Interactions of coral reef cleaner species in the Mexican Caribbean

The cleaning symbiosis in coral reef fish is one of the most remarkable mutualist marine interactions; the main actors are cleaner and client fishes, that communicate via tactile and visual stimulation, and the specific sites where this interaction happens are called cleaning stations. The removal of ectoparasites is a contribution to the health of clients, which may have an important role as herbivores or carnivores, and therefore also a contribution for a healthy ecosystem. The aim of this work was to identify the cleaning interaction as an indicator of reef health in the center-south of the Mexican Caribbean. Hence, we located and described the cleaning stations and the attributes of cleaner and client fishes for three climatic seasons in four locations with different degrees of conservation (i.e., time since declaration as protected areas), in the biosphere reserves of Sian Ka'an and Mexican Caribbean. Bluehead Thalassoma bifasciatum was the dominant cleaner fish in the dry and north-wind seasons, and it interacted with 27 species of client fishes year-round. The frequency of client fishes changes with the seasons; parrotfishes are the favorite clients in the dry season, and surgeonfishes for the north-wind season. We recorded for the first time high-hat Pareques acuminatus acting as a cleaner. Cleaning stations are more numerous in Mahahual, the location with the highest human impact; however, the higher structural complexity and area of this reef can explain the observed diversity of the client and cleaner species.

Automated summary

The cleaning symbiosis between cleaner and client fishes is a remarkable mutualist marine interaction, contributing to the health of clients and the ecosystem. This study aimed to identify cleaning interactions as indicators of reef health in the Mexican Caribbean. Cleaning stations and attributes of cleaner and client fishes were located and described for three seasons in four locations. Bluehead Thalassoma bifasciatum was the dominant cleaner fish, interacting with 27 species of client fishes year-round. The frequency of client fishes varied with seasons and different species were favored. High-hat Pareques acuminatus was recorded for the first time as a cleaner. The number of cleaning stations was higher in areas with high human impact, but the diversity of client and cleaner species could be explained by higher structural complexity and reef area.