Feeding kinematics of a surgeonfish reveal novel functions and relationships to reef substrata
Abstract Biting to obtain attached benthic prey characterizes a large number of fish species on coral reefs, and is a feeding mode that contributes to important ecosystem functions. We use high-speed video to reveal the mechanisms used by a surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon, to detach algae. Afte...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05696-z |
| _version_ | 1797362964870725632 |
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| author | Michalis Mihalitsis Peter C. Wainwright |
| author_facet | Michalis Mihalitsis Peter C. Wainwright |
| author_sort | Michalis Mihalitsis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Biting to obtain attached benthic prey characterizes a large number of fish species on coral reefs, and is a feeding mode that contributes to important ecosystem functions. We use high-speed video to reveal the mechanisms used by a surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon, to detach algae. After gripping algae in its jaws, the species pulls it by ventrally rotating both the head and the closed jaws, in a novel use of the intra-mandibular joint. These motions remain in the plane of the fish, reducing the use of a lateral head flick to detach the algae. The novel ability to bite and pull algae off the substrate without bending the body laterally minimizes exposure to high water flows, and may be an adaptation to feeding in challenging reef habitats such as the crest and flat. Therefore, our results could potentially represent a key milestone in the evolutionary history of coral reef trophodynamics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:14:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-500c0c055e934476a4b19e4aaa73f04f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:14:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-500c0c055e934476a4b19e4aaa73f04f2024-01-07T12:40:06ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422024-01-017111210.1038/s42003-023-05696-zFeeding kinematics of a surgeonfish reveal novel functions and relationships to reef substrataMichalis Mihalitsis0Peter C. Wainwright1Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Evolution and Ecology, University of CaliforniaAbstract Biting to obtain attached benthic prey characterizes a large number of fish species on coral reefs, and is a feeding mode that contributes to important ecosystem functions. We use high-speed video to reveal the mechanisms used by a surgeonfish, Acanthurus leucosternon, to detach algae. After gripping algae in its jaws, the species pulls it by ventrally rotating both the head and the closed jaws, in a novel use of the intra-mandibular joint. These motions remain in the plane of the fish, reducing the use of a lateral head flick to detach the algae. The novel ability to bite and pull algae off the substrate without bending the body laterally minimizes exposure to high water flows, and may be an adaptation to feeding in challenging reef habitats such as the crest and flat. Therefore, our results could potentially represent a key milestone in the evolutionary history of coral reef trophodynamics.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05696-z |
| spellingShingle | Michalis Mihalitsis Peter C. Wainwright Feeding kinematics of a surgeonfish reveal novel functions and relationships to reef substrata Communications Biology |
| title | Feeding kinematics of a surgeonfish reveal novel functions and relationships to reef substrata |
| title_full | Feeding kinematics of a surgeonfish reveal novel functions and relationships to reef substrata |
| title_fullStr | Feeding kinematics of a surgeonfish reveal novel functions and relationships to reef substrata |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feeding kinematics of a surgeonfish reveal novel functions and relationships to reef substrata |
| title_short | Feeding kinematics of a surgeonfish reveal novel functions and relationships to reef substrata |
| title_sort | feeding kinematics of a surgeonfish reveal novel functions and relationships to reef substrata |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05696-z |
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