Scientists believe they have discovered three new species of tiny, colourful fish that are the foundation of the UAE's coral reefs.
The bottom-dwelling fish are so small as to be virtually imperceptible and evaded previous surveys of Gulf reef fish, a conference at New York University Abu Dhabi heard on Monday.
But the diminutive marine creatures, known as cryptobenthic fish, are a diverse bunch that can account for up to 60 per cent of fish eaten in reefs.
Genetic testing will confirm whether new species have been identified. The study found an additional four species previously unseen in UAE waters.
The species were discovered during research on adaptation to the hot waters of the Arabian Gulf, where temperatures range from 16°C to 36°C, making it a favoured destination for scientists studying the effect of warming on the world's oceans.
Biologists anaesthetised small patches of the reef with clove oil under a plastic cover to take stock of the reef’s biodiversity.
Of the 44 cryptobenthic species found in the Gulf of Oman, only 21 were found in the Arabian Gulf, where water temperatures are more extreme.
The slender fish are no larger than 40 millimetres and weigh less than two grams. They feed on algae and micro invertebrates and despite their importance to reef life, they have been overlooked as coral, sharks and larger fish typically get the attention.
Some live no more than 30 days, a short lifespan allows that makes them a good study for environmental adaptations.
“You have very rapid adaptation to different environment conditions so they’re very interesting to look at in terms of how they have solved the problem of extreme heat, for instance,” said Jacob Johansen, an assistant research professor at University of Hawaii and the leader of the study.
“You can get more information from those than some of the big fish that live 50 years.”
The potential new species appear closely related to Trimma coratinum, Hetereleotris vulgaris and Escenius pulcher but have different colouration.
For example, one potential new species resembling the Gulf blenny (Escenius pulcher) has bulkier eyes and a white belly.
The discovery of new species is not a surprise, said Mr Johansen.
“Honestly, when you look this deep into the reef, pretty much anywhere on the planet, you’re going to find something new.”
What was surprising was what the fish ate and what they did not. The study found species in the Arabian Gulf had a completely different diet to their relatives in the Gulf of Oman, even when the same food sources were available.
Fish regulate their body temperature depending on the surrounding environment. When water temperature increases, so will their metabolism and nergy needs, which could explain the change in diet.
“We need to understand why there’s a shift and what they’re shifting to and from,” said Mr Johansen. “If you’re relying on certain species to fulfill a role, that’s a fundamental shift you need to understand.”
The findings were presented on the opening day of a conference on coral reefs by NYU Abu Dhabi.
Species that may otherwise not warrant much attention can become critical when diets change, Mr Johansen said.
"We need to understand things like diet so we can understand how changing conditions are going to affect these fish," said Alyssa Marshell, an assistant professor at Sultan Qaboos University.
"They're the base of the food chain so we need to know what are they eating, whether it depends on the environment; if the environment changes is that going to influence their populations? If it does, that will fall on to the rest of the ecosystem."
ELIO
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Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
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Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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