This document summarizes the fish populations present in the Biosphere 2 Ocean habitat. It describes several species of reef fish from the surgeonfish, tang, angelfish, and damselfish families that inhabit different depths. Yellow tangs are the most numerous and prefer deeper areas, while sergeant majors live in the shallow lagoon. All fish follow a daily feeding routine and seek shelter at night. Although corals are no longer living, the fish have survived on algae that coats the rock structures.

1. Acanthuridae
(surgeonfishes, tangs,
unicornfishes)
Naso tang or
Orangespine Unicornfish
Naso literatus
P
Atlantic blue tang
Acanthurus coeruleus
Doctorfish tang
Acanthurus chirurgus
Yellow tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
P
Rock beauty angelfish
Holocanthus tricolor
Pomacanthidae
(angelfishes)
Potter’s angelfish or
Russet angelfish
Centropyge potteri
P
Pomacentridae (damselfishes)
The Fish of Biosphere 2’s Ocean
Atlantic Blue Tang
Doctorfish Tang
Naso Tang
(not present now)
Rock Beauty Angelfish
Sergeant-Major
Yellow Tang
Unidentified
(not present now)
(not present now)
FISH DISTRIBUTION IN THE B2 OCEAN Transcect sampling data from Fall 2009
Depth(meters)
Kole tang or
Spotted surgeonfish
Ctenochaetus strigosus
P
Credits
Compiled by Becky Nankivell of UA Sullivan/ Tucson
Marine Phage Lab. 2009-2011 Fish studies by Angelina
Uribe, Ian McGill, and Cassandra Fausel, supervised by
Matthew B. Sullivan. May 2012
= 12 in.
P = native to Pacific
Sergeant-major
Abudefduf saxatilis
REEF-DWELLING FISH
The fish of the Biosphere 2 Ocean are reef-dwelling species from the Atlantic (including the Caribbean Sea
and Gulf of Mexico) and the Pacific Oceans. The B2 ocean was originally designed as a Caribbean-type coral
reef biome. In 1993, more live material was added (the details were not well documented), and in 1996 Pacific
corals from Hawaii and Fiji were also added.
ALGAE-FEEDERS
Although there are not any live corals remaining in the ocean, these fish have survived because they feed
primarily on the filamentous cyanobacteria (algae), which covers the ocean rock formations.
ACTIVITY IN THE B2 OCEAN
A team of undergraduate
students observed a daily routine
among all the fish, with group
feeding occurring after dawn and
before sunset, as well as individual
feeding throughout the day. All of
the fish seek shelter in rock or coral
crevices at night.
Yellow tangs are the most
numerous fish, and prefer the
deepest end of the ocean. Kole
tangs and Doctorfish tangs have
similar behavior. Blue tangs and
Naso tangs travel between the
deep water and the shallow
lagoon. Rock beauty angelfish are
found in both deep and shallow
water, but tend to stay relatively
close to their nighttime shelters.
Sergeant major live in the shallow
lagoon.
THREE FAMILIES
The Acanthuridae are sometimes known as "surgeonfish" because
of the sharp spines or "scalpels" on either side of the base of their
tales. These are used in fighting among members of the same
species, and also for defense from predators.
The Pomacanthidae are the colorful marine "angelfish". The family
name comes from the Greek poma meaning "cover" and akantha
meaning "thorn", and refers to the strong spine found on each gill
covers.
The Pomacentridae are known for their territorial behavior,
protecting an area of habitat including food and shelter. In all species,
the male clears and defends a nest area and attracts females with a
ritualised courtship display. The eggs are laid in the nest, and the
male guards the eggs until they hatch.