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Fish predation on sea urchins on the Great Barrier Reef

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Abstract

Predators are important for regulating adult sea urchin densities. Here, we employ remote underwater video cameras to record diurnal predation on tethered sea urchins at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). We identified four fish predators of adult sea urchins (Balistoides viridescens, Balistapus undulatus, Lethrinus atkinsoni and Choerodon schoenleinii). Predator activity appeared to be site-specific. Balistoides viridescens and B. undulatus (f: Balistidae) were the two most important predators of Echinometra mathaei with the former handling E. mathaei significantly faster (mean 0.7 min) than B. undulatus (5.2 min). Balistoides viridescens also successfully preyed on 70 % of detections, while C. schoenleinii, B. undulatus and L. atkinsoni preyed on just 33, 17 and <1 %, respectively. Additionally, B. viridescens were behaviourally dominant among predator species and were observed as aggressors in 30 encounters with B. undulatus and 8 encounters with L. atkinsoni. In only one encounter was B. viridescens the recipient of any aggression (from B. undulatus). In terms of relative vulnerability, of the three sea urchin species examined, E. mathaei were more vulnerable to predation than Diadema setosum or Echinothrix calamaris, with mean handling times of 1.2, 4.8 and 10.3 min, respectively. Balistoides viridescens and B. undulatus both appear to be able to play an important role as predators of sea urchins on the relatively intact coral reefs of Lizard Island. However, B. viridescens emerge as the most efficient predator in terms of handling speed and the proportion of detections preyed upon. They were also the behaviourally dominant predator. This preliminary study of the predators of sea urchins on the GBR highlights the potential significance of relatively scarce but functionally important species.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the staff of the Lizard Island Research Station (an Australian Museum facility) for the provision of logistical support and facilities. Thanks also to Mike Cappo for assistance with identifications and to Ron Schroeder and Carine Lefèvre for invaluable support in the field. Financial support for the project was made available by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    M. A. L. Young & D. R. Bellwood

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  1. M. A. L. Young
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  2. D. R. Bellwood
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Correspondence to M. A. L. Young.

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Young, M.A.L., Bellwood, D.R. Fish predation on sea urchins on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs 31, 731–738 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-012-0905-0

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