Spatial organization of the Jamaican damselfish community

Itzkowitz, Murray

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(77)90093-4

Cited by 102 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The greatest variation was in those families that are generally small, demersal, and have particular benthic requirements for turf and filamentous algae (acanthurids, e.g., Robertson 1991) and territories (pomacentrids, e.g., Itzkowitz 1977). Similarly, labrids from the genera Halichoeres and Thalassoma have high site fidelity (Jones 2005), and the biomasses of small serranids are affected by coral and algal cover (Sluka et al 1996).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropical Coastal Habitats as Surrogates of Fish Community Structure, Grazing, and Fisheries Value

Harborne

Mumby

Kappel

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. Habitat maps are frequently invoked as surrogates of biodiversity to aid the design of networks of marine reserves. Maps are used to maximize habitat heterogeneity in reserves because this is likely to maximize the number of species protected. However, the technique's efficacy is limited by intra-habitat variability in the species present and their abundances. Although communities are expected to vary among patches of the same habitat, this variability is poorly documented and rarely incorporated into reserve planning. To examine intra-habitat variability in coral-reef fishes, we generated a data set from eight tropical coastal habitats and six islands in the Bahamian archipelago using underwater visual censuses. Firstly, we provide further support for habitat heterogeneity as a surrogate of biodiversity as each predefined habitat type supported a distinct assemblage of fishes. Intrahabitat variability in fish community structure at scales of hundreds of kilometers (among islands) was significant in at least 75% of the habitats studied, depending on whether presence/absence, density, or biomass data were used. Intra-habitat variability was positively correlated with the mean number of species in that habitat when density and biomass data were used. Such relationships provide a proxy for the assessment of intra-habitat variability when detailed quantitative data are scarce. Intra-habitat variability was examined in more detail for one habitat (forereefs visually dominated by Montastraea corals). Variability in community structure among islands was driven by small, demersal families (e.g., territorial pomacentrid and labrid fishes). Finally, we examined the ecological and economic significance of intra-habitat variability in fish assemblages on Montastraea reefs by identifying how this variability affects the composition and abundances of fishes in different functional groups, the key ecosystem process of parrotfish grazing, and the ecosystem service of value of commercially important finfish. There were significant differences in a range of functional groups and grazing, but not fisheries value. Variability at the scale of tens of kilometers (among reefs around an island) was less than that among islands. Caribbean marine reserves should be replicated at scales of hundreds of kilometers, particularly for species-rich habitats, to capture important intra-habitat variability in community structure, function, and an ecosystem process.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropical Coastal Habitats as Surrogates of Fish Community Structure, Grazing, and Fisheries Value

Harborne

Mumby

Kappel

et al. 2008

Ecological Applications

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“…This indicates that only host corals harbouring a high percentage of breeding pairs are a primary habitat of superior competitors, in which interspecific competition plays a major role. In high-density populations, individuals may initially have to settle in suboptimal habitats (Itzkowitz 1977) and then move to better territories when they become available; this adjustment is accompanied by increased reproductive performance (Itzkowitz 1991). Dominance hierarchies among Gobiodon spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microhabitat specialisation and ecological consequences for coral gobies of the genus Gobiodon in the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea

Dirnwöber¹,

Herler²

2007

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The microhabitat selection and distribution of 6 coral-associated species of Gobiodon were examined in the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea, including 3 recently discovered species. A total of 1626 fishes were counted visually using 10 × 1 m belt transects in 1731 colonies of 13 species of Acropora. Niche segregation was observed at the level of coral species. Gobiodon sp. 2 was the most specialised, occupying only A. hyacinthus; Gobiodon sp. 1 was most generalised (occupying 3 species of Acropora more frequently than expected). G. reticulatus was a zone specialist that preferred deeper water regions. Less specialised species were able to use substitute host corals, which enabled them to maintain extraordinarily high abundance. G. histrio, for example, preferred the rare A. digitifera, but was common in the very abundant A. acuminata, although proportionally fewer breeding pairs were established in the latter. When compared to the western Pacific, G. histrio showed a more generalised behaviour in the northern Red Sea, and different coral species served as host corals; the latter also holds true for the even more generalised G. rivulatus. Hence, species of Gobiodon appear to alter host-use and degree of specialisation on a global scale.

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“…However, other researchers considered the distributions of reef fishes, as well as species richness and/or diversity, to be a function of substrate and shelter characteristics (e.g. Risk 1972, Emery 1973, Clarke 1977, Itzkowitz 1977, Luckhurst & Luckhurst 1978, Gladfelter et al 1980, Waldner & Robertson 1980, Bell & Galzin 1984, Shulman 1985, Roberts & Ormond 1987, Hixon & Beets 1993. Wellington (1982) indicated the importance of depth-related gradients in substrate complexity, whereas Alevizon et al (1985) suggested that the influence of depth on habitat structure was subordinate to other factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correspondence between assemblages of coral reef fishes and gradients of water motion, depth, and substrate size off Puerto Rico

McGehee¹

1994

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

101

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Censuses were taken at 8 coral reefs in southwest Puerto Rico to identlfy assemblages of flshes and to determine whether water motion, depth, and substrate were correlated with fish distributlon and abundance. Each reef was sampled by recording species and abundance of fishes and substrate sizes within quadrats placed at different depths (from reef crest to an average of 6 m deep) along transects placed on forereefs and backreefs. Water motion was examined by measuring the amount of dissolution of plaster-of-Paris blocks w h~c h gave a relative index of the degree of water movement wlthin and among reefs. Data collected on 14 fish specles and measurements of water motion, degree of reef slope, and 4 sizes of substrate over 32 transects were analyzed to identify species groups and examine ecological correlates. The analyses indicated 3 species assemblages which d~ffered in distnbution and abundance within reefs (backreef, shallow forereef, and deep forereef) and among reefs (nearshore, intermediate, and offshore reefs). Similarly, water movement, depth, reef slope and substrate size occurred as gradients that differed significantly within and among reefs. Fishes in Assemblage 1 included primarily Ophioblennius atlanticus. Thalassoma bifasciatum, Stegastes dorsopunicans, and Microspathodon chrysurus. These species were most common on the shallow forereef, particularly at offshore reefs (those farthest from land); these sites were characterized by a high degree of water motion, gentle forereef slope, and boulder-sized substrate. Assemblage 2 species included Stegastesplanifrons, Hypoplectrus chlorurus, and Holocentrus rufus. These fishes were most abundant on the deep forereef, especially at nearshore reefs (sites closest to land), which were typified by relatively low water movement, steep slope, and smaller substrate sizes. Fishes in Assemblage 3 (Stegastes leucostictus and Malacoctenus macropus) were most numerous in the backreef where water motion, slope inclination, and substrate sizes were minimal compared with the forereef. While biological variables are undoubtedly important in determining species distributions, the different assemblages were found to be correlated with variations in water motion, depth, and substrate type. These 3 physical variables occurred as interrelated gradients, but the analyses suggested that water movement energy was the environmental factor most strongly associated with species distributions.

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Spatial organization of the Jamaican damselfish community

Cited by 102 publications

References 12 publications

Tropical Coastal Habitats as Surrogates of Fish Community Structure, Grazing, and Fisheries Value

Tropical Coastal Habitats as Surrogates of Fish Community Structure, Grazing, and Fisheries Value

Microhabitat specialisation and ecological consequences for coral gobies of the genus Gobiodon in the Gulf of Aqaba, northern Red Sea

Correspondence between assemblages of coral reef fishes and gradients of water motion, depth, and substrate size off Puerto Rico

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