mg
25,
Pursuing a parrotfish
2 hr
•
FROM PROJECT REEF ED
© Great Barrier Fleet Marine Park
Authority
Concepts
Fish structure
• To investigate the lifestyle of a parrotfish (family Scaridae).
Fish behaviour
Interrelationship
You will need
Adaptation
• Snorkelling gear
Skills
•
Underwater slate and pencil
Observing
e Reef-walking shoes
Recording
This activity requires one hour at high tide and one hour at low tide.
underwater
Attitudes
Appreciation
Perseverence
Enjoyment of
outdoor
experience
4. Can you observe
where these
creatures have been feeding?
As
the school
moves on, examine the coral more closely.
5. Follow the school and try to observe how
many individuals are
present. Are
they all the same colour? Are
they all the same
species? Are they all the same
size?
6. As you follow the school, try to observe what types of corals are
grazed. Make
as many observations as you can on behaviour and
factors which
you believe
are important in the life of a parrotfish.
At low tide
7. Walk across the
reef flat at low tide, leave your sandshoes on a conspicuous
coral boulder and put on your fins and mask.
8. Find a school of parrotfish close to the reef edge. Repeat the observations you
made at high tide. However, make comparisons between the behaviour of the
school
at low tide and
at high tide. Do the fish appear to be as active?
Are
the
schools larger or smaller? Is feeding activity as intense?
Aim
What to do
At
high tide
1. Before going into the
water, put a copy of the outline drawing of a parrotfish
on your underwater slate.
2. Snorkel across the reef flat and find a school of parrotfish.
3. Lie very
still in the water
and listen. What do you hear?
50
