Ecology Summary - Acanthurus tractus

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Main Ref.	Randall, J.E., 1967
Remarks	Inhabits shallow bottoms with coral or rocky formations (Ref. 13628); may be seen cropping all day long on algae (Ref. 33). Usually occurs in groups of five or more individuals. Mainly diurnal species. Feeds on algae. Herbivore (Ref. 33499, 57616). Feeding rate decreases with temperature more rapidly than the mean metabolic rate of teleost fishes (Ref. 59304). The spine on both sides of the caudal peduncle may inflict painful wounds (Ref. 5217). Also cleaned by Pomacanthus paru observed at the reefs of the Abrolhos Archipelago, off eastern Brazil (Ref. 40094). Preferred for sand and chlorophytes and avoided phaeophytes (Ref. 55789). Predominantly inhabits forereefs (Ref. 128694).

Main Ref.

Randall, J.E., 1967

Remarks

Inhabits shallow bottoms with coral or rocky formations (Ref. 13628); may be seen cropping all day long on algae (Ref. 33). Usually occurs in groups of five or more individuals. Mainly diurnal species. Feeds on algae. Herbivore (Ref. 33499, 57616). Feeding rate decreases with temperature more rapidly than the mean metabolic rate of teleost fishes (Ref. 59304). The spine on both sides of the caudal peduncle may inflict painful wounds (Ref. 5217). Also cleaned by Pomacanthus paru observed at the reefs of the Abrolhos Archipelago, off eastern Brazil (Ref. 40094). Preferred for sand and chlorophytes and avoided phaeophytes (Ref. 55789). Predominantly inhabits forereefs (Ref. 128694).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Acanthurus tractus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	: rocky;
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats	Beds: algae/seaweed; Coral Reefs: reef slope/drop-offs;
Special habitats Ref.	Harper, L.M., J.S. Lefcheck, R. Whippo, M.S. Jones, Z. Foltz and J.E. Duffy, 2022

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with	Cleaned by Thalassoma noronhanum observed at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago off northeastern Brazil (Ref. 36301).
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	Randall, J.E., 1967
Feeding habit	grazing on aquatic plants
Feeding habit Ref.	Clavijo, I.E., 1974

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	Original sample		Unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition	2.00	0.00	2.00	0.00	Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items	2.00	0.00			Trophic level and s.e. inferred from exclusive plant/detritus food items.
Ref.	Randall, J.E., 1967

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