Why are damselfish important?

Unlike the usual keystone species that enhance biodiversity by increasing predation intensity, damselfish increase biodiversity by decreasing predation and thus may better be described as “keystone species in reverse” (Hixon and Brostoff 1983).

How can farming by damsel fish harm coral growth?

Farming damselfishes, particularly the threespot damselfish Stegastes planifrons, establish algal lawns by repeatedly biting live coral tissue and creating skeletal lesions that are quickly colonized by filamentous algae (Fig 1) [25–27].

Are damselfish herbivores?

Like many species of damselfishes in the Caribbean and around the world, threespot damselfish are herbivores that cultivate a garden of their preferred algae. They carefully remove other algae and small invertebrates in order to encourage growth of their favorite species.

How are humans affecting coral reefs?

Pollution, overfishing, destructive fishing practices using dynamite or cyanide, collecting live corals for the aquarium market, mining coral for building materials, and a warming climate are some of the many ways that people damage reefs all around the world every day.

Is a damselfish?

noun, plural (especially collectively) dam·sel·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) dam·sel·fish·es. any of several chiefly tropical, brilliantly colored, marine fishes of the family Pomacentridae, living among coral reefs.

How can damselfish impact coral reef diversity?

Coral loss is a major element of global ecological change in the oceans that may shape the behavior of keystone species such as habitat-attached animals. Farming damselfishes cultivate and aggressively protect algal garden within their territory, thereby shaping local fish assemblages and macro-algae diversity.

Do damselfish eat coral?

And it’s a fight to the death. This three-spot damselfish is one of several damselfish species that create algae farms on corals. Both the corals and the algae have natural allies. “So they go to the coral, they start sucking on little polyps until they die.

Why is Coral Reef important to us?

Coral reefs provide an important ecosystem for life underwater, protect coastal areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast, and provide a crucial source of income for millions of people. Coral reefs teem with diverse life. Thousands of species can be found living on one reef.

How long does a damselfish live?

Best of all, though they are small, they have the lifespan of the average damselfish (around five years) and can survive in captivity for as long as fifteen years.

Can damselfish live with clownfish?

Clownfish are a species of Damselfish themselves. And many Damselfish tend to be territorial and aggressive towards one another as well as their tank mates. However the Chromis Damselfish are a notable exception to the trend.

How does the length of a dam affect the environment?

Hydrological effects mainly related to the residence time of the water. The hydrological effects of a dam become less significant with distance downstream as the length increases. The increase in residence time affects salt concentrations due to evaporation, changes in temperature and oxygen concentration.

How is the quality of the environment affected by damselflies?

The quality of the environment can be monitored by damselflies as their presence is strongly affected by different factors such as water flow, pollution and vegetation. The destruction and alteration of freshwater habitats are the greatest threats to damselfly species worldwide. Without clean water damselflies are unable to breed.

What kind of body does a damselfly have?

FIGURE 1. Damselflies have long thin bodies that are often brightly colored with green, blue, red, yellow, black or brown. FIGURE 2. Damselfly adults use their hind legs which are covered with hairs to capture prey as they fly. They hold the prey in their legs and devour it by chewing. Adults are commonly found near water.

How does a damselfly get out of the water?

At the last stage, a naiad crawls out of the water and clings to a plant, drying its skin. After a few minutes sunbathing, the outer skin splits open at the head and the adult damselfly struggles, pulling itself out of its old skin.