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Determinants of Community Structure for Coral Reef Fishes in an Experimental Habitat
Author(s) -
Sale Peter F.,
Dybdahl Rand
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1934701
Subject(s) - habitat , acropora , biology , ecology , coral reef fish , coral , reef , coral reef , global biodiversity
We examined the patterns of distribution of species of resident fishes in an experimental habitat consisting of 10 small live colonies of the coral Acropora pulchra (L—units), and 10 similar sized pieces of eroded coralline rock (D—units). Approximately every 4 mo for 2 yr, all fish in each unit were collected. Numbers collected were similar at all times to numbers in control units that were not disturbed. A total of 630 fishes and 56 species were collected; most species were rare in our sample. Greater numbers of fish and of species were collected when recruitment had taken place during summer months. Greater numbers of fish and of species were collected from L— than from D—units. Only three species were demonstrated to be seasonal in recruitment. No temperal partitioning of the habitat was demonstrated. Five common species showed marked preferences for L—units, but most species did not make this discrimination. Comparisons of samples from L—units with samples from D—units showed somewhat less faunal similarity than comparisons between samples from the same type of unit. There was no evidence that fishes occupying units of one type partitioned the habitat on the basis of precise microhabitat requirements that would have caused particular species to occur consistently in particular units. There was on indication that any pair of species mutually excluded each other from units. With the exception of those few species which distinguished D— and L—units, we conclude that the distribution of species among units is a result of chance colonization, not of a systematic partitioning of the living space provided. We anticipate this conclusion to have general validity for reef fish communities. Some consequences for our understanding of the small—scale distribution of fishes on coral reefs are discussed.