Prachet and Michael Beruman of woods hole oceanographic institution, USA, published a paper in the Journal of Behavioral Ecology and Biological Sociology, saying that due to the over-exploitation of human beings, environmental pollution and the influence of climate change, the global coral reef ecosystem is deteriorating, and the unique feeding habits of butterfly fish make it more dangerous.
"Ironically, butterfly fish with three stripes are widely distributed all over the world and should have a great chance of survival." Prachet said, "But they only eat table-shaped axis corals. If this coral dies, the three-striped butterfly fish will also disappear from the coral reef. " It is hard for researchers to believe that some fish would rather starve to death than eat mixed food, so they tested butterfly fish with many different corals. The results show that fish grow well when they can eat their favorite coral. Once fed with other corals, butterfly fish will "slim down", grow slowly, and some even die.
The delicious table-shaped axial hole coral of butterfly fish is a high-risk species, which is easily damaged by storms and invaded by echinococcosis (the abnormal flooding of this fish is thought to be caused by human discharge of nutrients, fertilizers or sewage), and the rising sea surface temperature caused by global warming will also lead to coral bleaching.
"It is estimated that as many as 70% of coral reefs in the world are seriously degraded, including this special coral. If it develops, the three-striped butterfly fish will disappear. " Prachet said.
"To make matters worse, butterfly fish is one of the most popular species in the coral fish family. But it is obviously not suitable for keeping in an aquarium, and it often dies because it can't get the main food source. "He said.
There have been precedents for the extinction of goby before. This coral-dependent fish is only found in Jinbei Bay, Papua New Guinea. Scientists believe that their disappearance may be due to the destruction of habitats.