Missing planktivore functions drive global variation in reef fish productivity

Area of Science:

• Marine Ecology
• Ecosystem Functioning
• Fisheries Science

Background:

• Coral reef ecosystems rely on efficient trophic pathways for productivity.
• The plankton-planktivore pathway is vital but poorly understood at large scales.
• External nutrient input, primarily zooplankton, fuels diverse fish communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate global patterns in reef fish community structure.
• To compare the productivity and fisheries potential of planktivorous reef fishes between the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean.
• To understand the drivers of discrepancies in planktivory between these regions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of global patterns in reef fish community structure.
• Comparison of planktivorous fish biomass and productivity.
• Assessment of the role of gelatinous zooplankton feeders.

Main Results:

• Indo-Pacific reefs exhibit 6.6 times more planktivorous fish biomass than Caribbean reefs.
• The Indo-Pacific shows 3.4 times greater productivity from planktivorous fish compared to the Caribbean.
• Gelatinous zooplankton feeders, though few in number, contribute significantly to Indo-Pacific biomass and productivity.

Conclusions:

• Significant biogeographic differences exist in planktivorous reef fish communities between the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean.
• Contrasting oceanographic histories and extinction events likely shaped these differences.
• Variations in energy flow impact coral reef functioning and ecosystem services, including fisheries.