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Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Impact Factor2.1 (JCR 2025 release)

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Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 399:69-80 (2010)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08354

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Grazing pressure on coral reefs decreases across a wide depth gradient in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

ABSTRACT: Algae are an essential component of healthy coral reefs and serve as the base of the food chain and as a living habitat for numerous organisms. Herbivorous fish play an important role in coral reef ecology by mediating competition between fast-growing algae and relatively slow-growing corals. However, because of diving-related difficulties, the importance of herbivory in deep mesophotic coral reefs (30 to 150 m) remains largely unknown. We examined the relationship between herbivores and algae along a depth gradient down to 65 m, and evaluated grazing pressure along the depth gradient. We visually assessed the abundance of herbivorous fish along the depth gradient and estimated fish biomass. We measured in situ turf algae growth rates and performed experimental assessments of grazing pressure using settlement plates and bioassays. We discovered that, while both algal growth and fish density decrease with depth, the decrease in grazing pressure is steeper, with a consumption of <20% of turf-algae production at 65 m versus 40 to 60% at depths of 5 to 20 m. Concomitantly, a decrease in fish biomass and density along the depth gradient reduced potential grazing pressure on macroalgae. Our findings suggest a less important role for herbivorous fish in maintaining algal-free substrate for coral recruitment and growth in deep zones compared with the shallow reef.

KEYWORDS

Depth gradient Deep reefs Gulf of Aqaba Herbivore fish Benthic algae Technical diving

Eran Brokovich (Co-author)

  • The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences at Eilat (IUI), PO Box 469, Eilat 88103, Israel
  • The Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
  • Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
  • The Israel National Monitoring Program at the Gulf of Eilat, at the IUI

Shai Einbinder (Co-author)

  • The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences at Eilat (IUI), PO Box 469, Eilat 88103, Israel
  • Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Israel

Nitzan Segev (Co-author)

  • The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences at Eilat (IUI), PO Box 469, Eilat 88103, Israel
  • The Israel National Monitoring Program at the Gulf of Eilat, at the IUI

Yonathan Shaked (Co-author)

  • The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences at Eilat (IUI), PO Box 469, Eilat 88103, Israel
  • Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
  • The Israel National Monitoring Program at the Gulf of Eilat, at the IUI

Salit Kark (Co-author)

  • The Biodiversity Research Group, Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Israel

Moshe Kiflawi (Co-author)

  • The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences at Eilat (IUI), PO Box 469, Eilat 88103, Israel
  • Department of Life Sciences, Ben Gurion University, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel

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