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The nutritional basis of seasonal selective feeding by a marine herbivorous fish

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Abstract

Marine herbivorous fishes have the potential to significantly impact reef ecology through selective feeding on macroalgae. However, the nutritional drivers underlying their diet choice are often poorly understood. Here we examine diet, nutrient ingestion and assimilation in a marine herbivorous fish (Odax pullus; Labridae) endemic to temperate rocky reefs in New Zealand. Individuals were sampled across the year and across key life history stages to obtain a comprehensive insight into the nutritional consequences of feeding behaviour. Seasonal and ontogenetic changes in diet resulted in significant changes in the relative proportion of macronutrients ingested, and these changes coincided with periods of rapid somatic and reproductive tissue growth. In particular, protein and the sugar alcohol mannitol are likely to be important determinants of adult diets, and the seasonal availability of these nutrients is likely to be a key factor shaping the ecology and life history of this species.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank B. Doak and M. Birch for assistance with sample collection, Dr. H. Bolding, C. Goh and B. Dobson for assistance with HPLC analysis, and Dr. E. D. L Trip for help throughout all stages of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

    Jethro S. Johnson & Kendall D. Clements

  2. School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia

    David Raubenheimer

  3. Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, 10 Discovery Drive, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA

    Jethro S. Johnson

Authors
  1. Jethro S. Johnson
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  2. Kendall D. Clements
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  3. David Raubenheimer
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Correspondence to Jethro S. Johnson.

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Funding

This study was funded by a Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund award (UOA0404) to Kendall Clements and David Raubenheimer. Jethro Johnson was supported by a Commonwealth Scholarship awarded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, UK.

Conflict of interest

Jethro Johnson declares he has no conflict of interest. Kendall Clements declares he has no conflict of interest. David Raubenheimer declares he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Samples were collected under New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries permit 385, and all animal work was carried out following University of Auckland Animal Ethics Committee Approval (#AEC/03/2006/R456).

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Responsibile Editor: D. Goulet.

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Johnson, J.S., Clements, K.D. & Raubenheimer, D. The nutritional basis of seasonal selective feeding by a marine herbivorous fish. Mar Biol 164, 201 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3223-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-017-3223-9

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