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An assemblage of the host anemone Heteractis magnifica in the northern Red Sea, and distribution of the resident anemonefish

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 May 2004

Thea Marie Brolund
Affiliation:
The August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark Present address of corresponding author: Department of Marine Biology, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia, E-mail: theabrolund@lycos.com
Anders Tychsen
Affiliation:
Geological Museum, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5–7, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Lis Engdahl Nielsen
Affiliation:
The August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Michael Arvedlund
Affiliation:
Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 3422 Sesoko, Motobu, Okinawa 905-0227, Japan

Abstract

The Heteractis magnifica assemblage at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula was examined. The actinian size, location, and number of resident anemonefishes were recorded. The anemones were found at depths down to approximately 40 m and the sizes of clustering H. magnifica and clusters were positively correlated with depth. The shallow waters of the anemone assemblage contained few mainly small, solitary actinians. There seemed to be a tendency for solitary actinians to cluster once they reached a certain size-range. The resident anemonefishes Amphiprion bicinctus and Dascyllus trimaculatus were present in very large numbers (approximately 250 and 1800 respectively) and the A. bicinctus home range size was positively correlated with depth.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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