ABSTRACT
Parrotfish are found on almost every coral reef of the world. It is this ubiquity, coupled with their unique functional impact, which makes them one of the most important, and most researched, groups of fishes on coral reefs. This chapter provides an overview of what is known of the ecology of parrotfishes, highlights promising and emerging topics of research, and suggests future research directions. Parrotfishes are largely viewed in terms of their top-down impacts on benthic communities. There is a clear need to change our thinking to consider how bottom-up processes may shape parrotfish populations and assemblages. This will require a shift from the current focus on the consequences of feeding to a holistic approach to understanding both the causes and consequences of parrotfish feeding, how changes in reef condition may influence foraging decisions, and an understanding of ontogenetic shifts in habitat requirements. Studies investigating the physiology, thermal tolerance and potential for behavioural thermoregulation represent exciting research directions. With coral reefs in global decline, thoughts turn to what the future holds for parrotfish populations. We already know parrotfish are essential for healthy reef ecosystem, but are healthy reefs essential for parrotfishes?
