Honors Theses
Date of Award
2013
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Gary Gaston
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Cleaning symbiosis is an important mutualistic relationship for both cleaner and client fish on the coral reef. Until recently, factors affecting the frequency of cleaning stations surrounding the reef have remained unstudied. The purpose of this study was to determine which factors affected cleaning stations in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve (Belize), with particular focus on the role played by parasites. Cleaning stations were observed for a 2-week period, and analyses were made to compare depth, cleaner and client species, and time of day to frequency of cleaning observed. Parrotfish and Surgeonfish were observed most frequently at cleaning stations (48.31% and 21.47%, respectively), which implied that fish known to have more parasites were cleaned most often. There was a negative relationship between encounters of cleaning per session and time of day, which supported the hypothesis that cleaning occurred more often in the morning, likely due to high parasite levels. Even though the parasites were not studied directly, there was strong evidence that parasites play an important role in the ecology of Caribbean coral reefs.
Recommended Citation
Shell, Kathryn Janeanna, "Cleaning Symbiosis of Caribbean Reef Fish: Analysis of Biological Factors That Affect Cleaning Frequency" (2013). Honors Theses. 2259.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2259
Accessibility Status
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