The global trade in marine ornamental species
The global trade in marine ornamental species
The global trade in marine ornamental species
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Conservation issues<br />
<strong>The</strong> harlequ<strong>in</strong> filefish, Oxymonacanthus longirostris<br />
In 1998 an extensive bleach<strong>in</strong>g event was observed <strong>in</strong> reef<br />
areas worldwide. This event severely impacted the fr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g<br />
reefs of Bise, off the northwest coast of Ok<strong>in</strong>awa, Japan,<br />
with most of the liv<strong>in</strong>g coral dy<strong>in</strong>g and filamentous algae<br />
quickly cover<strong>in</strong>g the dead corals. Of all <strong>species</strong>, acroporid<br />
corals seemed the most susceptible to bleach<strong>in</strong>g 174, 175 .<br />
Among coral-reef fishes, the <strong>species</strong> that are most likely<br />
to be affected by coral disturbances are obligate coraldwell<strong>in</strong>g<br />
or coral-feed<strong>in</strong>g <strong>species</strong>, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g butterflyfishes<br />
(Chaetodontidae) 176 . In response to the bleach<strong>in</strong>g event,<br />
Chaetodon trifasciatus and Chaetodon trifascialis showed<br />
significant decl<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> abundance. <strong>The</strong> small (maximum 9<br />
cm) harlequ<strong>in</strong> filefish, Oxymonacanthus longirostris,<br />
typically <strong>in</strong>habits shallow coral reefs <strong>in</strong> the Indo-West Pacific<br />
and spends most of the day feed<strong>in</strong>g almost entirely on the<br />
polyps of corals of the genus Acropora 177 . It lives <strong>in</strong> an<br />
exclusive and heterosexual pair, with the male and female<br />
shar<strong>in</strong>g the same territory to feed.<br />
Growth rates of adult Oxymonacanthus longirostris<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g coral bleach<strong>in</strong>g were significantly lower, and tagged<br />
harlequ<strong>in</strong> filefish were found to disappear at rates<br />
significantly higher than <strong>in</strong> previous years. In March 1999, no<br />
juvenile, young or adult fish of this <strong>species</strong> were observed<br />
at the site. This <strong>species</strong> is known to exhibit high site<br />
fidelity 178 , and abundance of Oxymonacanthus longirostris<br />
on surround<strong>in</strong>g reefs where the bleach<strong>in</strong>g event was less<br />
severe was low, so the fish <strong>in</strong>habit<strong>in</strong>g this site seem to have<br />
died as a result of bleach<strong>in</strong>g. Consider<strong>in</strong>g this <strong>species</strong>’ diet,<br />
the study clearly <strong>in</strong>dicates that the occurrence of healthy<br />
acroporid corals is essential to the survival of this <strong>species</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
the wild. High collection rates of this fish for the aquarium<br />
<strong>trade</strong> <strong>in</strong> addition to the higher frequency of natural disaster<br />
events such as bleach<strong>in</strong>g observed <strong>in</strong> recent years may<br />
genu<strong>in</strong>ely put at risk local populations and drive stocks<br />
below their critical recovery level.<br />
Source: Kokita and Nakazono 179<br />
they feed exclusively on live coral polyps, a diet that<br />
cannot be duplicated <strong>in</strong> normal aquarium conditions.<br />
List B: <strong>The</strong>se <strong>species</strong> have a disappo<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g record of<br />
captive care. Very few <strong>in</strong>dividuals acclimatize to captivity<br />
or thrive over time. When <strong>in</strong>dividuals can be ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed,<br />
the lifespan is usually reduced. Feed<strong>in</strong>g and nutrition are<br />
the primary cause of difficulties. Experienced aquarists or<br />
those us<strong>in</strong>g special techniques may have limited success<br />
with these <strong>species</strong>. Overall, much more research should<br />
be conducted on these <strong>species</strong> to determ<strong>in</strong>e the best<br />
methods for proper husbandry, or if any of these should<br />
be <strong>in</strong>cluded on List A.<br />
In general, there is a reduced demand for these<br />
animals and so fewer are collected compared with the<br />
more hardy <strong>species</strong>. Some aquarists would argue that a<br />
number of <strong>species</strong> on this list should not be <strong>in</strong>cluded.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se aquarists feel that there are enough documented<br />
cases of success to regard the <strong>species</strong> as be<strong>in</strong>g suitable.<br />
List B <strong>in</strong>cludes (as too extensive for full <strong>in</strong>clusion <strong>in</strong> this<br />
report): all seahorse and pipefish <strong>species</strong>, bicolour<br />
angelfish Centropyge bicolour, keyhole angelfish<br />
Centropyge tibicen, scribbled angelfish Chaetodontoplus<br />
duboulayi, bluespotted ribbontail ray Taeniura lymma,<br />
bluestreak cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, Moorish<br />
idol Zanclus cornutus, all dragonets and all parrotfish<br />
<strong>species</strong>.<br />
Corals<br />
Although no authoritative lists similar to the ones<br />
produced for fish by John Brandt and Scott Michael are<br />
available for corals, general aquarium suitability, toxicity<br />
(i.e. how strongly one coral <strong>species</strong> is likely to react to<br />
tox<strong>in</strong>s from another) and sensitivity parameters are<br />
available from <strong>The</strong> Modern Coral Reef Aquarium 180 .<br />
Corals such as Acropora elseyi, Cynar<strong>in</strong>a lacrimalis and<br />
Lobophyllia hemprichii rank highest <strong>in</strong> ease of<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>tenance. Species of the genera Heliopora and<br />
Goniopora, on the other hand, do not survive well <strong>in</strong><br />
aquarium conditions. Goniopora is one of the most<br />
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