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Indirect predator effects influence behaviour but not morphology of juvenile coral reef A mbon damselfish Pomacentrus amboinensis
Author(s) -
Arvizu Brittany,
Allan Bridie J. M.,
Rizzari Justin R.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.14728
Subject(s) - damselfish , biology , predator , predation , juvenile , coral reef fish , pomacentridae , predatory fish , ecology , coral reef , fishery , zoology
A 6‐week laboratory experiment exposed juvenile Ambon damselfish Pomacentrus amboinensis to visual and chemical cues of either a predator, a herbivore or a null control (sea water) and found no effect of predator cues on prey morphology (proportion of ocellus to eye diameter, body depth, standard length and fin area). Nonetheless, behaviour was significantly affected by predator presence, with prey less active and taking half as many feeding strikes when exposed to predators compared to fish from the null control. The presence of a herbivore also affected prey behaviour similar to that of the predator, suggesting that the presence of a non‐predator may have important effects on development.