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Low density populations of anemonefish with low replenishment rates on a reef edge with anthropogenic impacts

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Abstract

The population dynamics of anemonefish are expected to have unique patterns because of the symbiotic relationship with host anemones. Recent anthropogenic impacts may affect the abundance of anemones, which may also affect population dynamics of anemonefish. However, long-term field studies and demographic data on reproduction, immigration, and mortality rates are deficient. Here, we investigated the dynamics of anemonefish for 3 years on the reef edge with anthropogenic impacts of Okinawa-jima Island, southern Japan. During the study period, six species of host anemone were used as spawning grounds by four species of anemonefish, and as nurseries by six species of immature anemonefish. The density of breeding pairs was low (0.21–1.46 /ha), which may have been restricted by the abundance of host anemones. Survival rates were different among species; from 0.21 to 1.00 over 3 years. Ten cases of dissolution of breeding pairs were observed during the 3 years, and only five pairs were replenished. Through the study period, 215 individuals of six species of immature fish immigrated into the study site, and this number was skewed due to higher numbers of Amphiprion clarkii (77.7%). Demographic patterns differed among species, and requirements for conservation will therefore be different among species on the reef edges of Okinawa-jima Island under anthropogenic impact.

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Acknowledgements

We thank MISE and Tachihara laboratory members (University of the Ryukyus) who gave advice and helped with field work during this study. We also thank Okinawa Prefectural Archives for sharing historical aerial photographs. Two anonymous reviewers greatly improved an earlier version of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan

    Kina Hayashi, Katsunori Tachihara & James Davis Reimer

  2. Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan

    James Davis Reimer

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  1. Kina Hayashi
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  2. Katsunori Tachihara
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  3. James Davis Reimer
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Correspondence to Kina Hayashi.

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Hayashi, K., Tachihara, K. & Reimer, J.D. Low density populations of anemonefish with low replenishment rates on a reef edge with anthropogenic impacts. Environ Biol Fish 102, 41–54 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-018-0841-0

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