@article{fdi:010037933,
  title = {{A}nguilliform fishes and sea kraits : neglected predators in coral-reef ecosystems},
  author = {{I}neich, {I}. and {B}onnet, {X}. and {B}rischoux, {F}. and {K}ulbicki, {M}ichel and {S}eret, {B}. and {S}hine, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{D}espite intensive sampling efforts in coral reefs, densities and species richness of anguilliform fishes (eels) are difficult to quantify because these fishes evade classical sampling methods such as underwater visual census and rotenone poisoning. {A}n alternative method revealed that in {N}ew {C}aledonia, eels are far more abundant and diverse than previously suspected. {W}e analysed the stomach contents of two species of sea snakes that feed on eels ({L}aticauda laticaudata and {L}. saintgironsi). {T}his technique is feasible because the snakes return to land to digest their prey, and (since they swallow their prey whole) undigested food items are identifiable. {T}he snakes' diet consisted almost entirely (99.6%) of eels and included 14 species previously unrecorded from the area. {V}ery large populations of snakes occur in the study area (e.g. at least 1,500 individuals on a small coral islet). {T}he snakes capture approximately 36,000 eels (972 kg) per year, suggesting that eels and snakes play key roles in the functioning of this reef ecosystem.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}arine {B}iology},
  volume = {151},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {793--802},
  ISSN = {0025-3162},
  year = {2007},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00227-006-0527-6},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010037933},
}