title: Quantifying the influence of small omnivorous fishes on seagrass epiphyte load.
abstract: The influence of two cryptic, seagrass-inhabiting omnivorous fishes, the fan-bellied leatherjacket Monacanthus chinensis and the variable sabretoothed blenny Petroscirtes variabilis, on seagrass epiphyte biomass are described. Overall, M. chinensis significantly reduced epiphyte biomass by 35·1% after 18 h in experimental aquaria, whilst P. variabilis showed a non-significant 15·7% reduction. It is concluded that some cryptic omnivorous species play an important role in epiphyte removal in seagrass beds.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gilby
authors.affiliation: Australian Rivers Institute - Coasts and Estuaries, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Tibbetts
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Burfeind
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes; D060434:Herbivory; D010473:Perciformes; D010944:Plants; D023721:Tetraodontiformes
keywords: Moreton Bay; algae; phase shift