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Hoang, Ben Xuan; Sawall, Yvonne; Al-Sofyani, A; Wahl, Martin (2015): Chemical versus structural defense against fish predation in two dominant soft coral species (Xeniidae) in the Red Sea [dataset publication series]. PANGAEA, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841563, Supplement to: Hoang, BX et al. (2014): Chemical versus structural defense against fish predation in two dominant soft coral species (Xeniidae) in the Red Sea. Aquatic Biology, https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00614

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Abstract:
Soft corals of the family Xeniidae are particularly abundant in Red Sea coral reefs. Their success may be partly due to a strong defense mechanism against fish predation. To test this, we conducted field and aquarium experiments in which we assessed the antifeeding effect of secondary metabolites of 2 common xeniid species, Ovabunda crenata and Heteroxenia ghardaqensis. In the field experiment, the metabolites of both investigated species reduced feeding on experimental food pellets in the natural population of Red Sea reef fishes by 86 and 92% for O. crenata and H. ghardaqensis, respectively. In the aquarium experiment, natural concentration of crude extract reduced feeding on experimental food pellets in the common reef fish Thalassoma lunare (moon wrasse) by 83 and 85%, respectively. Moon wrasse feeding was even reduced at extract concentrations as low as 12.5% of the natural concentration in living soft coral tissues. To assess the potential of a structural anti-feeding defence, sclerites of O. crenata were extracted and mixed into food pellets at natural, doubled and reduced concentration without and in combination with crude extract at 25% of natural concentration, and tested in an aquarium experiment. The sclerites did not show any effect on the feeding behavior of the moon wrasse indicating that sclerites provide structural support rather than antifeeding defense. H. ghardaqensis lacks sclerites. We conclude that the conspicuous abundance of xeniid soft coral species in the Red Sea is likely a consequence of a strong chemical defence, rather than physical defences, against potential predators.
Coverage:
Median Latitude: 20.754528 * Median Longitude: 38.960000 * South-bound Latitude: 20.753556 * West-bound Longitude: 38.950278 * North-bound Latitude: 20.755500 * East-bound Longitude: 38.969722
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-3.0)
Size:
3 datasets

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Datasets listed in this publication series

  1. Hoang, BX; Sawall, Y; Al-Sofyani, A et al. (2015): In vitro feeding assay using 9 individuals of the generalist fish Thalassoma lunare being offered, alternatingly, pellets with or without extracts of a species of soft corals. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841560
  2. Hoang, BX; Sawall, Y; Al-Sofyani, A et al. (2015): In vitro feeding assay using 9 individuals of the generalist fish Thalassoma lunare being offered, alternatingly, pellets with or without 100% sclerites of a species of soft corals, Ovabunda crenata. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841562
  3. Hoang, BX; Sawall, Y; Al-Sofyani, A et al. (2015): Feeding experiment in two dominant soft coral species (Xeniidae) in the field in the Red Sea. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.841534