What is a significant ecological consequence that could cause a localized population of *Zebrasoma flavescens* to decline within their known boundaries?
A severe bleaching event causing prolonged high temperatures.
As a tropical species, the Yellow Tang is highly sensitive to changes in ocean health, particularly temperature. Prolonged high temperatures, often associated with coral reef degradation and bleaching events, pose a direct threat to their survival within a specific area. These temperature spikes diminish two essential resources: the algal turf that forms their primary food base, and the structural integrity of the reef that provides them with necessary shelter during the night. The loss of either habitat or food source due to thermal stress can lead directly to localized population declines, effectively shrinking the usable range even if the theoretical geographic distribution remains unchanged.
