Abstract

CARVAJAL-GIL, John Alberto  and  ACERO P., Arturo. Abundance in populations of surgeon fish (Acanthuridae) in an insular environment of the Colombian Caribbean. Biota colombiana [online]. 2023, vol.24, n.2, e1057.  Epub July 01, 2023. ISSN 0124-5376.  https://doi.org/10.21068/2539200x.1057.

In coral communities, herbivorous fish play a major role in maintaining and controlling algae, which are the base of the food chain in coral reefs. Among the herbivorous fish of coral reefs, the family Acanthuridae is one of the most abundant. Effects of this family on coral reefs can vary depending on their densities, ecosystem stability, and their interactions; therefore, determining the status of their populations is a concern. In the archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina (ASAP) there is a lack of information on the status of the abundances and densities of this group. Through visual censuses of species of the genus Acanthurus, the population states in the ASAP coral communities and the population differences between the evaluated sites (San Andrés, isla cayo Bolívar, isla cayo Serrana and Providencia) were estimated. Showing an abundance of 6075 individuals, in addition to a positive relationship of abundances in the islands of San Andrés and Providencia with respect to the Bolívar and Serrana keys. Regarding the habitat preference of juveniles, a specialization and habitat preference of A. coeruleus was found for reef zones, while A. tractus showed a preference for mangroves.

Keywords : Acanthurus; abundance; Archipielago of San Andrés; herbivorous; reef.

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