Effects of grazing and damselfish territoriality on bioerosion of dead corals: Direct effects

An experiment was performed on Britomart Reef, Great Barrier Reef (central region) to determine the relationship between fish grazing, damselfish territoriality, and external bioerosion of dead coral substratum. The damselfish, Hemiglyphidodon plagiometopon Bleeker (Pomacentridae), was used because it excludes herbivorous fish from its territories, creating distinct undergrazed patches in the environment. Its territories were used to simulate …