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The Ecology of Coral Reef Top Predators in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
- Source :
- Journal of Marine Biology, Vol 2011 (2011)
- Publication Year :
- 2011
- Publisher :
- Hindawi Limited, 2011.
-
Abstract
- Coral reef habitats in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) are characterized by abundant top-level predators such as sharks and jacks. The predator assemblage is dominated both numerically and in biomass by giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) and Galapagos sharks (Carcharhinus galapagensis). A lower diversity of predatory teleosts, particularly groupers and snappers, distinguishes the PMNM from other remote, unfished atolls in the Pacific. Most coral reef top predators are site attached to a “home” atoll, but move extensively within these atolls. Abundances of the most common sharks and jacks are highest in atoll fore reef habitats. Top predators within the PMNM forage on a diverse range of prey and exert top-down control over shallow-water reef fish assemblages. Ecological models suggest ecosystem processes may be most impacted by top predators through indirect effects of predation. Knowledge gaps are identified to guide future studies of top predators in the PMNM.
- Subjects :
- geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
biology
Ecology
Coral reef fish
Carcharhinus galapagensis
Atoll
Coral reef
Aquatic Science
biology.organism_classification
Predation
Fishery
lcsh:Oceanography
lcsh:Biology (General)
Caranx
Animal Science and Zoology
lcsh:GC1-1581
Reef
lcsh:QH301-705.5
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Apex predator
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 16879481
- Volume :
- 2011
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Marine Biology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....601056d055f41609b9ec95b1a5c20535