Cultivation mutualism between herbivorous fish and algae : species interactions between algae and herbivore in aquatic ecosystems

2009 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20870036
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (Start-up)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Kinki University
• Principal Investigator: HATA Hiroki Kinki University, 農学部, 講師 (00510512)
• Project Period (FY): 2008 – 2009
• Keywords: 生態学

Research Abstract

Herbivorous damselfishes maintain algal farms inside their territories. In Ryukyu Islands, dusky farmer fish, Stegastes nigricans, weeds unpalatable algae and enhances growth of one species of algae of genus Polysiphonia that is digestible for the fish. In the distribution area of this fish, the species-specificity between S.nigricans and Polysiphonia alga is highly maintained, although the fish use other indigenous Polysiphonia species in some localities. In this way, species-specificity between primary producer (algae) and its consumer (herbivorous fish) is revealed. This species-specificity may be universal and play an essential role in species diversity in aquatic ecosystems as is known in terrestrial ecosystems.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Geographic variation in the damselfish-red alga cultivation mutualism in the Indo-West Pacific
  • Author(s): Hata, H, K. Watanabe, M. Kato
  • Journal Title: BMC Evolutionary Biology (in press)
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] 魚による農業:サンゴ礁におけるスズメダイとイトグサとの栽培共生
  • Author(s): 畑啓生
  • Journal Title: 種生物学研究 (印刷中)
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Geographic mosaic of damselfish-alga cultivation mutualisms in the Indo-West Pacific (2009)
  • Author(s): Hata, H.
  • Organizer: 国立科学博物館国際シンポジウム
  • Place of Presentation: Origin of biodiversity by biological interactions
  • Year and Date: 20091100
• [Presentation] Laterality of fish: its universality, secretion and origin (2009)
  • Author(s): Hata, H., M. Nakajima, Y. Takeuchi, M. Yasugi, H. Asiwa, M. Nakae, K. Yamaoka, M. Kohda, J. Kitamura, M. Hori
  • Organizer: The 8th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference
  • Place of Presentation: Fremantle
  • Year and Date: 20090600
• [Presentation] 農業する魚:共生の海サンゴ礁で見られる新たな栽培共生 (2008)
  • Author(s): 畑啓生
  • Organizer: 共生科学研究センターシンポジウム
  • Place of Presentation: 奈良女子大学
  • Year and Date: 20081000
• [Presentation] Cultivation mutualisms between territorial damselfish and algae in the Indo-West Pacific (2008)
  • Author(s): Hata, H
  • Organizer: 11th International Society for Reef Studies
  • Place of Presentation: Fort Lauderdale
  • Year and Date: 20080700