An ecological comparison of Cephalopholis argus between native and introduced populations

Simple item page
dc.contributor.author Meyer, Amanda Leilani
dc.date.accessioned 2011-07-22T00:16:06Z
dc.date.available 2011-07-22T00:16:06Z
dc.date.issued 2008
dc.description Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2008.
dc.description Active and passive tracking confirmed that C. argus are diurnal and highly site attached. In Moorea, home range size ranged from 230 to 1389 m2, mean = 700 m2 in, and 425 to 2300 m2, mean = 1236 m2in, in Hawaii. There was a significant positive correlation between the size of C. argus and home range size, and C. argus in Hawaii held significantly larger home ranges than C. argus in Moorea. C. argus in both regions spent the majority of their time in core use areas which corresponded with areas of high rugosity and reef complexity. Differences in home range area and habitat utilization between regions may be due to the lack of competing species, especially other groupers, in Hawaii. C. argus is known in Hawaii for causing ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). CFP is caused by Gambierdiscus toxicus, which produces ciguatoxins (CTX) that are incorporated into the fish tissues. Standard length of C. argus and CTX score were positively correlated, however, small fish could be strongly positive, and cause CFP. At all sites, the majority of C. argus tested contained CTX levels at or above those considered unsafe for consumption. C. argus of a given length in Hawaii had lower CTX scores than fish of the same size in Moorea.
dc.description The blue-spotted grouper, Cephalopholis argus, was introduced to the Hawaiian islands from Moorea, French Polynesia in the late 1950s in an attempt to establish a grouper fishery in Hawaii. C. argus was introduced from a region of high grouper diversity into an environment with little competition from other large sedentary piscivorous species, and has flourished over the last 50 years. Total length, weight, and body condition were each significantly greater in introduced populations of C. argus in Hawaii than in native populations in Moorea. Both regions showed significant positive relationships between C. argus total length and: (1) prey total length, and (2) prey body depth. There were significant regional differences in diet; in Moorea C. argus consumed significantly deeper-bodied prey than their counterparts in Hawaii. These differences are consistent with competitive release experienced by C. argus in Hawaii.
dc.description Includes bibliographical references (leaves xxx-xxx).
dc.description Also available by subscription via World Wide Web
dc.description 131 leaves, bound 29 cm
dc.identifier.isbn 9780549780823
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10125/20930
dc.language.iso en-US
dc.relation Theses for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (University of Hawaii at Manoa). Zoology (Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology); no. 5111
dc.rights All UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
dc.title An ecological comparison of Cephalopholis argus between native and introduced populations
dc.type Thesis
dc.type.dcmi Text
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
HAWN ACI_5111_r.pdf
Size:
6.61 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Version for non-UH users. Copying/Printing is not permitted
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
HAWN ACI_5111_uh.pdf
Size:
6.6 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Version for UH users
Download
Collections
Ph.D. - Zoology (Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology)