Clean Freaks: Neon Gobies Facilitate Reef Herbivore Diversity

Clean Freaks: Neon Gobies Facilitate Reef Herbivore Diversity By: Thomas Guryan and Randi Sims

Coral reefs have been declining in the Florida Keys for the past 35 years due to factors such as disturbance and competition. Herbivorous fishes, such as parrotfishes and damselfishes, have been identified as keys to successful reef restoration due to their consumption of competitive macroalgae. Neon gobies serve a unique role in coral reef communities as cleaners and have been shown to increase fish health and success of the reef. This project tested two hypotheses examining the impact of gobies on reef fish diversity in the Florida Keys.

Gobies could either benefit or be detrimental to reefs

Surveyed 34 reef sites in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Counted reef fish abundance (parrotfishes, damselfishes, gobies) along a 50m transect

Took photos of reef substrate along transect

Calculated reef fish diversity

Determined substrate composition

Results

Total station abundance is positively correlated with parrotfish biomass

Total station abundance is positively correlated with damselfish species diversity

Percent live coral cover is positively correlated with total station abundance

Parrotfish biomass does not significantly differ with presence of gobies or percent coral cover

Damselfish diversity increases with presence of gobies and increases in percent live coral cover

Results

Influence of neon goby abundance on abundance of reef organisms. Positive relationships are in green. Values indicate correlation coefficients.

Influence of neon goby abundance on diversity of reef organisms. Negative relationships are in red. Values indicate correlation coefficients.

Conclusions

Goby abundance is positively related to parrotfish abundance

Goby abundance is positively related to damselfish diversity

Goby abundance is positively related to percent live coral

Goby presence enhances reef diversity

Appreciate