Identification

The photos on this page illustrate some of the habitats of diatoms in Guam and Palau, especially farmer fish territories. Farmer fish are territorial damselfishes (Pomacentridae) that cultivate algal "farms". They are abundant on coral reefs, providing the major areas where filamentous algae can beat the heavy grazing pressure present on healthy reefs. A large fraction of the fishes' diets is diatoms (Jones et al. 2006), and it is obvious from these photos why. The filamentous algae are like the paper stems of a serving of candy floss, and the diatoms are the floss.

Projects This is Associated With

Western Pacific Diatoms Project

Last Updated

Added by Chris Lobban on February 13, 2009, 4:29 am
Last edited by Chris Lobban on November 6, 2009, 7:42 pm

Photos

Plectroglyphidodon territory	Diatom assemblage from farmer turf	Stegastes nigricans territory	Stegastes nigricans
Diatoms in Stegastes farm	Climacosphenias on Polysiphonia	Stegastes lividus farm on Acropora coral