Kulbicki M., Bozec Y. M.. (2005). The use of butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) species richness as a proxy of total species richness of reef fish assemblages in the Western and Central Pacific. Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 15 (Suppl. 1), p. S127-S141. ISSN 1052-7613.
Titre du document
The use of butterflyfish (Chaetodontidae) species richness as a proxy of total species richness of reef fish assemblages in the Western and Central Pacific
Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 2005,
15 (Suppl. 1), p. S127-S141 ISSN 1052-7613
1. A new use of butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) is proposed for monitoring programmes, based on the relationship existing between the total species richness of reef fish assemblages and the species richness of butterflyfishes. These two variables are highly correlated and it is possible under certain circumstances to predict the total species richness of a reef fish assemblage from the butterflyfish species richness. 2. In the present study, the effects on this relationship of three regions (Tuamotu, Tonga, New Caledonia), eight islands, two reef types (barrier and fringing reefs) and coral cover were investigated based on 544 transects. The effect of time was also tested based on 108 transects (12 stations x 9 trimesters). 3. Coral cover had no statistically significant effect on the relationship; both slope and intercept of the relationship varied with region. 4. Islands were a significant factor in Tonga and New Caledonia, but not in Tuamotu. 5. On fringing reefs the correlations were higher and the linear regressions had flatter slopes and lower intercepts than on barrier reefs, while the correlations between total species richness and butterflyfish species richness were not influenced by time over a 30-month period. 6. The potential applications of this relationship for monitoring programmes are discussed on the basis of these results and on a power analysis relating butterflyfish diversity and the correlation level of this relationship. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.
