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<p>Movement and foraging decisions are determined, in part, by the availability and distribution of resources. While the effect of coral cover on the foraging behavior and space use of corallivorous butterflyfishes has been well documented, responses to ephemeral resources remain understudied. We conducted GPS tracking and behavioral observations of <i>Chaetodon capistratus</i> in Bonaire before, during, and after a spawning event of the hard coral <i>Diploria labyrinthiformis</i> to investigate the effect of an ephemeral resource on <i>C. capistratus</i> space use. The 20-min foraging ranges and distances moved by <i>C. capistratus</i> were significantly larger during spawning on the peak spawning day<i>,</i> corresponding with a proportional increase in visitation to <i>D. labyrinthiformis</i> and a potential breakdown of intraspecific territoriality. These shifts in foraging patterns and space use were presumably driven by the opportunity to maximize energy intake of an ephemeral, yet energetically valuable, resource. We discuss our findings in the context of recent coral loss.</p>

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Four-eye butterflyfish, Chaetodon capistratus, alter their space use to exploit an ephemeral resource

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年1月21日

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  • Krista Laforest,
  • Lena Kury,
  • Joshua C. Manning

摘要

Movement and foraging decisions are determined, in part, by the availability and distribution of resources. While the effect of coral cover on the foraging behavior and space use of corallivorous butterflyfishes has been well documented, responses to ephemeral resources remain understudied. We conducted GPS tracking and behavioral observations of Chaetodon capistratus in Bonaire before, during, and after a spawning event of the hard coral Diploria labyrinthiformis to investigate the effect of an ephemeral resource on C. capistratus space use. The 20-min foraging ranges and distances moved by C. capistratus were significantly larger during spawning on the peak spawning day, corresponding with a proportional increase in visitation to D. labyrinthiformis and a potential breakdown of intraspecific territoriality. These shifts in foraging patterns and space use were presumably driven by the opportunity to maximize energy intake of an ephemeral, yet energetically valuable, resource. We discuss our findings in the context of recent coral loss.