Intertidal territoriality and time-budget of the surgeonfish, Acanthurus lineatus, in American Samoa
Craig P. 1996. Intertidal territoriality and time-budget of the surgeonfish, Acanthurus lineatus, in American Samoa. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 46:27-36
The herbivorous surgeonfish Acanthurus lineatus aggressively maintained feeding territories in the surf zone of the outer reef flat in American Samoa. Intertidal territories were re-established each morning, as well as after displacement by low tides or rough surf. Day-to-day site fidelity of recognizable individual was high: 99.9% return rate per day for adults (15-20 cm), 99.6% for juveniles (8-13 cm) and 97.2% for recruits (2.5-5 cm). Fish fed on turf algae primarily in the afternoon (80% of available time), and spent 10% of their time on active territorial defense and 2-13% of their times on forays from their territory. On average, a fish defended its territory 1900 times daily and took 17, 000 bites, but rough surf reduced rates. Although the distribution and behavior of this species in Samoa was in large part similar to that reported for it else where (Australia, Indian Ocean), there were notable differences: in Samoa A. lineatus densities with colonies were greater, territory size was smaller and defense rate against intruders was greater. There difference in Samoa may be related to their smaller body size, greater abundance or increased food supply caused by hurricane damage to reefs where has enhanced the algal turfs that A. lineatus feeds upon.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Craig, Peter
- Units
- NPSA , PACN
- Keywords
- Acanthuridae, Aggression, American Samoa, Animal Studies, Behavior, Feeding, Fish/Ichthyology, surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus)