Niche Separation of Two Damselfish Species by Aggression and Differential Microhabitat Utilization

Abstract

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Lethal effects of habitat degradation on fishes through changing competitive advantage

“…It appears that the avoidance of aggression from the dominant P. amboinensis either forces the subordinate P. moluccensis into a more vulnerable location, or distracts them and thereby lowers their vigilance to nearby predators. Competitive dominance can shift among species depending on habitat characteristics in damselfishes [25], but the present study highlights that this will not always be the case. It also highlights that interference competition can have a major indirect effect on mortality through habitat-related behavioural modification.…”

Experimental evaluation of the roles of habitat selection and interspecific competition in determining patterns of host use by two anemonefishes

“…Despite often strong interspecific competition, a number of studies have failed to demonstrate any effect of 1 competing species on the growth and mortality of another (Doherty 1982, Robertson 1984, Roberts 1987, Jones 1988, 1991. However, a number of studies have shown that interspecific pat-terns of resource use can be influenced by competition (Ebersole 1985, Robertson & Gaines 1986, and in 1 study a long-term effect of one species on the abund.ance of another c0mpetin.g species has been demonstrated (Robertson 1996). Therefore, although there has been considerable speculation that competition is important in the ecology of tropical reef fishes, it has not been widely demonstrated.…”

Symmetrical effects of interspecific competition on congeneric coral-reef fishes

“…Interspecific competition that is highly asymmetrical has been shown to influence the distribution of coral-reef fishes among microhabitats (e.g. Ebersole 1985, Robertson & Gaines 1986, Clarke 1989, Munday et al 2001, McCormick & Weaver 2012. At a similar scale (within local populations), I have demonstrated that competition that is symmetrical between species can also determine the distribution of juvenile coral-reef fishes.…”