Feeding Activity |
Blue Runner |
Tomtate |
Atlantic Spadefish |
| - apex predator, feed on
most fishes smaller than itself |
- juveniles often
feed in water column |
- feed on slow
prey - jellyfish and invertebrates - can move in bursts of speed, but are slower predators |
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| An assemblage of reef fishes contains some fish species (forage fishes)
that feed on plankton or benthic invertebrates . These forage fishes,
in turn, support apex predatory fish (piscivorous species) that feed on
other fish. (fish that feed on benthic inverts are predators too!) Without
the forage fishes, which can be the juveniles of other species, the larger
piscivorous (fish-eating) fishes must move to other areas to feed. Seasonal
increases in plankton productivity support increased abundance of plankton-feeding
forage fishes. The planktivorous species help transfer energy to the bottom
feeding fishes, in the form of feces that sink to the bottom and increase
productivity of benthic worms and crustacean that are fed on by bottom-feeding
foragers. The populations of plankton-feeding (planktivorous) and bottom-feeding
(benthivorous) fishes in turn support seasonal populations of piscivorous
blue runners and other jacks, and even migratory seabirds such as loons.
The two most important activities for fish survival are growth (though feeding) and reproduction. Both feeding and avoiding being eaten are critical to the growth and survival of individuals, while reproduction is most critical to survival of a population of animals. Fish growth can often be seen by the changes in size of juveniles over time. Fish biologists very rarely observe reproduction activities (“spawning”) of fish, which often is associated with sunset or nighttime, but they do observe feeding, if they are fortunate. Some of these life activities have been recorded by the Fish Watch cameras. Hopefully more of the activities of fishes at the reef will be observed and archived for your interest and enjoyment in the future. |