Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 8.1
(continued)
Grazer taxon
Feeding
mode
Size group
Diet specificity
Typical habitat
Selected examples
Siganidae
Blenniidae)
(e.g., Blenniidae
Girellidae
Kyphosidae
Stichaeidae
Scorpididae)
(Nototheniidae)
Reef fishes of the same family or functional
group can exhibit strong selectivity for
particular reef algae, and thus their grazing
effect on the reef community may differ
(Mantyka and Bellwood
2007
)
Selective grazing on
Ulva
by the abundant
blenny
Scartichthys
in the Chilean rocky
intertidal impacts overall community
structure (Ojeda and Mu˜oz
1999
)
Notothenia
feeds selectively on some of the
available seaweeds in Antarctica,
depending to ~40% on algal diet overall
(Iken et al.
1997
)
Reptiles (Iguana)
Biting
Tearing
Macrograzers
Generalists
Tropical systems
The marine iguana
Amblyrhynchus
in the
Galapagos feeds on intertidal and subtidal
seaweeds, with algal abundance- and
temperature-dependent feeding rates to
optimize food intake (Shepherd and
Hawkes
2005
)
(Green turtle)
Biting
Tearing
Macrograzers
Generalists
Tropical systems
Green turtles mostly feed on seagrasses but also
consume significant portions of seaweeds,
possibly selectively; on an individual basis
they may even specialize on an algal over
seagrass diet (reviewed in Bjorndal
1997
)
Sirenians
Biting
Tearing
Browsing
Macrograzers
Generalists
Tropical systems
Dugongs feed mostly on seagrasses but can
consume considerable amounts of seaweeds
either opportunistically or more targeted
when seagrass diet is sparse (Whiting
2002
)
Birds
Tearing
Browsing
Macrograzers
Generalists
Temperate and
tropical systems
Brent geese grazing can significantly deplete
green algal biomass but has little long-term
effects on these fast-growing algae
