July 20, 0725 hours. A group consisting of 2 parrotfishes 

 ( Sparisoma aurofrenatum ) , 8 surgeonf ishes (A. bahianus ) , 

 and 4 spotted goatf ishes, moved together over the plain 

 in 15 m depth 20 m from the reef. 



FISH FEEDING TRIALS 



On eight occasions, samples of plants were collected on the algal 

 plain and brought into the habitat, sorted by species, tied in 

 bundles, and weighted with small pieces of lead. The bundles were 

 then placed on level sand between the habitat and the reef, and 

 notes were made on the responses of fishes in the area during the 

 hours and days that followed: 



Chlorophyta included in the trials were Anadyomene stellata , 

 Avrainvillea nigricans , Caulerpa ashmeadii , C^. cupressoides , 

 C^. mexicana, C^. prolifera , Codium isthmocladium , Halimeda Incrassata , 

 H. simulans , Penicillus capitatus , P^. dumetosus , P^. pyrif ormis , 

 Udotea conglutinata , Udotea cyathif ormis , U. verticillosa ; the 

 Phaeophyta were: Dictyota dichotoma , D^. divaricata , and Lobophora 

 variegata ; the Rhodophyta: Acanthophora. spicifera , Digenia 

 simplex , Galaxura flagellif ormis , Gracilaria cylindrica , 

 Laurencia intricata , L. papillosa and Wrightlella tumanowiczii ; 

 the Spermatophyta: Syringodium filiforme . 



Some plants attracted more attention than others, and were consumed 

 rapidly. Codium , Halimeda , and Wrightiella were most readily taken, 

 and usually were totally eaten within 24 hours. Syringodium , 

 Acanthophora , Anadyomene , Galaxura , Gracilaria and species of 

 Gaulerpa , Udotea , Dictyota , and Laurencia , were readily eaten by 

 several fish species, but remained after 24 hours. Species of 

 Penicillus and Avrainvillea were largely ignored, and plants remained 

 almost intact several days after presentation. 



VI-162 



