Spatial patterns in fish herbivory in a temperate Australian seagrass meadow

Seagrass grazing by fish was measured in a large seagrass-dominated temperate bay (Geographe Bay, Western Australia) to examine whether: (1) seagrass herbivory occurs; (2) the level of herbivory is influenced by nitrogen in seagrass leaves; and (3) how herbivory and herbivorous fish communities vary with water depth and seagrass species. Species and abundance of fish and herbivore bite marks on seagrass leaves were recorded from diver surveys of 23 sites of varying depth ranging from 1 m to 18 m. Posidonia sinuosa, Posidonia coriacea, Amphibolis griffithii, and Amphibolis antarctica seagrass leaves were collected, dried and analysed for total nitrogen. Evidence for low levels of seagrass grazing was found at over half the sites surveyed, though high levels of grazing were recorded at only one site. An east–west pattern was observed in the location of grazed sites and of herbivorous fish species that corresponded with the general prevalence of patch reefs, indicating that reef associated fish assemblages may be responsible for the observed grazing. Total nitrogen was elevated in seagrass leaves associated with drains, although increased nitrogen was not associated with increased grazing. While grazing was recorded in this temperate seagrass meadow, the abundance of herbivorous fish was low and the amount of biomass removed by them was small compared to the balance of the meadow remaining, and to seagrass grazing studies elsewhere.

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► Seagrass grazing by fish in a large seagrass-dominated temperate bay was low.
► The location of patch reefs was linked to patterns in grazing and herbivorous fish.
► Total nitrogen was elevated in seagrass leaves associated with drains.
► Nitrogen did not influence grazing.