Papers by Kimberly Peyton
Aquatic Botany, Oct 1, 2010
A species of seagrass in the genus Halophila was found growing in a shallow lagoon on the west sh... more A species of seagrass in the genus Halophila was found growing in a shallow lagoon on the west shore of Antigua in the Caribbean West Indies. Genetic analysis showed the plants were Halophila ovalis. In addition, the samples had no genetic deviation (using nrDNA sequences) from Halophila johnsonii, considered to be an endemic and endangered species in Florida, USA. Morphological analysis demonstrated the Antiguan Halophila to be well within the range of plant characteristics previously described in the literature for H. ovalis, except for leaf width and number of seeds per fruit, and again, not different from H. johnsonii and very closely related to H. ovalis from the Indo-Pacific. Ours is the first report of H. ovalis in the Tropical Atlantic bioregion.
Pacific Science, 2006
French Frigate Shoals represents a relatively unpolluted tropical Pacific atoll system with algal... more French Frigate Shoals represents a relatively unpolluted tropical Pacific atoll system with algal assemblages minimally impacted by anthropogenic activities. This study qualitatively assessed algal assemblages at 57 sites, thereby increasing the number of algal species known from French Frigate Shoals by over 380% with 132 new records reported, four being species new to the Hawaiian Archipelago, Bryopsis indica, Gracilaria millardetii, Halimeda distorta, and an unidentified species of Laurencia. Cheney ratios reveal a truly tropical flora, despite the subtropical latitudes spanned by the atoll system. Multidimensional scaling showed that the flora of French Frigate Shoals exhibits strong similarities to that of the main Hawaiian Islands and has less commonality with that of most other Pacific island groups.
Pacific Science, 2007
The Indo-Pacific damselfish Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) was first observed in the... more The Indo-Pacific damselfish Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) was first observed in the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1990s and is now clearly established as a breeding population in the Islands. Sightings of fish with color patterns intermediate between those of A. vaigiensis and the very similar endemic Hawaiian sergeant, Abudefduf abdominalis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825), suggest that hybridization of the two has occurred naturally. This study provides direct evidence of crossbreeding from observations and video footage of two separate spawnings in nearshore waters of O'ahu and a third spawning in a public aquarium display tank. Reproductive behaviors were similar in intra-and interspecific spawning. However, one important difference was the absence of courtship by the male A. abdominalis toward the female A. vaigiensis in the interspecific spawnings. Instead, the female A. vaigiensis initiated spawning and the male A. abdominalis remained to fertilize, guard, fan, and clean the hybrid clutch along with a previous clutch until the embryos hatched. Embryos collected from one hybrid clutch showed normal embryonic development and subsequently hatched to produce viable swimming larvae. These observations represent a rare example of interspecific spawning in the damselfish family (Pomacentridae) and an exceptional opportunity to study hybridization and introgression in a wild population of coral reef fishes.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 2014
and sharing with colleagues.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 2004
Algae colonize the gelatinous egg masses of marine invertebrates. This study demonstrates a symbi... more Algae colonize the gelatinous egg masses of marine invertebrates. This study demonstrates a symbiotic relationship between marine algae and the invertebrate embryos in gelatinous egg masses found in Indian River Lagoon, FL, USA. The benefits to the embryos in this ...
Coral Reefs, 2005
Reefs in tropical atoll systems have historically been described on a geomorphic basis, and segre... more Reefs in tropical atoll systems have historically been described on a geomorphic basis, and segregated into loosely defined fore-reef, back-reef, and lagoonal reef zones. However, recent oceanographic monitoring data have shown that physical factors within a single geomorphic zone can vary significantly, calling into question whether benthic communities within a single zone are biologically similar. To determine the amount of benthic variability that may occur in a geomorphic zone, percent cover of benthic organisms was determined at the species level for 28 sites in three geomorphic zones at French Frigate Shoals, Northwestern Hawai'ian Islands. Multivariate statistical analyses found most windward fore-reef and back-reef sites to be statistically similar, but considerable variation to exist among sites within calmer lagoonal areas. Surveys revealed macroalgae to dominate over scleractinian coral species at the majority of sites in this healthy, subtropical reef system, although select lagoonal areas were dominated by dense coral communities.
Aquatic Botany, 2010
A species of seagrass in the genus Halophila was found growing in a shallow lagoon on the west sh... more A species of seagrass in the genus Halophila was found growing in a shallow lagoon on the west shore of Antigua in the Caribbean West Indies. Genetic analysis showed the plants were Halophila ovalis. In addition, the samples had no genetic deviation (using nrDNA sequences) from Halophila johnsonii, considered to be an endemic and endangered species in Florida, USA. Morphological analysis demonstrated the Antiguan Halophila to be well within the range of plant characteristics previously described in the literature for H. ovalis, except for leaf width and number of seeds per fruit, and again, not different from H. johnsonii and very closely related to H. ovalis from the Indo-Pacific. Ours is the first report of H. ovalis in the Tropical Atlantic bioregion.
PloS one, 2014
Herbivory is a fundamental process determining reef resilience, and while algal farming damselfis... more Herbivory is a fundamental process determining reef resilience, and while algal farming damselfishes can help shape benthic assemblages, an understanding of their contribution to areas outside of defended territories is relatively unexplored. Here, we demonstrate how the farming damselfish Stegastes marginatus plays a dual role in benthic structuring by 1) contributing to persistence of the invasive macroalga Acanthophora spicifera within a Hawaiian marine protected area, where the macroalga occurred exclusively inside Stegastes territories, and 2) behaving as an opportunistic browser of the exotic alga outside their territorial borders. Greater than 50% of the biomass of tethered A. spicifera was consumed within one-hour when placed outside Stegastes territories, compared to <5% lost from tethers within territories or herbivore exclusion cages. In situ remote video revealed that tethered A. spicifera located outside territories was grazed primarily by the surgeonfish Acanthurus ...
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Papers by Kimberly Peyton