Food Selection in Two Corallivorous Butterflyfishes, <i>Chaetodon austriacus</i> and <i>C. trifascialis</i>, in the Northern Red Sea

Abstract

Abstract. Using an in situ observational approach, the food preferences among hard corals were examined for the two obligate coral‐feeding butterflyfishes Chaetodon austriacus and C. trifascialis in the Northern Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt. Chaetodon austriacus is a generalist coral feeder that feeds mainly on three genera of abundant hard corals ( Acropora , Porites and Pocillopora ). In contrast, C. trifascialis is a specialist coral feeder on Acropora spp. and Pocillopora verrucosa . In general, C. austriacus had a lower feeding rate than C. trifascialis (both species in the Northern Red Sea reefs had high feeding rates compared with other reefs). Ivlev's electivity index was calculated for the two species. This index shows that C. austriacus prefers Montipora and Pocillopora , and avoids Lobophyllia and Favites . On the other hand, C. trifascialis prefers Acropora valida and avoids Porites solida . Thus, the feeding preference and avoidance of these chaetodontids depend on both biting rate and food availability in the environment rather than on biting rate alone.