What would happen if Cleaner Wrasse were to become extinct?
Clearly, Cleaner Wrasse have an important role in the reef Ecosystem, which can affect the health of fish and balance of the entire reef. If Cleaner Wrasse became extinct, disease spreading, fish infecting parasites would roam the reef infecting all fish, predators and prey alike.
Parasitic Copepods, the primary composition of a Cleaner Wrasse's diet can have potentially devastating affects on the reef if their numbers are not culled by Cleaner Wrasse. When these Copepods latch onto their fish host, they have the potential to cause tissue damage, skin erosion and hemorrhaging. These Parasites feed on the host fish's mucous, tissue and blood. Such feeding activities are often responsible for the development of disease, which is produced, carried and transferred by such Copepods. These diseases combined with the external wounds caused by the parasites can be a devastating duo, which could potentially cause the death of many fish and destruction of the entire ecosystem. If Cleaner Wrasse became extinct the numbers of these parasites would increase greatly and this means that more fish would become infected. With more fish being infected, there is a greater chance of the development of disease and a greater chance of fish mortality. Fish ranging from tiny Damsel Fish to large White Tip Reef Sharks could die, which would greatly affect the reef food web and the entire reef Ecosystem.
For example, if large numbers of Damsel Fish became infected by these parasites and died, the predators of the Damselfish would have to look for other food options, which could be potentially problematic. Also, the numbers of the Damsel Fish's primary food source, algae, would flourish. If the amount of algae in the reef became prolific, the water would be deoxygenized, the water temperature would change and all aqua life fish, coral, sea grasses etc. would all be affected.
These parasites could affect any ocean fish, large, small, carnivore or herbivore, predator or prey. It is scary to think of the devastating affect prolific amounts of these parasites could do to fish, coral and the reef at large. Thankfully, Cleaner Wrasse eat the Copepods, gaining nutrients and keeping the reef balanced and thriving at the same time.
Parasitic Copepods, the primary composition of a Cleaner Wrasse's diet can have potentially devastating affects on the reef if their numbers are not culled by Cleaner Wrasse. When these Copepods latch onto their fish host, they have the potential to cause tissue damage, skin erosion and hemorrhaging. These Parasites feed on the host fish's mucous, tissue and blood. Such feeding activities are often responsible for the development of disease, which is produced, carried and transferred by such Copepods. These diseases combined with the external wounds caused by the parasites can be a devastating duo, which could potentially cause the death of many fish and destruction of the entire ecosystem. If Cleaner Wrasse became extinct the numbers of these parasites would increase greatly and this means that more fish would become infected. With more fish being infected, there is a greater chance of the development of disease and a greater chance of fish mortality. Fish ranging from tiny Damsel Fish to large White Tip Reef Sharks could die, which would greatly affect the reef food web and the entire reef Ecosystem.
For example, if large numbers of Damsel Fish became infected by these parasites and died, the predators of the Damselfish would have to look for other food options, which could be potentially problematic. Also, the numbers of the Damsel Fish's primary food source, algae, would flourish. If the amount of algae in the reef became prolific, the water would be deoxygenized, the water temperature would change and all aqua life fish, coral, sea grasses etc. would all be affected.
These parasites could affect any ocean fish, large, small, carnivore or herbivore, predator or prey. It is scary to think of the devastating affect prolific amounts of these parasites could do to fish, coral and the reef at large. Thankfully, Cleaner Wrasse eat the Copepods, gaining nutrients and keeping the reef balanced and thriving at the same time.
Above is a rather graphic picture of a large Parasitic Copepod which has attached itself to a host fish