Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae)
The family Acanthuridae is a key component of coral reef ecosystems as it controls macroalgae biomass buildup. During routine monitoring of benthic communities in the Mexican Caribbean, we observed unusual behaviour of a group of Acanthurus chirurgus, which were feeding on a tuna head left on site b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Biodiversity Data Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/53712/download/pdf/ |
| _version_ | 1818382986278600704 |
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| author | Benjamín Delgado-Pech Antonio Almazán-Becerril Jorge Peniche-Pérez José Adán Caballero-Vázquez |
| author_facet | Benjamín Delgado-Pech Antonio Almazán-Becerril Jorge Peniche-Pérez José Adán Caballero-Vázquez |
| author_sort | Benjamín Delgado-Pech |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The family Acanthuridae is a key component of coral reef ecosystems as it controls macroalgae biomass buildup. During routine monitoring of benthic communities in the Mexican Caribbean, we observed unusual behaviour of a group of Acanthurus chirurgus, which were feeding on a tuna head left on site by travel tour personnel. This phenomenon has been documented in other herbivorous fish species, especially in places where tourism is a major coastal activity. Although many Acanthurus seek additional sources of protein by feeding on detritus, it is unusual for them to feed directly on fish flesh. Acanthurus chirurgus will incorporate proteins from animal tissues whenever the opportunity arises. Such opportunities occurred rarely in the past, but have become more frequent recently, related to increasing tourism activities where flesh is used as bait to attract the surrounding fauna. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:59:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3515d04d2a0a4d06b8b414c841e2b9f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1314-2828 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:59:11Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biodiversity Data Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-3515d04d2a0a4d06b8b414c841e2b9f72022-12-21T23:19:33ZengPensoft PublishersBiodiversity Data Journal1314-28282020-07-0181510.3897/BDJ.8.e5371253712Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae)Benjamín Delgado-Pech0Antonio Almazán-Becerril1Jorge Peniche-Pérez2José Adán Caballero-Vázquez3Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C. (CICY), Unidad de Ciencias del AguaCentro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C. (CICY), Unidad de Ciencias del AguaCentro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C. (CICY), Unidad de Ciencias del AguaCentro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C. (CICY), Unidad de Ciencias del AguaThe family Acanthuridae is a key component of coral reef ecosystems as it controls macroalgae biomass buildup. During routine monitoring of benthic communities in the Mexican Caribbean, we observed unusual behaviour of a group of Acanthurus chirurgus, which were feeding on a tuna head left on site by travel tour personnel. This phenomenon has been documented in other herbivorous fish species, especially in places where tourism is a major coastal activity. Although many Acanthurus seek additional sources of protein by feeding on detritus, it is unusual for them to feed directly on fish flesh. Acanthurus chirurgus will incorporate proteins from animal tissues whenever the opportunity arises. Such opportunities occurred rarely in the past, but have become more frequent recently, related to increasing tourism activities where flesh is used as bait to attract the surrounding fauna.https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/53712/download/pdf/Caribbean Seacoral reefherbivorous fishMesoa |
| spellingShingle | Benjamín Delgado-Pech Antonio Almazán-Becerril Jorge Peniche-Pérez José Adán Caballero-Vázquez Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae) Biodiversity Data Journal Caribbean Sea coral reef herbivorous fish Mesoa |
| title | Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae) |
| title_full | Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae) |
| title_fullStr | Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae) |
| title_short | Facultative scavenging feeding habits in Acanthurus chirurgus (Bloch, 1787) (Acanthuriformes: Acanthuridae) |
| title_sort | facultative scavenging feeding habits in acanthurus chirurgus bloch 1787 acanthuriformes acanthuridae |
| topic | Caribbean Sea coral reef herbivorous fish Mesoa |
| url | https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/53712/download/pdf/ |
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