superimposed on or extending onto midlateral red stripe; no yellow stripe on dorsal fin when fresh; a vivid yellow stripe extending from below the anterior margin of the orbit to preopercle and a vivid yellow blotch or band on the lower part of the opercle when fresh; a distinct black stripe from the center of the upper lip through the eye to opercular margin in preservation.

In fish reproduction, previous information of ovary oocyte distribution is necessary, when oocytes quantitative estimates are required to estimate batch or annual fecundity. Heterogeneous oocyte distribution requires a standardized sampling protocol to prevent bias in estimates, whereas homogeneous distribution, allows sampling of any portion of gonads with no risk of bias. We studied gonad oocyte distribution patterns in the hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus population from Southern Gulf of Mexico. For this, 23 mature females were selected from a total of 47 individuals exhibiting visible oocytes in the ovaries. These females were classified by reproductive phase and sub-phase (early developing-ED, developing-D, spawning capable-SC and actively spawning-AS). Six histological sections were taken from the anterior, middle and posterior regions of the left and right ovary lobes of each individual. Digital image processing (AxioVision and Image ProPlus programs) was used to estimate oocyte density per unit area, and for different development stages. Contingency tables were used to analyze oocyte distribution frequencies between the regions of each lobe, and between the lobes of each ovary. This was supported with a Pearson’s χ2 test for goodness-of-fit and a replicated G test to confirm distribution heterogeneity. Oocyte stage distribution was homogeneous in almost all 23 females regardless of the ovary lobe. In the left ovary lobe, oocyte distribution was uniform in all three regions sampled regardless the female phase or sub-phase. In the right ovary lobe, oocyte frequencies were similarly uniform for the ED, D and AS phase and sub-phases; nevertheless, during SC phase, some heterogeneity was observed in tertiary vitellogenesis-Vtg3 oocytes, especially in samples from middle and posterior regions of this lobe. Females in AS sub-phase are normally used to estimate batch fecundity in fish such as L. maximus, which has shown to have asynchronous oocyte development and batch spawning. Given the homogeneous oocyte distribution pattern within and between the ovary lobes in females in AS sub-phase, no systematization is required of the gonad histological sampling protocol to estimate species batch fecundity. Nevertheless, due to the heterogeneous Vtg3 oocytes distribution in the right ovary lobe of females in the SC phase, it is best to systematically take sections of any region in the left ovary lobe when conducting a study encompassing all of a species’ reproductive aspects. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (1): 293-303. Epub 2017 March 01. ResumenPara el estudio de la reproducción de los peces es necesario, un conocimiento previo sobre la distribución de los ovocitos en el ovario, así como estimaciones cuantitativas del número de ovocitos para estimar la fecundidad por lote o anual. Una distribución heterogénea exige tener un protocolo de muestreo estandarizado para prevenir sesgos en las estimaciones, mientras que una distribución homogénea permite utilizar muestras de cualquier parte de las gónadas sin riesgo de sesgo. Nosotros estudiamos el patrón de distribución de los ovocitos de la población de la doncella de pluma Lachnolaimus maximus del sur del Golfo de México. Para este propósito, 23 hembras maduras fueron seleccionadas de un total de 47 individuos que presentaron ovocitos observables a simple vista en los ovarios. Estas hembras fueron clasificadas según su fase o sub-fase reproductiva (desarrollo temprano-DT, desarrollo-D, aptitud para desovar-AD y desove activo-DA). Seis secciones histológicas fueron realizadas de las regiones anterior, media y posterior de los lóbulos derecho e izquierdo del ovario de cada individuo. Un procesamiento digital de imágenes (AxioVision e Image ProPlus) fue utilizado para estimar la densidad de los ovocitos, en diferentes estadios de desarrollo, por unidad de área. Las frecuencias de distribución de los ovocitos fueron analizadas entre regiones de un mismo lóbulo y entre lóbulos de cada ovario por medio de tablas de contingencia. Este análisis involucró la aplicación de la prueba de bondad de ajuste del χ2 de Pearson y de la prueba de G replicada en el caso de observar una distribución heterogénea. La mayoría de las 23 hembras analizadas presentó una distribución homogénea de los diferentes estadios de ovocito, en cualquier lóbulo considerado. En el lóbulo ovárico izquierdo, la distribución de los ovocitos fue similar en las tres regiones muestreadas, en cualquier fase o sub-fase de las hembras. En el lóbulo ovárico derecho, las frecuencias de los ovocitos fueron semejantes para las hembras en fase y sub-fases de DT, D y DA; sin embargo, durante la sub-fase de AD, una heterogeneidad en el desarrollo de los ovocitos en vitelogénesis terciaria-Vtg3 fue observada, especialmente en las muestras de las regiones media y posterior de este lóbulo. Las hembras en sub-fase de DA son usualmente utilizadas para estimar la fecundidad por lote en las especies de peces como L. maximus, la cual presenta un desarrollo asincrónico de los ovocitos y realiza desoves sucesivos por lote. Debido al patrón de distribución homogéneo de los ovocitos en y entre los lóbulos ováricos de las hembras en sub-fase de DA, no se requiere estandarizar un protocolo de muestreo histológico de las gónadas para estimar la fecundidad por lote de la especie. Sin embargo, debido a la distribución heterogénea de los ovocitos en Vtg3 en el lóbulo ovárico derecho de las hembras en fase de DA, es preferible tomar sistemáticamente secciones de cualquier región del lóbulo ovárico izquierdo cuando se realiza un estudio que incluye todo los aspectos reproductivos de la especie.

Hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum), have multiple traits that confound measuring reproductive potential: they are protogynous, relatively long-lived harem-forming fish that spawn daily for months. Additionally, recent evidence demonstrates that size, age and timing of sex change vary on a spatial scale within the study area (West Florida shelf, USA). This study investigates the effect of this spatial variation on hogfish reproductive potential by evaluating spawning seasonality, spawning frequency and batch fecundity using an indeterminate egg production model. Offshore females were larger than nearshore females, and batch fecundity was related in a log-linear manner to female size. Gonad histology demonstrated a more protracted reproductive period for females offshore (8 months) than nearshore (4 months). Spatial variations in size coincide with ontogeny because hogfish move offshore with growth; however, even after accounting for fish size, offshore females spawned more. In areas where male removal rates are elevated, spawning harems are disrupted; thus, greater fishing effort nearshore may further reduce the reproductive potential of these females. These nearshore and offshore spawning components of the population are not genetically distinct, but instead represent two contingent spawning strategies that likely enhance total population stability and resilience of this stock in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Bodianus bennetti, n. sp. is described from a single specimen collected at 97 m depth at Flora Reef in the Coral Sea off the Queensland coast of Australia, as well as from images of individuals from Moorea, French Polynesia. The new hogfish is a member of the subgenus Trochocopus, whose members frequent deep-reef habitats, and are amongst the smallest species of this speciose labrid genus. The new species closely resembles two red-striped species, the Western Pacific B. neopercularis and the Indian Ocean B. opercularis, differing from them in consistently lacking a continuation of the ventral red body stripe onto the head. The species was first noticed by the prominent lemon-yellow rather than white intervening stripes (between the red stripes) in the first specimens, although subsequently the stripe color was observed to vary from lemon-yellow to white in the same individual. The mtDNA COI barcode sequence of the new species is compared to one of these two closely related species and five additional members of the subgenus, revealing the new species to be 4.3% divergent (K2P and uncorrected pairwise) from its nearest-neighbor sequence, B. neopercularis (based on a specimen from Micronesia).

Although sea urchins can strongly influence the structure of benthic communities and are abundant in the Galapagos Islands, factors mediating predation on urchins have not been studied experimentally. Here, we examine how habitat structure and behavioral patterns of prey influence predation on the pencil urchin Eucidaris galapagensis , an abundant grazer in rocky subtidal habitats. Results indicate that the distribution, abundance and body sizes of E. galapagensis vary predictably by habitat in the central Galapagos. Urchins were five times more abundant and significantly smaller in rubble than in exposed ledge habitats. We thus hypothesized that rubble habitats provide a refuge from predation, and conducted tethering manipulations using small and large urchins as prey. Predation by the hogfish, Bodianus diplotaenia , triggerfishes, and the sea star Pentaceraster cumingi , was significantly higher in exposed than in rubble habitats for small urchins, indicating that rubble habitats represent a refuge. In addition, urchin activity over a 24-hour period indicated that E. galapagensis were significantly more abundant on exposed substrate at night than during the day as they emerged from refugia at dusk. Since the fish that prey on E. galapagensis are predominantly diurnal, we suggest that the nocturnal activity patterns of the urchins represent a predator avoidance strategy. These results underscore the importance of considering spatial refugia and prey behavior in investigations of top-down control of sea urchins in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

Life history traits of hogfish, a hermaphroditic reef fish, varied between samples from the Florida Keys (south Florida) and the eastern Gulf of Mexico (eastern gulf). Differences in female survivorship were associated with a higher spawning stock biomass-per-recruit (SSB/R) in the eastern gulf than in south Florida (5.3 vs. 2.2 kg). Relative to a virtual, unfished population, SSB/R was 38% in the eastern gulf but only 16% in south Florida. Regional differences in batch fecundity contributed to higher lifetime fecundity in the eastern gulf compared to south Florida (9.7 vs. 2.1 million eggs). Relative to a virtual, unfished population, lifetime fecundity was still about 38% in the eastern gulf but only 8% in south Florida. Lifetime fecundity is not easy to measure, but the results here demonstrate how the SSB/R model can overstate the resiliency of fish stocks to recruitment overfishing. Both models, along with a previously published yield-per-recruit model, demonstrate the potential benefits to yield and recruitment that could result from an increase in the minimum size limit of hogfish.

The seasonality, size, age, colour phases and sexual dimorphism of 13 reproductive classes of hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus are described. Analysis of histological sections of gonads (n = 1662) confirmed earlier conclusions that L. maximus is a monandric, protogynous hermaphrodite. Sex change was initiated at the end of the spawning season and over a broad range of sizes and ages. It occurred after a functional female phase (postmaturation) and proceeded more slowly (months) than previously believed. Eventually all individuals changed sex to a terminal male phase. Females were batch spawners, spawning as often as every day during winter and spring. There was no evidence of precocious sperm crypts in active females, sperm competition or other alternative male sexual strategies. Mating has been reported elsewhere to be haremic. The sexual development of L. maximus appears to be adaptive in terms of Ghiselin’s size-advantage model, which links monandric protogyny and polygyny. The slow rate of sex change, however, poses problems when fishing pressure is high because harvest of a single male has the potential to reduce the reproductive output of an entire harem.

We examine the influence of reserve size and boundary length on the relative rate of fish density change in reserves versus fished reference reefs for three exploitable-sized reef fish categories: (1) combined fish (34 species of Haemulidae, Lutjanidae, Serranidae, and hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus); (2) Haemulidae (13 species); and (3) Lutjanidae (9 species). If reef habitat boundaries are highly permeable to fish movements then fish recovery within a reserve would be inversely proportional to: reserve perimeter (RP)/total reserve area (RA) (RP/RA). If, however, reef habitat boundaries are relatively impermeable barriers to fish movements, recovery within the reserve would be inversely proportional to: reserve boundary that intersects reef habitat (HI)/reef habitat area within the reserve (HA) (HI/HA). From 1994 to 2001 we monitored reef fishes within and outside of no-take marine reserves established in 1997 in the Florida Keys, USA. A significant majority of reserves had greater rates of density change than reference reefs for Lutjanidae and combined fish (22 of 24 reserves for both categories). Significantly higher rates of density change were found in ten reserves for Lutjanidae, two reserves for combined fish, and one reserve for Haemulidae. Reserves appeared to promote an increased density of exploitable fishes. A significant, negative, but weakly correlated relationship was found between the relative rate of density change (RDC) for combined fish and the HI/HA ratio. Reserve size and placement appeared to have a minimal effect upon RDC.

Monthly visual surveys of reef fish populations in the Florida Keys were conducted from May to September of 1999 and April to December of 2000 using both strip transect and stationary point count sampling methods. Each month divers using SCUBA conducted three 10 m × 30 m transect surveys and three 5 m radius stationary point counts at 26 sites selected using a habitat based, stratified random design procedure. During both sampling procedures divers enumerated and assigned to 5 cm size increments all groupers (Serranidae), snappers (Lutjanidae), hogfish (Labridae), angelfish (Pomacanthidae), butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae), triggerfish (Balistidae), and a few other species of recreational or commercial importance. The rationale behind this sampling design was to assess the differential vulnerability of the various species and size classes to the lower behavioral disturbance/smaller area point count technique as compared to the higher disturbance/larger area transect method, and to assess which method would produce the highest density estimates and census the largest number of individuals per unit of sampling effort for size structure determinations. Although both types of samples required about the same amount of diver effort to complete, approximately 1.5 times more individuals were recorded during transect surveys. However, since transect surveys encompassed 4.3 times as much area as point counts, observed densities averaged about three times higher for point count samples. There was considerable variation among species with respect to this pattern, with total numbers of individuals for the 10 most abundant species ranging from about equal to 4.5 times higher during transect surveys, while densities ranged from nearly equal to about 6 times higher during point counts. Length frequencies within species were generally very similar between the two methods, though a higher proportion of larger individuals was recorded for a few species during transect surveys. Since previous studies have strongly indicated that visual census techniques produce underestimates of true reef fish densities, the higher and presumably more accurate density estimates provided by the point count method, along with other factors such as presumed increases in accuracy of counts and size estimates associated with increased observation time of individual fishes, led us to select this method for our future surveys.

Although sea urchins are critical for controlling macroalgae on heavily fished coral reefs, high densities threaten reefs, as urchins are also prodigous bioeroders. This study examined urchin population characteristics, bioerosion rates, their fish predators (Labridae), and potential competitors (Scaridae) on unprotected reefs and a reef within a marine protected area (MPA) in the lagoonal regions off Belize. Urchin density (

Two new species of the labrid genus Bodianus are described from deep shelf and upper slope waters of eastern Australia, New Zealand, and the submarine ridges south‐east and south‐west of New Caledonia. Bodianus flavipinnis sp. nov., living in shelf waters of eastern Australia and New Zealand, is most similar to B. unimaculatus and other species of the B. oxycephalus complex, differing from them most noticeably in lacking prominent broken red stripes in both adult stages. Bodianus flavifrons sp. nov., found on slopes of submarine ridges, is closely related to B. frenchii of southern Australian waters. It differs from that species in having distinctive broad yellow bands on the head. The new species and their close relatives constitute the subgenus Bodianus (Verreo), with a subtropical to warm temperate distribution. A key to the species of the subgenus is provided.

The massive reduction in sea urchin Diadema antillarum populations since the mid-1980s has been associated with large increases in the abundance of fleshy algae on many Caribbean reefs despite the availability of other sea urchin and finfish grazers. This study examined the ecology of a grazer living sympatrically with D. antillarum, the common and abundant sea urchin Echinometra viridis. I examined the role that finfish and invertebrate predators play in controlling the distribution of E. viridis as well as the ability of this sea urchin to control exposed fleshy algae on the patch reefs of the Glovers Reef Atoll lagoon. I found that the major predators of this sea urchin were Calamus bajonado (jolthead porgy), Balistes vetula and Canthidermis sufflamen (queen and ocean triggerfish), Lachnolaimus maximus (hogfish), and a gastropod, probably Cassis madagascariensis. The abundance of E. viridis is constrained by predation, which restricts E. viridis to cryptic locations, such as crevices. Sea urchins bit a smaller percentage of experimental algal assays than finfish. Finfish herbivory was associated positively with patch reef topographic complexity. Unexpectedly, E. viridis abundance was positively correlated with fleshy algal abundance, but negatively correlated with the frequency of finfish bites. Predators restrict E. viridis to crevices and therefore reduce their influence on exposed fleshy algae, even at moderately high population densities (up to 10 per square meter). Since net benthic primary production of coral reefs is most strongly associated with herbivory on exposed surfaces, it would appear that E. viridis is unable to maintain the same production as reefs dominated by D. antillarum.

Bodianus atrolumbus (Valenciennes 1839), a labrid fish of the southwest Indian Ocean (type locality Mauritius), was placed in the synonymy of B. perditio (Quoy & Gaimard), antitropical in the Pacific Ocean (type locality Tonga), by Smith (1949) who reported the first record for southern Africa. Juveniles of both species are mostly the same in color, featuring a white bar in the middle of the body, followed dorsally by a large black area. The white bar develops into an oval yellow area dorsally on the body in B. perditio, whereas it narrows to a spindle-shaped whitish to pink mark on the upper body that extends below the lateral line in B. atrolumbus. An analysis of the mitochondrial DNA barcode sequence (COI) from specimens collected from all quadrants of the the species’ range reveals that the two species are 3.91% different (K2P minimum interspecific distance), while intraspecific variation is no more than 0.34%. A phenetic tree of barcode sequences for twenty Bodianus species is presented, showing that pairwise species differences range from 1.97% to 21.74%, with Indian/Pacific sibling-species pairs accounting for the lower range of divergences (1.97% to 4.64%). A modal difference in the count of gill rakers and the distinctly shorter pectoral fins of B. atrolumbus additionally differentiate it from B. perditio.

This work reports Bodianus rufus (Labridae) cleaning three clients with nocturnal habits, Rypticus saponaceus (Serranidae), Myripristis jacobus (Holocentridae) and Odontoscion dentex (Sciaenidae) during the day. Our data reinforces the hypothesis that the proximity of temporary cleaning stations to nocturnal fish shelters reduces the exposure of clients to potential predators.

The largely sedentary behavior of many fishes on coral reefs is well established. Information on the movement behavior of individual fish, over fine temporal and spatialscales, however, continues to be limited. It is precisely this type of information that is critical for evaluating the success of marine reserves designed for the conservation and/or management of vagile fishes. In this pilot study we surgically-tagged eight hogfish(Lachnolaimus maximus Walbaum 1792) with coded-acoustic transmitters inside the Conch Reef Research Only Area (a no-take marine reserve) in the northern Florida KeysNational Marine Sanctuary. Our primary objective was to characterize the movement of L. maximus across Conch Reef in the vicinity of the reserve. All fish were captured,surgically-tagged and released in situ during a saturation mission to the Aquarius Undersea Laboratory, which is located in the center of the reserve. Movement of taggedL. maximus was recorded for up to 95 days by three acoustic receivers deployed on the seafloor. Results showed clear diel patterns in L. maximus activity and regular movementamong the receivers was recorded for seven of the eight tagged fish. Fidelity of tagged fish to the area of release was high when calculated at the scale of days, while within-day fidelity was comparatively low when calculated at the scale of hours. While the number of fish departures from the array also varied, the majority of departures for seven of the eight fish did not exceed 1-hr (with the exception of one 47-day departure), suggesting that when departures occurred, the fish did not travel far. Future efforts will significantly expand the number of receivers at Conch Reef such that fish movement behavior relative to the reserve boundaries can be quantified with increased temporal and spatial resolution. (PDF contains 22 pages.)

Marine reserves are widely considered to potentially benefit reef fisheries through emigration, yet the empirical basis for predicting the extent of this for small reserves is weak. The effects of fishing pressure and habitat on biomass and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of three species of exploited reef fish were studied at South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands. Distribution and abundance of hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) and white margate (Haemulon album) were inversely correlated with cover of fleshy macroalgae. Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) were positively associated with vertical relief, but were unaffected by algal cover. Mean size, density, and biomass of hogfish were higher in a small (4 km2) marine reserve than on fished reefs, as was biomass of white margate. CPUE of hogfish was inversely related to distance from the centre of the reserve, suggesting that spillover of this species from the reserve to adjacent reefs may enhance local yields, possibly providing economic incentives for fishers to comply with reserve regulations. Fishing pressure, however, had no apparent effect on Nassau grouper. Larger fishes and those that migrate to spawn, such as economically valuable Nassau grouper, may move over too large a range to be effectively protected by small marine reserves. Small reserves may not protect all fish, but they can increase the biomass of smaller or more sedentary reef fishes and may be a useful tool for the conservation or management of species such as hogfish. Other policy options, such as seasonal spawning closures or total allowable catches, need to be considered for larger, more mobile fishes in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The red lionfish, a native of the eastern Pacific, appears to be spreading rapidly around Florida, the eastern seaboard and the Caribbean to growing alarm from marine biologists. The fish feeds on native coral reef species, worrying conservationists, and its fearsome venomous spines seem to deter most potential predators.Alarm about the impact of the growing numbers of the fish prompted managers of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary last month to take the unprecedented step of licensing hundreds of divers to catch the fish in the reserve where no other species are allowed to be taken. “We want people to get out there and kill as many as possible,” says Sean Morton, superintendent of the reserve.Target: Marine reserve managers in Florida have licensed hundreds of divers to kill the red lionfish, an alien believed to be causing major damage to native reef species. (Photo: Isabelle Cote.)View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint SlideResearchers are not sure how the fish got to the Atlantic and Caribbean but some suggest they may have arrived from a damaged beachside aquarium during hurricane Andrew in 1992.To encourage divers to hunt the fish, local competitions have been set up to see who can catch the most. The Environment Education Foundation hosted its third ‘lionfish derby’ last month off Florida, outside the reserve, with more than $3,000 in prize money for the team catching the most fish — 109 were killed.In the waters around the Bahamas, which don't have the same protection as Florida Keys, more than 2,000 lionfish have been killed over the past two years.“People have a sense that the waters they love are being invaded,” says Renata Lana, a spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This year, the agency launched an ‘eat lionfish’ campaign aimed at creating a market for them in seafood restaurants and thus further prompting divers to hunt them.NOAA calls the lionfish a “delicious, delicately flavoured fish” with a taste and texture similar to grouper, snapper or hogfish. A few restaurants in the US and the Caribbean are now serving it. But “it is tough for me to get,” says chef James Clark in South Carolina. “Sometimes fishermen do not want to handle it on their boat.”Scuba divers are experimenting with new ways to eliminate the lionfish, developing new spears to catch the fish. “Six months ago, I hadn't seen one,” says Jason Doty, in Florida. “Now I will kill 12 in one dive.”But, in spite of the battle, researchers fear that the lionfish could become one of the worst marine invasions of an alien species in history. We probably cannot completely eradicate lionfish. Only nature can do that, says one researcher.Scientists agree hunting may help, but it won't halt the incredible population boom of lionfish that has seen densities increase 700 per cent from 2004 to 2008.“The government is promoting lionfish as a do-good dish that helps to balance ocean ecology,” says Lana. It is one of the few examples of a species that cannot be overfished. “It's one of the few fish people can eat out of existence with a clear conscience”, she says.

New records of fishes for the Red Sea include the Indian Oil Sardine, Sardinella longiceps Valenciennes, based on two specimens obtained in the fish market of Hurghada, Egypt; the Needle Pipehorse, Kyonemichthys rumengani Gomon from a single specimen from Hamata, Egypt; the Herring Scad, Alepes vari (Cuvier), from an underwater photograph taken at the Hanish Islands at the southern end of the Red Sea; and the Twospot Hogfish, Bodianus bimaculatus Allen, from an underwater photograph taken of a subadult off Jeddah. An underwater photograph of the Cinnabar Goatfish, Parupeneus heptacanthus (Lacepede), taken at Marsa Alam, Egypt was first misidentified as P. procerigena Kim & Amaoka; a comparison of these two species is provided. The range of the Blackblotched Porcupinefish, Diodon liturosus Shaw, is extended from the southern to the northern Red Sea. Three individuals that were photographed in Egypt had numerous small black spots on the fins. The species lacks spots on the fins elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region.

Barcoding has proven a useful tool in the rapid identification of all life stages of fish species. Such information is of critical importance for fisheries management and conservation, especially in high-diversity regions, such as Mexico’s marine waters, where more than 2200 species occur. The present study reports the barcode analysis of 1392 specimens from the Yucatan Peninsula, corresponding to 610 adults and juveniles, 757 larvae and 25 eggs, representing 181 species (179 teleosts and 2 rays), 136 genera and 74 families. Barcoding results revealed major range extensions and overlooked taxa, including three sympatric species of Albula (one likely undescribed) and a new taxon of Floridichthys. In total, six species of eggs and 34 species of larvae were identified through their barcode match with adults. These cases enabled the first discrimination of the larvae of four species of Eucinostomus, and new information about spawning locality and time was obtained from egg records for the hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus, which is one of the most commercially important species in the Mexican Caribbean. Also, barcodes revealed mistakes in species recognition during a sport-fish contest. In the future, barcodes will help avoid similar errors and protect rare or endangered species, and will aid regulation of fisheries quotas.

Nerocila benrosei n. sp. is described from the hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum), and the Spanish hogfish, Bodianus rufus rufus (Linnaeus), (Perciformes: Labridae) from the northern Bahamas. Nerocila benrosei differs from all species of Nerocila by having the body of females 1.4-1.9 times as wide as long, instead of 2.0-3.0 times, and pleopods 1 and 2 lacking accessory lamellae. It differs from the only species of Nerocila with which it overlaps geographically, N. lanceolata (Say, 1818), by having the lateral margins of pleonites 1-5 strongly produced ventrally, coxae 5-7 manifestly shorter than the posterolateral projection of the respective pereonite, and a vaulted dorsal surface. The species of Nerocila in the northwestern Atlantic have almost mutually exclusive geographic ranges: New England to Panama, including Bermuda and the northern coast of Cuba (Nerocila lanceolata); Brazil to Trinidad and Tobago (Nerocila fluviatilis Schiodte and Meinert, 1881); and the northern Bahamas and Bermuda (Nerocila benrosei). No species of Nerocila have been reported from the insular Caribbean. Nerocila benrosei appears to be highly host and site specific. The hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum)) is the larg- est (up to 70 cm and 11.4 kg) and most commercially important wrasse (Family Labridae) in the West Indies and ranges from Brazil to North Carolina. It is resistant to overexploitation by trap and line fishing, but numbers have been greatly reduced in many parts of the Caribbean by spear fishing (Williams and Bunkley-Williams, unpubl. data). This distinctive wrasse is an excellent food fish with firm, white, and mildly flavored flesh but is prone to have ciguatera toxins. The Spanish hogfish (Bod- ianus rufus (Linnaeus)) is a smaller, colorful West Indian wrasse of little food fish importance. We have found isopods (Gnathia spp. (Gnathiidae) and Ro- cinela signata Schibdte (Aegidae)) frequently infecting the gills and sometimes the body of hogfish, and occasionally Spanish hogfish, throughout the West Indies. When we were describing new species of large, external, host-specific cymothoid isopods (Anilocra spp.) from West Indian coral reef fishes (Williams and Williams, 1981), we learned of a large, external, host-spe- cific cymothoid isopod on hogfishes in the northern Bahamas.

Three species of wrasses (Labridae) were examined in the field to determine the relative importance of size and sex in structuring social organization. The Spanish hogfish, Bodianus rufus, was characterized by stable dominance hierarchies that were linearly organized according to sex and relative size. Males were the largest and most-dominant individuals within discrete social groups of females (harems) whose dominance increased with body size. Dominance rank also increased with body size among both males and females of the Mexican hogfish, B. diplotaenia. Most encounters occurred between the sexes and males were clearly dominant over females. The vieja, B. eclancheri, differed from the other congeners since social interactions were not strongly patterned by either relative body size or sex. Hogfish dominance relationships appear to develop according to the manner in which males compete for females, including the formation of harems in permanent territories with single-male pairspawns (B. rufus), defense of temporary reproductive territories with single-male pairspawns (B. diplotaenia) or maximizing sperm production in multi-male group spawns (B. eclancheri).

Cleaning activity at specific cleaning stations was monitored over a depth range of 15–45 m at Salt River Submarine Canyon, St. Croix using the HYDROLAB underwater habitat. We observed over 4600 cleaning events involving 32 host species. Cleaners included the fishesGobiosoma evelynae (cleaning goby), juvenileBodianus rufus (Spanish hogfish) and juvenileThalassoma bifasciatum (bluehead wrasse) and the shrimpPericlimenes pedersoni, often active simultaneously at the same stations. Although cleaning was observed to depths of 30 m, the greatest density of cleaning fishes occurred at a sharp break in the bottom contour at 15 m.Clepticus parrae was the dominant fish cleaned by fishes (80% of events), and the graysby,Petrometopon cruentatum, was most frequently cleaned byPericlimenes. Cleaning was initiated byGobiosoma at 0600 to 0630 h and continued throughout the day as intense bouts of cleaning activity were interspersed with periods of relative calm.Bodianus patrolled areas of several meters and would sometimes rise over a meter above the substrate to initiate cleaning. In contrast, gobies were much more restricted in both lateral and vertical movements.Gobiosoma andBodianus cleaned 3104 and 1346 hosts during the study compared to only 207 forThalassoma. This study of a deeper reef area shows significantly more cleaning activity byBodianus and much less byThalassoma than has been reported from other studies in shallower water

Functional limitations on feeding ability were investigated in the mollusc-crushing Caribbean hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus (Labridae). Two constraints were proposed to limit the maximum size prey L. maximus can eat: pharyngeal jaw gape and crushing force. These factors yield diflferent quantitative expectations for the relationship between fish size and maximum prey size. Their relative importance for predation on a frequently consumed gastropod (Cerithium litteratum) was investigated in laboratory performance tests designed to determine the largest snails fish could eat. Cerithium predation was found to be force limited rather than gape limited. The importance of this functional constraint in determining the largest Cerithium consumed by wild fish was examined by comparing hogfish feeding capability, as determined by the performance tests, to the maximum size snails found in the stomach contents of field-collected fish. Crushing ability appears to limit Cerithium predation in natural fish populations. The utility of performance testing for determining the functional and ecological importance of morphology is discussed.