Figures (1)  Tables (4)

    • Figure 1. 

      Biplot of the principal component analysis (PCA) run on proximate composition parameters of (a) carnivores (red circles), herbivores (blue squares), and omnivores (black triangles) fish, all sites pooled, and (b) on fish from Fiji (pale blue squares), Moorea (green triangles), New Caledonia (white diamonds), and Rapa Nui (orange circles), all diets pooled.

    • Family Species Diet Fiji Moorea New Caledonia Rapa Nui
      N TL (min–max) N TL (min–max) N TL (min–max) N TL (min–max)
      Acanthuridae Acanthurus dussumieri Herbivore − − − − 3 30–32.4 − −
      Acanthurus nigricans Herbivore − − 2 14.5–15 − − − −
      Acanthurus nigrofuscus Herbivore 3 24.8–27.9 − − − − − −
      Acanthurus triostegus Herbivore − − 3 14.4–16.8 − − − −
      Ctenochaetus striatus Herbivore 3 18.5–20 8 18.5–22.2 − − − −
      Naso lituratus Omnivore − − 2 24.4–24.6 − − − −
      Naso unicornis Herbivore 3 23.3–26.5 − − 3 27.2–30 − −
      Berycidae Beryx splendens * Carnivore − − − − − − 2 42.5–44
      Carangidae Atule mate Carnivore − − − − 3 29–30.5 − −
      Carangoides equula Carnivore − − − − − − 2 41.5–43
      Caranx sexfasciatus Carnivore 3 31.2–34.1 − − − − − −
      Elegatis bipinnulata ** Carnivore − − − − − − 4 74–80
      Selar crumenophthalmus Carnivore − − 6 27.5–30 − − − −
      Coryphaenidae Coryphaena hippurus ** Carnivore − − − − − − 1 100
      Exocoetidae Cheilopogon rapanouiensis Carnivore − − − − − − 3 37–43
      Holocentridae Myripristis kuntee Carnivore − − 5 19.7–21.2 − − − −
      Myripristis tiki Carnivore − − − − − − 2 19–20.5
      Neoniphon sammara Carnivore − − 3 18.7–19.4 − − − −
      Sargocentron caudimaculatum Carnivore − − 3 17.5–20.6 − − − −
      Sargocentron microstoma Carnivore − − 3 13.7–16.8 − − − −
      Sargocentron wilhelmi Carnivore − − − − − − 1 18.5
      Kyphosidae Kyphosus bigibbus Omnivore − − − − − − 6 28–33.5
      Lethrinidae Gymnocranius euanus Carnivore − − − − 3 28–30 − −
      Lethrinus atkinsoni Carnivore 3 34.7–36.9 − − − − − −
      Lethrinus miniatus Carnivore − − − − 6 30–47.5 − −
      Lethrinus harak Carnivore 2 20.7–21.1 − − − − − −
      Lethrinus lentjan Carnivore 3 25.3–27.2 − − − − − −
      Lethrinus variegatus Carnivore − − − − 3 29–29.5 − −
      Lutjanidae Lutjanus adetii Carnivore − − − − 3 25.5–30.5 − −
      Lutjanus bohar Carnivore 3 33.5–34 − − − − − −
      Lutjanus fulvus Carnivore − − 6 16.3–23.5 − − − −
      Lutjanus gibbus Carnivore 4 21.5–29.5 − − − − − −
      Lutjanus vitta Carnivore − − − − 3 32.5–33.5 − −
      Mugilidae Cestraeus plicatilis Omnivore − − − − 3 27–28.5 − −
      Mugil sp. Omnivore − − − − 1 30 − −
      Valamugil seheli Omnivore 3 29.8–32.5 − − 2 32–32.5 − −
      Mullidae Mulloidichthys flavolineatus Carnivore − − 6 23.5–29 − − − −
      Parupeneus barberinus Carnivore 3 27–32 − − − − − −
      Priacanthidae Cookeolus japonicus * Carnivore − − − − − − 2 22–24.5
      Priacanthus hamrur Carnivore − − 2 24.6–27.1 − − − −
      Scaridae Chlorurus sordidus Herbivore 4 21.2–23.5 5 21.4–24.8 − − − −
      Hipposcarus longiceps Herbivore − − 4 33–37.7 3 38.5–39 − −
      Scarus dimidiatus Herbivore 1 24.4 − − − − − −
      Scarus oviceps Herbivore 2 22.5–24.8 − − − − − −
      Scarus rivulatus Herbivore 3 31.2–32.4 − − 3 28.5–29.5 − −
      Scombridae Acanthocybium solandri Carnivore − − − − − − 1 120
      Rastrelliger kanagurta Carnivore 3 27.9–30.4 − − 3 29–30.5 − −
      Thunnus albacares ** Carnivore − − − − − − 2 95–100
      Serranidae Acanthistius fuscus * Carnivore − − − − − − 2 31.5–33
      Cephalopholis argus Carnivore 1 38.5 3 20.8–27.3 − − − −
      Cephalopholis urodeta Carnivore − − 1 18.2 − − − −
      Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus Carnivore 1 27.7 − − − − − −
      Epinephelus maculatus Carnivore − − − − 3 37–42 − −
      Epinephelus ongus Carnivore 3 26.3–28.2 − − − − − −
      Epinephelus polyphekadion Carnivore 3 29.6–34 − − − − − −
      Plectropomus leopardus Carnivore − − − − 2 34.5–36 − −
      Siganidae Siganus argenteus Herbivore 3 27.8–30.4 − − − − − −
      Siganus lineatus Herbivore 3 30.5–32.5 − − 1 31.5 − −
      Siganus randalli Herbivore − − − − 2 25.5–26 − −
      Siganus spinus Herbivore − − 3 19.8–22 − − − −
      Xiphiidae Xiphias gladius ** Carnivore − − − − − − 1 140
      All species are from coastal coral reefs, except those from Rapa Nui with a * (deep-sea fish) or ** (pelagic fish). N = number of fish individuals; TL= total length in cm.

      Table 1. 

      List of species sampled per site, presented in alphabetical order of the families to which they belong.

    • Family Species Site Moisture Proteins Lipids Ash Carbohydrates Energetic value
      Acanthuridae Acanthurus dussumieri New Caledonia 77.26 (1.32) 17.21 (2.47) 3.77 (1.48) 1.28 (0.19) 0.49 (0.14) 5.63 (0.31)
      Acanthurus nigricans Moorea 77.18 (0.05) 18.85 (0.92) 2.29 (0.95) 1.52 (0.07) 0.17 (0.02) 5.40 (0.16)
      Acanthurus nigrofuscus Fiji 76.17 (0.28) 16.73 (1.13) 5.47 (1.01) 1.49 (0.04) 0.13 (0.03) 6.15 (0.15)
      Acanthurus triostegus Moorea 78.99 (0.64) 11.26 (0.64) 8.12 (1.20) 1.57 (0.03) 0.06 (0.01) 5.89 (0.33)
      Ctenochaetus striatus Fiji 78.61 (0.90) 12.52 (1.3) 7.56 (0.71) 1.28 (0.18) 0.03 (0.02) 5.96 (0.17)
      Ctenochaetus striatus Moorea 78.65 (0.70) 14.25 (1.73) 5.67 (1.64) 1.35 (0.07) 0.08 (0.03) 5.63 (0.32)
      Naso lituratus Moorea 77.85 (0.22) 15.66 (1.07) 5.14 (0.96) 1.26 (0.07) 0.1 (0.05) 5.76 (0.12)
      Naso unicornis Fiji 78.33 (0.40) 13.20 (0.75) 7.05 (0.57) 1.31 (0.03) 0.11 (0.02) 5.93 (0.11)
      Naso unicornis New Caledonia 76.34 (0.47) 17.26 (0.28) 4.82 (0.63) 1.34 (0.06) 0.24 (0.07) 6.02 (0.20)
      Berycidae Beryx splendens Rapa Nui 78.39 (1.73) 15.50 (1.79) 5.15 (0.15) 0.89 (0.06) 0.09 (0.03) 5.71 (0.37)
      Carangidae Atule mate New Caledonia 73.49 (0.71) 19.01 (1.19) 5.75 (1.28) 1.47 (0.05) 0.28 (0.05) 6.81 (0.29)
      Carangoides equula Rapa Nui 81.2 (1.13) 15.68 (0.61) 1.87 (0.62) 1.01 (0.01) 0.1 (0.01) 4.46 (0.39)
      Caranx sexfasciatus Fiji 77.87 (0.40) 12.12 (0.90) 8.42 (0.82) 1.48 (0.07) 0.12 (0.01) 6.22 (0.16)
      Elegatis bipinnulata Rapa Nui 76.28 (0.99) 19.44 (0.58) 2.34 (0.62) 1.31 (0.09) 0.16 (0.04) 5.54 (0.30)
      Selar crumenophthalmus Moorea 74.49 (0.79) 21.91 (0.45) 2.08 (0.61) 1.33 (0.11) 0.20 (0.05) 6.05 (0.25)
      Coryphaenidae Coryphaena hippurus Rapa Nui 79.89 16.56 2.05 1.05 0.19 4.75
      Exocoetidae Cheilopogon rapanouiensis Rapa Nui 78.2 (0.17) 18.08 (0.3) 2.22 (0.24) 1.22 (0.02) 0.11 (0.04) 5.16 (0.04)
      Holocentridae Myripristis kuntee Moorea 77.41 (1.42) 18.44 (0.62) 2.73 (1.55) 1.26 (0.05) 0.16 (0.04) 5.47 (0.58)
      Myripristis tiki Rapa Nui 80.08 (0.52) 13.89 (1.25) 5.19 (0.67) 0.99 (0.03) 0.16 (0.04) 5.36 (0.02)
      Neoniphon sammara Moorea 76.59 (0.78) 16.59 (1.11) 5.34 (1.76) 1.33 (0.14) 0.16 (0.02) 6.07 (0.47)
      Sargocentron caudimaculatum Moorea 79.10 (1.03) 15.59 (2.28) 4.05 (1.77) 1.14 (0.13) 0.11 (0.02) 5.32 (0.30)
      Sargocentron microstoma Moorea 77.00 (0.66) 19.54 (1.27) 2.15 (0.92) 1.17 (0.05) 0.13 (0.01) 5.50 (0.17)
      Sargocentron wilhelmi Rapa Nui 83.33 13.71 1.88 0.86 0.10 3.99
      Kyphosidae Kyphosus bigibbus Rapa Nui 80.69 (1.1) 14.99 (1.19) 2.73 (0.71) 1.14 (0.13) 0.14 (0.06) 4.64 (0.26)
      Lethrinidae Gymnocranius euanus New Caledonia 79.48 (0.83) 14.46 (0.56) 4.68 (0.40) 1.16 (0.07) 0.22 (0.01) 5.29 (0.23)
      Lethrinus atkinsoni Fiji 78.5 (0.9) 13.82 (1.17) 6.24 (2.04) 1.3 (0.2) 0.13 (0.01) 5.76 (0.54)
      Lethrinus miniatus New Caledonia 78.66 (1.94) 15.33 (1.95) 4.58 (1.18) 1.26 (0.13) 0.17 (0.03) 5.46 (0.52)
      Lethrinus harak Fiji 80.03 (0.69) 16.24 (0.32) 2.91 (0.2) 0.74 (0.17) 0.09 (0.01) 5.01 (0.16)
      Lethrinus lentjan Fiji 78.22 (0.25) 14.45 (2.34) 5.74 (2.07) 1.45 (0.17) 0.13 (0.01) 5.72 (0.26)
      Lethrinus variegatus New Caledonia 78.24 (0.65) 16.25 (1.82) 3.96 (1.39) 1.29 (0.19) 0.27 (0.03) 5.45 (0.15)
      Lutjanidae Lutjanus adetii New Caledonia 79.66 (1.08) 16.39 (0.83) 2.61 (0.51) 1.13 (0.17) 0.20 (0.06) 4.94 (0.27)
      Lutjanus bohar Fiji 79.36 (0.82) 10.72 (0.68) 8.53 (0.27) 1.29 (0.1) 0.09 (0.02) 5.93 (0.25)
      Lutjanus fulvus Moorea 77.3 (0.86) 18.55 (0.79) 2.76 (0.87) 1.28 (0.12) 0.12 (0.03) 5.51 (0.29)
      Lutjanus gibbus Fiji 78.55 (0.79) 15.22 (1.09) 4.88 (1.38) 1.23 (0.13) 0.12 (0.04) 5.56 (0.37)
      Lutjanus vitta New Caledonia 80.24 (1.01) 13.69 (0.52) 4.68 (0.47) 1.12 (0.07) 0.27 (0.04) 5.13 (0.31)
      Mugilidae Cestraeus plicatilis New Caledonia 78.99 (1.11) 15.9 (1.53) 3.81 (1.15) 1.04 (0.06) 0.27 (0.06) 5.31 (0.31)
      Mugil sp. New Caledonia 75.82 18.71 4.25 1.07 0.15 6.12
      Valamugil seheli Fiji 76.96 (0.31) 18.82 (1.28) 3.08 (1.27) 1.09 (0.08) 0.04 (0.01) 5.68 (0.21)
      Valamugil seheli New Caledonia 77.74 (0.13) 17.93 (0.7) 3.25 (0.58) 1.01 (0.02) 0.06 (0.01) 5.53 (0.07)
      Mullidae Mulloidichthys flavolineatus Moorea 76.66 (0.36) 19.51 (1.23) 2.26 (1.00) 1.43 (0.11) 0.15 (0.01) 5.54 (0.15)
      Parupeneus barberinus Fiji 78.06 (0.27) 13.64 (1.41) 6.59 (1.37) 1.54 (0.11) 0.16 (0.02) 5.87 (0.22)
      Priacanthidae Cookeolus japonicus Rapa Nui 79.93 (0.49) 16.13 (0.51) 2.63 (0.14) 1.16 (0.03) 0.15 (0.06) 4.87 (0.07)
      Priacanthus hamrur Moorea 78.07 (0.41) 14.67 (0.44) 5.89 (0.02) 1.22 (0.02) 0.17 (0.01) 5.83 (0.10)
      Scaridae Chlorurus sordidus Fiji 79.79 (0.62) 13.31 (2.74) 5.63 (2.27) 1.18 (0.1) 0.10 (0.01) 5.39 (0.28)
      Chlorurus sordidus Moorea 79.72 (0.55) 14.63 (1.97) 4.22 (2.19) 1.33 (0.03) 0.11 (0.01) 5.24 (0.42)
      Hipposcarus longiceps Moorea 77.58 (0.23) 15.34 (0.90) 5.64 (0.88) 1.32 (0.11) 0.12 (0.02) 5.86 (0.16)
      Hipposcarus longiceps New Caledonia 78.48 (1.05) 15.39 (0.86) 4.59 (1.14) 1.17 (0.11) 0.37 (0.09) 5.51 (0.39)
      Scarus dimidiatus Fiji 78.90 16.24 3.52 1.22 0.11 5.26
      Scarus oviceps Fiji 78.82 (0.12) 17.08 (0.63) 2.78 (0.53) 1.23 (0.02) 0.10 (0.02) 5.16 (0.06)
      Scarus rivulatus Fiji 77.55 (1.5) 15.52 (1.15) 5.27 (0.34) 1.52 (0.03) 0.14 (0.03) 5.78 (0.39)
      Scarus rivulatus New Caledonia 79.83 (0.34) 12.85 (0.32) 5.98 (0.52) 1.24 (0.01) 0.11 (+) 5.42 (0.16)
      Scombridae Acanthocybium solandri Rapa Nui 76.24 19.61 3.32 1.31 0.12 5.96
      Rastrelliger kanagurta Fiji 74.53 (0.48) 22.01 (0.52) 2.03 (0.5) 1.26 (0.13) 0.17 (0.02) 6.05 (0.13)
      Rastrelliger kanagurta New Caledonia 76.44 (0.77) 15.54 (0.69) 6.49 (0.36) 1.36 (0.16) 0.18 (0.01) 6.26 (0.21)
      Thunnus albacares Rapa Nui 74.46 (0.15) 19.98 (0.22) 3.75 (0.74) 1.58 (0.08) 0.11 (0.03) 6.22 (0.24)
      Serranidae Acanthistius fuscus Rapa Nui 82.21 (0.56) 13.61 (0.02) 3.23 (0.65) 0.71 (0.08) 0.14 (0.06) 4.52 (0.24)
      Cephalopholis argus Fiji 76.92 16.42 5.19 1.33 0.14 5.97
      Cephalopholis argus Moorea 78.24 (0.31) 17.48 (0.79) 3.01 (0.43) 1.14 (0.15) 0.13 (0.01) 5.36 (0.06)
      Cephalopholis urodeta Moorea 77.41 17.97 3.18 1.33 0.12 5.54
      Epinephelus caeruleopunctatus Fiji 78.11 16.57 4.15 1.08 0.08 5.58
      Epinephelus maculatus New Caledonia 77.86 (0.34) 16.63 (0.59) 4.10 (0.40) 1.21 (0.01) 0.2 (0.04) 5.58 (0.1)
      Epinephelus ongus Fiji 78.81 (0.68) 16.36 (1.87) 3.52 (1.57) 1.19 (0.1) 0.12 (0.01) 5.29 (0.24)
      Epinephelus polyphekadion Fiji 75.91 (2.2) 16.9 (2.52) 5.74 (1.63) 1.29 (0.1) 0.15 (0.04) 6.30 (0.58)
      Plectropomus leopardus New Caledonia 78.24 (1.95) 17.48 (2.34) 2.88 (0.57) 1.26 (0.15) 0.13 (0.04) 5.29 (0.33)
      Siganidae Siganus argenteus Fiji 75.99 (0.47) 15.1 (1.21) 7.33 (1.44) 1.44 (0.04) 0.14 (0.01) 6.50 (0.29)
      Siganus lineatus Fiji 76.93 (0.48) 14.49 (1.6) 6.99 (1.82) 1.46 (0.05) 0.14 (0.01) 6.22 (0.36)
      Siganus lineatus New Caledonia 79.09 14.42 5.13 1.22 0.13 5.46
      Siganus randalli New Caledonia 78.8 (0.68) 14.71 (0.52) 5.11 (1.17) 1.25 (0.03) 0.13 (+) 5.52 (0.34)
      Siganus spinus Moorea 77.5 (0.71) 15.29 (3.22) 5.73 (2.86) 1.31 (0.17) 0.16 (0.03) 5.92 (0.44)
      Xiphiidae Xiphias gladius Rapa Nui 79.84 16.44 2.19 0.97 0.21 4.78
      Values in parentheses are standard deviations. Order of species as in Table 1. The species having the highest energetic values are in bold characters, and those having the lowest energetic values are in italic bold characters (three examples for both cases).

      Table 2. 

      Mean proximate composition (moisture, proteins, lipids, ash, carbohydrates) in % wet weight and energetic value in kJ·g−1 wet weight.

    • Moisture Ash Proteins Carbohydrates Lipids Energetic value
      (a) Site
      Fiji 77.86 (1.34) 1.29 (0.18) 15.34 (2.38) 0.12 (0.03) 5.39 (1.83) 5.79 (0.38)
      Moorea 77.63 (1.16) 1.31 (0.11) 16.80 (2.50) 0.13 (0.03) 4.13 (1.71) 5.64 (0.26)
      New Caledonia 78.04 (1.63) 1.21 (0.11) 16.06 (1.65) 0.22 (0.10) 4.47 (1.00) 5.59 (0.44)
      Rapa Nui 79.29 (2.42) 1.09 (0.22) 16.43 (2.15) 0.14 (0.04) 2.97 (1.09) 5.07 (0.63)
      R2 0.075 0.126 0.071 0.294 0.175 0.184
      Significance RN > FJ = NC = MO RN < FJ = NC = MO FJ < NC = MO = RN NC > FJ = MO = RN RN < FJ = NC = MO RN < FJ = NC = MO
      (b) Diet
      Herbivores 78.12 (1.15) 1.33 (0.12) 15.03 (1.78) 0.15 (0.09) 5.37 (1.49) 5.70 (0.35)
      Carnivores 78.13 (1.97) 1.21 (0.19) 16.47 (2.40) 0.15 (0.05) 4.02 (1.72) 5.61 (0.54)
      Omnivores 78.01 (1.53) 1.10 (0.08) 16.99 (1.54) 0.13 (0.07) 3.71 (0.81) 5.50 (0.46)
      R2 0.022 0.107 0.102 0.007 0.129 0.049
      Significance He = Ca = Om Om < He = Ca He < Ca = Om He = Ca = Om He > Ca = Om Om < He = Ca
      Values in parentheses are standard deviations.

      Table 3. 

      Mean proximate composition (moisture, proteins, lipids, ash, carbohydrates) in % wet weight and energetic value in kJ·g−1 wet weight, expressed by (a) site and (b) diet.

    • Species Sites Moisture Proteins Lipids Ash Carbohydrates Energetic value
      Ctenochaetus striatus FJ vs MO ns ns ns ns MO > FJ ns
      Naso unicornis FJ vs NC ns NC > FJ FJ > NC ns ns ns
      Valamugil seheli FJ vs NC ns ns ns ns ns ns
      Chlorurus sordidus FJ vs MO ns ns ns ns ns ns
      Hipposcarus longiceps MO vs NC ns ns ns ns NC > MO ns
      Scarus rivulatus FJ vs NC ns FJ > NC NC > FJ ns ns ns
      Rastrelliger kanagurta FJ vs NC ns FJ > NC NC > FJ ns ns ns
      FJ = Fiji, MO = Moorea, NC = New Caledonia. ns = non-significant (p > 0.05).

      Table 4. 

      Summary of statistical significance (Mann–Whitney test) of differences in proximate composition and energetic values (parameter values are given in Table 2) of some species between sites.