Premium
Influence of Corals in the Dispersion of the Pomacentrid Fish, Dascyllus Aruanus
Author(s) -
Sale Peter F.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1934795
Subject(s) - coral , reef , coral reef , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , fishery , coral reef fish , biology
Coral colonies suitable for use as shelter are an important resource for the pomacentrid reef fish, Dascyllus aruanus. Each fish restricts its movements to the vicinity of a single colony which may be shared with several other individuals. This paper examines the pattern of distribution of individuals of this species among corals. The correlation between the number of fish in a group and the area of the colony used by the group was determined for 16 locations on a reef. The strength of this correlation varied greatly, but a significant relationship (P<0.01) existed between its strength and the intensity of use of the corals in each sampling area. In those places where use of coral was most intense, the correlation between the number of fish in a group and the area of the coral used by the group approached unity. The results indicate that the available suitable corals are fully used in only some parts of a reef, but than in these parts, an efficient dispersion of fish among corals is achieved. The behavioral mechanisms by which the dispersion might be attained are discussed.