In
terms of bite mark density, I was not surprised at the results. More
bite marks per square meter most likely indicates the presence of more
fish, which indeed there were at Tobacco Bay (based on my
observations). Whalebone bay was less populated and had less bite mark
density. Since the fish had more room and didn't have to compete for
the algae on the rocks, they were free to roam and find less bare
places to eat.
It was fairly consistant in both the
Stoplight parrotfish and the Rainbow parrotfish that the initial phase
fish took 3-5 more bites per forage than the terminal phase fish. I am
not sure why this might be - perhaps it's a need of more food to grow,
or a lack of ability to find other places to forage. The terminal phase
Stoplight and Rainbow parrotfish both averaged around 1-5 bites per
forage, mostly pecking at the surface once and then moving on, while
the initial phase parrotfish stayed in one spot longer.
In
terms of the number of times foraged, the terminal phase Stoplight
parrotfish at both bays tended to forage more than the initial phase
Stoplight parrotfish. This is in direct corrolation with their lower
bite per forage numbers. The Rainbow parrotfish did not have a clear
statistical difference between the number of times the IP and the TP
parrotfish foraged.
The
data in my observations may be off because of the highly skittish
behavior of the parrotfish in my presence. I may have thrown off the
fish, resulting in a high stress situation which may alter the feeding
behaviors of the parrotfish.
