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  • Colour change in a filefish (Monacanthus chinensis) faced with the challenge of changing backgrounds

    Author(s)
    Gilby, Ben
    Mari, R
    Bell, E
    Crawford, E
    Jun, D
    Lederer, B
    Tibbetts, I.
    D. Burfeind, Dana
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Burfeind, Dana D.
    Gilby, Ben
    Year published
    2015
    Metadata
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    Abstract
    The marine macroalga Caulerpa taxifolia is increasing its distribution worldwide, both within its natural range, where it can replace seagrass following a disturbance, and in areas where it is invasive. C. taxifolia presents a bright green background colouration for inhabitants, while seagrass habitats are typically much deeper green in coloration. The fan-bellied leatherjacket, Monacanthus chinensis inhabits both seagrass Zostera muelleri and C. taxifolia habitats in Moreton Bay, Australia and is camouflaged in these contrasting habitats by brown and bright green colour morphs, respectively. Aquarium experiments measuring ...
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    The marine macroalga Caulerpa taxifolia is increasing its distribution worldwide, both within its natural range, where it can replace seagrass following a disturbance, and in areas where it is invasive. C. taxifolia presents a bright green background colouration for inhabitants, while seagrass habitats are typically much deeper green in coloration. The fan-bellied leatherjacket, Monacanthus chinensis inhabits both seagrass Zostera muelleri and C. taxifolia habitats in Moreton Bay, Australia and is camouflaged in these contrasting habitats by brown and bright green colour morphs, respectively. Aquarium experiments measuring colour change of brown and green morphs with respect to contrasting habitats (i.e., brown morphs in C. taxofolia and green morphs in seagrass) revealed that over 21 days, brown morphs significantly altered their skin colouration towards the colouration of green morphs, but green morphs did not alter their colouration. In a habitat preference experiment, brown morphs, which match the colouration of the seagrass, significantly preferred seagrass to C. taxifolia, whilst green morphs showed no preference. We conclude that variations in C. taxifolia coverage present a substantial challenge to this species at short time scales (weeks). This challenge may be overcome by colouration changes at longer timescales assuming fish can survive predation during the adjustment period.
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    Journal Title
    Environmental Biology of Fishes
    Volume
    98
    Issue
    9
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-015-0424-2
    Subject
    Ecology not elsewhere classified
    Ecology
    Zoology
    Fisheries Sciences
    Caulerpa taxifolia
    Seagrass
    Habitat change
    Colouration
    Habitat selection
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/100441
    Collection
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