Parrotfish are herbivores that grind down algae and stone, contribute up to ~70% of the sand on tropical beaches, maintain reefs—and also exhibit unique behaviors such as a mucous “sleeping bag” and early storm prediction.
By Adi Weinberger, Zavit – Science and Environmental News Agency
Usually, when we think about Parrots, we think of colorful, loud winged creatures. But it turns out there are also parrots underwater – parrotfish, or parrotfish. These fish, whose name is derived from their large, strong beak-like jaws and their bright colors, are not only beautiful but also serve as hard-working maintenance workers and ecological engineers who are critically important to maintaining the health of the ocean. Coral reefWe spoke with Dr. Renal Pickholz, who leads the ecological leadership track in the middle school and the biology major in the high school at Kiryat Chinuch Jaffa. As part of his doctoral studies at the School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University and the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Pickholz studied the tuskfish under the supervision of Prof. Yoni Belmker and Prof. Moshe Kiflavi, and he shared with us some fascinating insights about these magnificent fish.
If we go diving or snorkeling, where can we see the formation?
"The group of toucans, which was previously considered a separate family and is now classified as a tribe in the family of wrasses, includes about 90 different species that live in wide geographical areas: the Atlantic Ocean, the Indo-Pacific region, and also the Mediterranean and Red Seas. In terms of their status in nature, toucans are at different levels of conservation. In the Mediterranean Sea, for example, we can find the not-at-risk common toucans and the saddle-billed toucans that invaded from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. In the Gulf of Eilat, there are about 13 species, including an endemic species (a species that is not found anywhere else, by the way)."
What makes tuna fish so special?
Beyond their beauty and color, corals play a central role in maintaining coral reefs. "Corals are herbivorous fish. Stony corals, the reef builders, are constantly competing with algae for living space. Algae grow faster and are less sensitive to changing environmental conditions, and if only algae and corals were involved in this competition, then the algae would easily take over the corals and 'suffocate' them, which could lead to the collapse of the entire ecological society on the reef."
Fortunately, the cetaceans come to the rescue. “They act as ‘maintenance workers’ by feeding on algae, especially early on when they start to settle on corals or rocks.” This continuous grazing is essential for the corals’ survival and prosperity, and ensures the proper functioning of the entire reef. “In addition to grazing and removing algae, cetaceans play another important role – bioerosion.” When they bite into corals and rocks to eat algae, “they grind the material in their mouths and expel it as silt or sediment elsewhere on the reef. This process allows for the recycling of calcium and other elements, and it is estimated that up to 70 percent of the sand on tropical beaches has passed through the digestive tract of cetaceans.”
Besides their role in protecting the reef, what fascinating behaviors make the terns unique?
"Many reef fish, including the toxocara, begin their lives as females and then change sex to males. This life course, which includes sexual maturation as a female and then again as a male, is often accompanied by dramatic changes in the fish's colors and even physical structure."
"The second unique characteristic of toucans is the mucus membrane they secrete at nightfall. The membrane resembles a large, transparent sleeping bag made of gelatin and wraps around their entire body. According to studies, it provides Protection from nocturnal predators By preserving within itself the scent of the concoction, or From parasites "The land life is that it does not allow them access to fish."
What dangers do the Tokinonians face?
"The main threats to tunas are overfishing and habitat destruction or loss." This threat is particularly relevant to tunas, because coral reefs are in constant danger. "The climate crisis threatens many marine organisms, including tunas. Rising water temperatures create stress and allow pathogens to thrive. A few years ago, there was Massive mortality of reef fish in Eilat, including tropical ones, as a result of a sharp increase in sea water temperature. In addition, הלבנה "Bleaching and other damage to coral reefs are particularly critical for coral reefs."
"in research We found that adult male toucans have very limited home ranges, meaning each individual sleeps and eats in the exact same areas, even for years. This means that damage to a particular area of the reef can be much more dramatic for them than for other fish that often change their routes and activities from day to day. Therefore, conservation efforts for toucans include avoiding habitat damage, coral breakage, and rocky substrates. And from sea pollution".
What attracted you to researching the toucans?
"I am very interested in the grazing behavior and movement of herbivorous fish and how changes in the location and availability of algae affect their behavior, especially in aquatic environments given their critical ecological role."
What is one of the surprising discoveries you have made about the toucans?
"During a study in which we monitored tangs using acoustic transmitters (like fitness watches for fish, which allow tracking of location and activity level), the major storm occurred in the Gulf of Eilat in March 2020, which affected large areas of the coral reef. To our great surprise, the fish began to exhibit very unusual behavior up to 10 days before the storm. In contrast to their 'normal' behavior, in which they reduce their activity levels to almost zero during nighttime sleep, they stopped sleeping during the night and showed very high activity levels during the day. Previous studies have shown that animals respond to extreme weather events up to 48 hours in advance. Our discovery indicates that fish likely sense extreme storms long before they occur, and there may be early markers for such storms that we do not yet know about."
In conclusion, parrotfish are complex and fascinating fish, whose ecological role in maintaining coral reefs is essential. They are not only beautiful and have unique behaviors such as changing sex and creating mucus "sleeping bags", but also have surprising abilities to predict storms. Protecting the marine environment in general, and coral reefs in particular, is key to preserving parrotfish.
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