New draft Habitat Use and Spatial Variability of Hawkfishes with a Focus on Colour Polymorphism in Paracirrhites forsteri

Identifying relationships between fishes and their
environment is an integral part of understanding coral reef ecosystems. However,
this information is lacking for many species, particularly in understudied and
remote regions. With coral reefs continuing to face environmental pressures, insight
into abundance and distribution patterns along with resource use of fish
communities will aid in advancing our ecological understanding and management
processes. Based on ecological surveys of hawkfish assemblages (Family:
Cirrhitidae) in the Red Sea, we reveal distinct patterns in the distribution and abundance across the continental shelf,
wave exposure, and with depth, particularly in the four colour morphs of Paracirrhites forsteri. Distinct
patterns were observed among hawkfishes, with higher abundance of all species recorded
on reefs farther from shore and on wave exposed reef zones. Cirrhitus spilotoceps was only recorded
on the exposed crest, but unlike the other species, did not associate with live
coral colonies. Overall, the most abundant species was P. forsteri. This species exploited a variety of habitats but showed an affinity for complex
habitats provided by live and dead coral colonies. No difference in habitat use
was observed among the four colour morphs, but distinct patterns were apparent in
distribution and abundance with depth. This study suggests that in addition to P. forsteri exhibiting diverse colour
morphologies, these various morphotypes appear to have corresponding ecological
differences in the Red Sea. To better understand this, further studies are
needed to identify what these differences extend to and the mechanisms
involved.