Ecology Summary - Microspathodon chrysurus

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Main Ref.	Randall, J.E., 1967
Remarks	A common (Ref. 9710) territorial species that inhabits coral reefs, juveniles usually encountered among branches of yellow stinging coral, Millepora. Found in very shallow waters of coral reefs, usually near top of outer edge where there are caves, holes, and abundant fire coral (Ref. 26938). Feeds primarily on algae but also on polyps of fire coral (Ref. 3139) and other invertebrate animal material (Ref. 13442). Territorial herbivore (Ref. 57616).

Main Ref.

Randall, J.E., 1967

Remarks

A common (Ref. 9710) territorial species that inhabits coral reefs, juveniles usually encountered among branches of yellow stinging coral, Millepora. Found in very shallow waters of coral reefs, usually near top of outer edge where there are caves, holes, and abundant fire coral (Ref. 26938). Feeds primarily on algae but also on polyps of fire coral (Ref. 3139) and other invertebrate animal material (Ref. 13442). Territorial herbivore (Ref. 57616).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Microspathodon chrysurus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats	Coral Reefs; Corals: soft corals
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with	Juveniles occasionally pick parasites from other species of fish (Ref. 3139).
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	Randall, J.E., 1967
Feeding habit	grazing on aquatic plants
Feeding habit Ref.	Randall, J.E., 1967

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	Original sample		Unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition	2.10	0.10	2.25	0.13	Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items	2.00	0.00			Trophic level and s.e. inferred from exclusive plant/detritus food items.
Ref.	Randall, J.E., 1967

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