Project by: Jake, Jamie, and Bryan
Overview
For our marine biology group study here in Belize, us three decided to gain some insight on cleaning stations within the reef setting. Cleaning stations are areas located throughout the reef that house small species responsible for cleaning other fish. Microscopic parasites exist on all fish, and these small cleaner species are responsible for removing these parasites from their clientele. In this particular study, we investigated the actions of two specific cleaner species; the Neon Goby and the Blue-Headed Wrasse.
The Question
In looking at these two species, we wanted to analyze each species' cleaning preferences, if you will. Due to their smaller size, we figured that Neon Gobies would stick to cleaning only smaller fish, while the larger-sized Blue-Headed Wrasse would clean the larger fish. Therefore, our hypothesis went something like this: Neon Gobies will clean smaller fish than Blue-Headed Wrasse will clean.
Methods
In order to effectively answer our question, we went out and selected three different cleaning stations that housed both the Neon Gobies and the Blue-Headed Wrasse, so that we could do a comparative study. Whenever a fish came in to be cleaned, we documented it's general size, and also which species was seen cleaning it. We monitored each station, once in the morning and once in the evening, for ten minutes.
Results
In regards to our hypothesis, we both accepted and rejected it. On an acceptance note, we noticed that in general, larger fish were in fact cleaned by the Blue-Headed Wrasse. However, on a rejection note, we noticed that there were, in fact, a few exceptions to this general trend. For example, a couple of species of larger fish, such as the graysby grouper, were cleaned exclusively by Neon Gobies. However, as far as a general trend is concerned, Blue-Headed Wrasse, for the most part, did in fact clean larger fish, while Neon Gobies cleaned mostly smaller fish.
Further Observations
After completing our study, one observation in particular stuck out to myself and the rest of the group. We noticed that size didn't have as much correlation to which species did the cleaning as the species' position in the water column did. Put simply, fish that live on or near the bottom (graysby grouper, snappers, etc) were cleaned by Neon Gobies, whereas fish that hover in the water column (grunts, triggerfish,etc) were cleaned by Blue-Headed Wrasse. This, we believe, is due to the fact that Blue-Headed Wrasse hover around the cleaning station, whereas Neon Gobies tend to hug the coral head and only move when a client needs cleaning.
Expanding the Study
If we were given more resources and another chance to repeat the study, there are a few things that we would change. For one, we would definitely like to analyze more than three cleaning stations. We believe that this would give us more data, thus allowing us to potentially solidify our hypothesis. Also, it would be unique to look into a differentiation between juvenile and adult cleaner species, and whether or not this affects their cleaning habits.
Summary
On a closing note, our study gave us the further insight to marine cleaning stations that we desired, and also provided us with the ability to lead and conduct out first marine study. It has been an amazing week here in Belize, and these studies do not even come close to scraping the surface of what this amazingly breathtaking place has to offer.
In the above picture, you can see both Neon Gobies (the tiny fish with neon blue stripes) as well as a Blue-Headed Wrasse in the juvenile stage (the yellow fish at the top of the frame with a white belly). This picture shows a basic cleaning station as a whole.
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