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Differences in interspecific associations of initial and terminal phase parrotfish in north-eastern Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2009

Roberta Martini Bonaldo*
Affiliation:
Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia Departamento de Zoologia e Museu de História Natural, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
Joao Paulo Krajewski
Affiliation:
Departamento de Zoologia e Museu de História Natural, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: R.M. Bonaldo, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia email: [email protected]
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Abstract

This study compared the frequency with which different parrotfish individuals—initial (IP) and terminal (TP)—of three species associate with cleaner and follower species at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago. Only TP individuals posed at bottom-based cleaning stations. IP individuals were followed more often by the Noronha wrasse (Thalassoma noronhanum) than TP parrotfish. When following parrotfish, the Noronha wrasse capitalized upon drifting particles and occasionally cleaned them ‘on the move’ when they momentarily interrupted their feeding. Probably IP individuals were followed more often by the Noronha wrasse because they forage more often than the TP and thus make more drifting particles available to the wrasse. Since the IP individuals were cleaned by T. noronhanum while foraging, they visit cleaning stations less often than TP individuals.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2007

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