塔里木胡杨林保护区塔里木马鹿生境动态及其影响因素分析

采用GIS技术,结合实地考察数据和历史数据,通过对信息加工与处理,对1973-2003年间塔里木胡杨林自然保护区马鹿塔里木亚种（Cervus elaphus yarkandensis）分布区的生境动态情况进行了研究,同时对影响塔里木马鹿栖息地变化的主要因素进行了分析。结果表明,自1973-2003年在塔里木胡杨林自然保护区中各种生境类型的变化比较显著,其中（1）水资源严重缺乏,水量剧烈减少,水域面积大幅缩小（2）沙漠面积和低盖度植被面积略有减少,高盖度植被面积减少强烈,保护区内耕地面积快速增加,荒漠化趋势明显,总体上马鹿塔里木亚种分布区的各种生境类型处于变化状态,栖息地环境趋向恶化。     

荒漠-绿洲过渡带不同生境植被生产力格局对降雨的响应

景观格局分析是理解生态过程发生、发展的重要方法。为了探讨干旱区不同生境植被生产力格局对偶发降雨事件的响应,本研究以荒漠-绿洲过渡带砾质荒漠和沙质荒漠生境为对象(样区面积分别为1650 hm~2),利用2017年6月22日—6月29日MODIS系列日数据,对一次降雨事件后不同生境生产力格局变化过程进行了分析。结果表明:两种生境景观变化不同,砾质荒漠生境植被生产力(NDVI)未增加面积大于沙质荒漠生境,砾质荒漠生境的植被生产力变化主要集中在0～0.01,景观面积波动范围为612.5～1200 hm~2;沙质荒漠生境植被生产力增加范围集中在大于0.01,景观面积波动范围为150～1587.5 hm~2;在干旱区降雨事件发生后,随时间推移砾质荒漠生境景观趋于破碎化,沙质荒漠生境景观中简单斑块成为景观格局主体。     

黑龙江省完达山地区马鹿生境破碎化及其影响因子

应用景观生态学原理和地理信息系统技术,分析黑龙江省完达山地区马鹿生境相关因子重要性、对景观连接度进行模糊相对赋值,建立了景观连接度评价模型及景观斑块指数,研究了黑龙江省完达山地区关于马鹿生境的景观连接度水平、生境的适宜性以及景观的空间结构。结果表明:(1)在155.6km2的面积中,适宜地区的总面积仅为14.81km2,占研究地区的9.52%;次适宜地区的总面积为9.57km2,占研究地区的6.15%;一般适宜地区的总面积为130.05km2,占研究地区的83.58%;不适宜地区的总面积为1.17km2,占研究地区的0.75%;(2)研究地区马鹿各类适宜地区呈多个斑块且相互隔离,在空间分布上处于破碎状态,而且不适宜地区斑块(人为活动景观)的面积比例虽小,在生态系统中形态上的破碎化程度较小,但对马鹿的生境的生态功能的丧失起到重要作用。     

小尺度下柠条林破碎化生境对地表甲虫多样性的影响

一般认为,景观斑块面积和破碎化对物种丰富度和分布格局有重要的影响。在宁夏中部荒漠地区,天然柠条林和人工柠条林地交错排列,形成点、片、带状等大小不等的斑块性分布,表现为典型的破碎化斑块格局生境特征。本文采用巴氏罐诱法调查了在小尺度下荒漠景观人工柠条林破碎化生境不同斑块内地表甲虫的物种多样性。结果共获得10科20属29种地表甲虫,其中拟步甲科昆虫占绝对优势,阿小鳖甲Microdera kraatzi alashanica Skopin、克小鳖甲Microdera kraatzi kraatzi(Reitter)为优势种。Rarefaction曲线显示较大面积的斑块有较多的物种多样性,但群落多样性指数各斑间块差异不显著。利用斑块面积对物种数-个体数进行回归分析表明,地表甲虫的物种多样性受斑块面积的影响,生境破碎化会导致地表甲虫多样性下降。     

荒漠地区柠条种实害虫对寄主斑块质量与格局的反应

以宁夏中东部荒漠区为景观背景,选择人工固沙次生林地、流动风积沙地和沙壤土质丘陵地3种生境类型共18块天然或人工种植的柠条林斑块,研究了柠条豆象、豆荚螟和柠条种子小蜂3种柠条种实害虫对寄主植物斑块质量、斑块面积和空间格局的反应.结果显示:3种柠条种实害虫对寄主植物的为害率与斑块质量、斑块格局和昆虫自身迁移能力有关.对斑块质量的反应受到斑块尺度大小的影响,在不同的生境类型间,种实害虫的为害率差异显著(P<0.05),以人工固沙次生林地的为害率最高,其次为沙壤土质丘陵地,流动风积沙地相对较低.在小斑块格局中,柠条种实害虫数量的发生与寄主植物斑块的面积、破碎化程度存在一定的相关性,斑块面积减少、生境破碎化程度增加能够降低移动能力较强的豆荚螟(r=0.365)的为害率,而对移动能力较弱的柠条豆象(r=0.160)、柠条种子小蜂(r=0.193)则没有明显影响.斑块边缘效应强度和景观斑块周边资源互补对种群密度具有正相关的影响.     

贺兰山同域分布岩羊和马鹿发情季节的生境选择差异

2007年和2008年9—12月,在宁夏贺兰山国家级自然保护区和内蒙古贺兰山国家级自然保护区利用痕迹检验法和直接观察法对同域分布的岩羊和马鹿发情季节生境选择进行研究。通过在选定的15条沟段里进行调查,分别测定了岩羊和马鹿的177个和154个样方的18种生态因子。结果表明,发情季节岩羊和马鹿在植被类型、地形特征、优势乔木、坡向、坡位、灌木密度、灌木高度、植被盖度、坡度、海拔高度、距水源距离、人为干扰距离、距裸岩距离和隐蔽级等生态因子选择上存在极显著差异(P0.01),乔木高度存在显著差异(P0.05),而其余生态因子无显著差异(P0.05),相对于马鹿选择的生境而言,岩羊发情季节更偏爱选择地势陡峭的山地疏林草原带,优势乔木以较高的灰榆为主,灌木密度低但高度较高,植被盖度较低,坡度较大的阳坡中上部,海拔较低,接近水源和裸岩,隐蔽程度低的生境。典则系数显示发情季节岩羊和马鹿的生境选择几乎完全分离,Wilk’sλ值也显示发情季节岩羊和马鹿的生境选择具有很高的差异性(Wilk’sλ=0.123,χ2=679.172,df=10,P0.001)。发情季节岩羊和马鹿的Fisher线性判别函数分别为:F岩羊=3.638×乔木高度+0.242×乔木距离+7.766×灌木高度+0.663×灌木距离+0.232×植被盖度+0.191×坡度+0.001×距水源距离+0.008×距裸岩距离+0.307×隐蔽级-31.078;F马鹿=4.850×乔木高度+0.321×乔木距离+12.024×灌木高度+0.929×灌木距离+0.192×植被盖度+0.482×坡度+0.002×距水源距离-0.001×人为干扰距离-0.003×距裸岩距离+0.511×隐蔽级-50.787。逐步判别分析表明在区分发情季节岩羊和马鹿生境方面有一系列生态因子发挥作用,依照贡献值的大小依次为坡度、人为干扰距离、隐蔽级、距裸岩距离、乔木高度、乔木距离、距水源距离、灌木高度、灌木距离和植被盖度,由这10个变量构成的方程对发情季节岩羊和马鹿生境的正确区分率达到99.7%。     

棉花生境面积及其破碎化对烟粉虱种群的影响

【目的】阐明棉花生境面积变化及其破碎化对烟粉虱Bemisiatabaci种群的作用规律,为合理利用作物布局进行害虫生态调控提供理论支撑。【方法】采用国际流行的微景观试验模型系统(Experimental model landscape system,EMLS)进行试验设计,田间条件下连续两年研究了棉花生境面积变化(20%、40%、60%、80%和100%;其他为玉米生境面积)及2种极端破碎化(完全连通C clumped:H=1.0;完全破碎F fragmented:H=0.0)下烟粉虱种群数量变化,采用广义线性模型(GLM)分析各因素对烟粉虱种群数量的影响。【结果】棉花生境面积及其破碎化单独作用时均对烟粉虱种群数量无显著影响,而取样时间则有显著影响。烟粉虱种群数量也没有受到取样时间与棉花生境面积、取样时间与破碎化以及三者交互作用的显著影响。但是,棉花生境面积与破碎化的互作效应则存在年度变化,2014年无显著作用,2015年显著影响烟粉虱种群。当棉花生境面积较小(20%)或较大(80%)时,破碎化程度高,烟粉虱种群数量少;棉花生境面积中等(40%和60%)时,破碎化程度低,烟粉虱种群数量少。【结论】烟粉虱种群对棉花生境面积变化有较强的适应性,而生境破碎化只能在一定程度上产生影响。     

西藏米拉卡黑白仰鼻猴的栖息地变化

黑白仰鼻猴(Rhinopithecus bieti)分布在我国金沙江和澜沧江之间的横断山脉的一个狭小区域内(26°14′N-29°20′N,99°15′E-99°37′E),海拔分布范围2600(南部)-4200m(北部);目前大约有15群,约1700只。本文所研究的西藏米拉卡猴群分布在我国西藏藏族自治区芒康县的南部,数量约50只。基于野外调查和过去的报道,此地的暗针叶林和针阔叶混交林是猴群的适宜栖息地,而由于人口数量增加所导致的夏季牧场和农田面积不断扩增正在逐渐侵蚀着这里的暗针叶林。为了评估该猴群的栖息地现状、变化趋势和变化原因,我们通过野外调查工作,利用GIS和RS技术,分别解译了当地过去5年(1986-2006年)冬季的Landsat TM卫星影像,并对解译结果进行了分析和计算,得到了该猴群栖息地的主要结果有:1)2006年暗针叶林面积是13600hmP2P,夏季牧场面积是4900hmP2P,农田面积是3300hmP2P;2)在过去20年(1986-2006年),暗针叶林面积减少了15.5%(2500hmP2P),牧场面积增加了58.1%(1800hmP2P),农田面积增加了17.8%(500hmP2P);3)暗针叶林的斑块数量增加了75.6%,平均斑块面积下降了51.8%(从1986年的15.3hmP2P到2006年的7.4hmP2P),最大斑块指数下降了54.7%;景观丰富度并没有变化,但Shannon多样性指数和Shannon均匀度指数分别增加了4.0%;4)暗针叶林面积变化与当地的人口数量呈显著负相关(r=?1.000),而夏季牧场和农田面积分别和当地人口呈显著正相关(r=1.000)。表明黑白仰鼻猴米拉卡猴群栖息地的丧失和破碎化程度较为严重;栖息地丧失和破碎化是当地传统生产方式和人口增长共同作用的结果。     

气候变化对孑遗植物银杉的潜在分布及生境破碎度的影响

以孑遗植物银杉(Cathaya argyrophylla Chun et Kuang)为研究对象,选取65个地理分布记录和19个生物气候因子(bio1—bio19),利用MaxEnt模型预测四种不同浓度路径下(RCP 2.6、RCP 4.5、RCP 6.0和RCP 8.5),银杉在2050s和2070s两个年代的潜在分布变化,并利用景观指数对气候变化情景下银杉适宜生境空间格局特征转变及生境破碎度变化进行分析。结果表明:在当前气候情景下,银杉适宜生境面积约占研究区面积的14.32%,主要分布于北纬24°—32°、东经105°—114°之间,位于四川盆地东南地区、云贵高原东北地区、南岭西段地区以及浙闽丘陵的北部地区。在未来不同气候情景下,银杉适宜生境变化特征显著,面积呈增加趋势,形状上整体呈四周向中间聚集。气候变化对银杉适宜生境的景观指数影响主要表现在斑块数量增多、斑块密度增加、面积加权平均形状指数变大,对分离度与聚散性影响较小;气候变化对银杉生境破碎化程度的影响表现在破碎化两极现象减弱,总体破碎化程度加剧。研究选取7个景观指数并结合PCA法得到综合的破碎度指数来定量分析银杉适宜生境破碎化程度变化,相比单一指标的定量评价和多个指标的定性分析,更能代表银杉生境的实际破碎化程度。     

半自然农田边界与相邻农田步甲和蜘蛛的时空分布

分别于小麦、玉米收获前后,采用陷阱法调查了华北地区典型农业景观中具有不同植被结构的农田边界及其相邻农田中两类重要天敌类群步甲和蜘蛛的多样性.通过比较农田生境及相邻农田边界间两类天敌群落的时空分布格局及其与相邻半自然生境植被群落的相关关系,探讨半自然农田边界对两类天敌类群的保护作用.结果表明: 整个取样季节农田边界处蜘蛛的多度显著高于农田内部;而步甲多样性在农田与边界间无显著性差异,仅呈现不同的群落结构;作物收获后蜘蛛分科数在边界处的增加以及在农田的减少,显示了蜘蛛在农田和边界之间的迁移活动.边界植被结构对蜘蛛和步甲多样性有不同影响:边界较高的草本层盖度和较低的乔木层盖度有利于增加农田中某些步甲优势种的多样性;而较高的草本层盖度有利于增加皿蛛科蜘蛛的多样性.因此,半自然生境的存在可以通过天敌在农田和边界之间的迁移运动促进农田天敌多样性的维持;但不同类型半自然生境植被群落结构可能影响其对不同天敌群落多样性的维持和保护作用.为促进农业景观对天敌的保护作用,提高其害虫控制功能,需要深入了解不同天敌的生境需求及食物需求,精心设计有利于天敌多样性维持的半自然生境.     

Connectivity compensates for low habitat quality and small patch size in the butterfly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cupido minimus</Emphasis>

Habitat size, habitat isolation and habitat quality are regarded as the main determinants of butterfly occurrence in fragmented landscapes. To analyze the relationship between the occurrence of the butterfly Cupido minimus and these factors, patch occupancy of the immature stages in patches of its host plant Anthyllis vulneraria was studied in the nature reserve Hohe Wann in Bavaria (Germany). In 2001 and 2002, 82 A. vulneraria patches were surveyed for the presence of C. minimus larvae. The occurrence was largely affected by the size of the food plant patches. In a habitat model that uses multiple logistic regression, the type of management and habitat connectivity are further determinants of species distribution. Internal and temporal validation demonstrate the stability and robustness of the developed habitat models. Additionally, it was proved that the colonization rate of C. minimus was significantly influenced by the distance to the next occupied Anthyllis patch. Concerning long-term survival of (meta-) populations in fragmented landscapes, the results show that lower habitat quality may be compensated by higher connectivity between host plant patches. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Quantifying microhabitat availability: stratified random versus constrained focal-fish methods

During a study of microhabitat use by gilt darters (Percina evides), we compared two methods for quantifying microhabitat availability in a southern Appalachian stream (USA). The first method used stratified random sampling throughout the site and the second involved taking constrained random measurements within a 2-m radius of the focal fish. Darters were generally over-represented in microhabitats with higher average velocities, greater amounts of erosional substrata, and lower amounts of depositional and large substrata. The two methods generally yielded similar patterns of microhabitat use. Nonetheless, of the seven microhabitat categories in which differential microhabitat use occurred in summer, four were present in both data sets, but three differed between methods. We observed no differences between methods for autumn data. Finally, the standard deviations of the summer-stratified random data set were significantly greater (sign test, P < 0.05) than those of the constrained data set. Our results suggest that either method for quantifying microhabitat availability can be used to quantify the general habitat use patterns of this species, but constrained analyses yielded a more restricted view of the total habitat available. Nonetheless, if the fishes range over a site, clearly stratified habitat availability analysis is preferred. Handling editor: J. A. Cambray     

Habitat selection by capercaillie in summer and autumn: Is bilberry important?

The use of habitat by female and male adult capercaillie Tetrao urogallus during summer and autumn was studied by comparing the distribution of radio locations of birds with the availability of habitat at forest stand, home range and landscape level in an area of the Bavarian Alps, Germany. Capercaillie preferred forests with structural features typical of their main distribution range, the boreal forest: they selected large patches of old forest with moderate canopy cover of about 50%, and a well developed field layer with high proportions of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus. Hens selected both home ranges and sites within home ranges in old forest. Ranges selected by cocks did not differ from availability in the study area, but they preferred old forest within their ranges. The size of home ranges was negatively related to bilberry cover both in hens and cocks. The distribution of bilberry also determined habitat use by capercaillie at the landscape scale. The study demonstrated that bilberry is the major determinant of the selection of habitat by capercaillie in landscapes with sparse and fragmentary cover of ericaceous shrubs, such as central Europe.     

Survival of the Black bog ant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Formica transkaucasica</Emphasis> Nasanov) in relation to the fragmentation of its habitat

In the past, extensive areas in Drenthe (The Netherlands) were covered by peat bogs and wet heath lands, but nowadays only relatively small fragments are left. During the second half of the 20th century the quality of these fragments decreased, due to lowering of the water table and the input of nutrients. These factors will have a negative effect on the survival of species which are adapted to these stable type of biotopes, like the Black bog ant. The distribution pattern was analysed within a study area of 750 km², in order to find out if this species will survive in a landscape where its habitat is severely fragmented. Using multiple logistic regression analysis it appears that size and quality of the habitat patches, as well as openness of the environment, contribute significantly to patch-occupancy. No correlation was found between the probability of a patch being occupied and its distance to the nearest occupied patch. It appears that the spatial cohesion of local populations by means of flying queens is weak or absent on the scale of the study area. Only in parts of the area, where the distance between habitat patches is less than 3 km in open field, a habitat network may still exist. However, with ongoing habitat loss a threshold will be passed and the species will ultimately become extinct.     

Habitat utilization by ovipositing females and larvae of the Marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) in a mosaic of meadows and croplands

The butterfly Euphydryas aurinia occurs as a classical metapopulation in Yanjiaping village, Heibei province, China. In the patch network under study there were 38 habitat patches. Most patches were uncultivated, consisting of meadows and fallows, while others had been cultivated, i.e., used as small croplands. In the cultivated patches, the habitat for the butterfly can be classified into two types: meadow type (MTH) and cropland type (CTH). In contrast, the uncultivated habitat patches consists only of MTH. We examined the habitat utilization of ovipositing females and larvae of E. aurinia to assess the effect of mixed land use on the butterfly’s occurrence. More egg clusters and pre-hibernating larval groups were distributed throughout CTH than MTH. This dependence on CTH may be due to the preference of egg-laying females for large-sized host plants, which were mainly concentrated in CTH. Compared to the MTH, the mortality rate in CTH was lower. Therefore, for both eggs and pre-hibernating larvae, the quality of CTH was higher than that of MTH. The conditions in MTH, on the other hand, were important for the development of post-hibernation larvae. A combination of extensive farming and animal husbandry has created a mosaic of meadows and croplands in the habitats studied here, which is typical of rural areas in some developing countries. This study implies that patchy land use typical of traditional agriculture facilitates the long-term persistence of E. aurinia.     

Allee effects and conspecific cueing jointly lead to conspecific attraction

Conspecific attraction is the preferential settlement into habitat patches with conspecifics. To be a good proximate strategy, fitness gains from settling with conspecifics must outweigh the costs of higher conspecific densities, such as intraspecific competition. Two types of benefits have been proposed to explain conspecific attraction: Allee effects (i.e., positive density dependence) and conspecific cueing (using conspecifics as an indicator of habitat quality). I present empirical evidence for conspecific attraction in the settlement of the porcelain crab, Petrolisthes cinctipes Randall (Anomura: Porcellanidae). Previous work demonstrated that P. cinctipes experiences strong intraspecific competition and that both Allee effects and conspecific cueing are present in P. cinctipes life-history. I developed an empirically-based fitness model of the costs and benefits of settling with conspecifics. Based on this model, I simulated optimal settlement to habitat patches that varied in conspecific density and habitat quality, where the correlation between density and habitat quality determined the level of conspecific cueing. I tested whether Allee effects alone, conspecific cueing alone, or Allee effects and conspecific cueing together could provide an ultimate explanation for the proximate settlement behavior of P. cinctipes. The settlement simulation was consistent with empirical settlement only when Allee effects and conspecific cueing were both included. Three life-history features are critical to this conclusion: (1) fitness is maximized at intermediate density, (2) fitness depends on the decisions of previous settlers, and (3) conspecific density provides good information about habitat quality. The quality of information garnered from conspecifics determines whether conspecific attraction is a good proximate strategy for settlement. I present a graphical illustration demonstrating how Allee effects and conspecific cueing work together to influence fitness, providing a conceptual framework for other systems.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Demographic variation in cycad populations inhabiting contrasting forest fragments

Reduced habitat quality after fragmentation can significantly affect population viability, but the effects of differing quality of the remaining habitat on population fitness are rarely evaluated. Here, I compared fragmented populations of the cycad Zamia melanorrhachis from habitats with different history and subject to contrasting levels of disturbance to explore potential demographic differences in populations across habitat patches that could differ in habitat quality. Secondary-forest fragments had a lower canopy cover and soil moisture than remnant-forest fragments, which may represent a harsh environment for this cycad. A smaller average plant size and lower population density in the secondary-forest fragments support the hypothesis that these fragments may be of lower quality, e.g., if plants have reduced survival and/or fecundity in these habitats. However, variation in the stage-structure of populations (i.e., the relative proportions of non-reproductive and reproductive plants) was associated with the area of the forest fragments rather than the type of habitat (remnant versus secondary forest). These results suggest that different demographic parameters may respond differently to habitat fragmentation, which may be explained if processes like adult survival and recruitment depend on different characteristics of the habitat, e.g., average light/water availability versus suitable area for plant establishment. This study shows that forest fragments may differ drastically in environmental conditions and can sustain populations that can vary in their demography. Understanding how forest fragments may represent different habitat types is relevant for evaluating population viability in a heterogeneous landscape and for designing conservation programs that account for this heterogeneity.     

An investigation of habitat occupancy by the nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos with respect to population change at the edge of its range in England

The nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos has undergone population decline and range contraction at the north-western limit of its distribution in England during the last 25 years. We examine patterns of habitat occupancy and habitat availability across sites with a range of population histories to see whether habitat loss is a plausible explanation for these declines. The number of singing males in 1999 correlated with area of primary nightingale habitat in the East Midlands (where the species has declined), but not in East Anglia (where the population has been stable). Change in population size between 1980 and 1999 and current habitat availability were weakly correlated in the East Midlands but not in East Anglia. These results are consistent with habitat loss having contributed to the decline of the nightingale in the East Midlands, but suggest that other, wider-scale, factors may be at least partially responsible for determining the abundance of the species within England as a whole.     

The effect of forest clear-cutting on habitat use in Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinopithecus roxellana</Emphasis>) in Shennongjia Nature Reserve,China

The habitat use of two groups of Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) was observed, using the focal group method, for 7 months in four seasons from June 2000 to October 2001. The habitats were classed into primary forest and three successional habitats: after clear-cutting: grassland, shrub forest and young forest. The results showed that the large group of monkeys had larger range areas than the small group in the same season. Both groups had larger range sizes in summer or autumn than in winter or spring. They spent most of their time using primary forest and young forest, rarely used shrub forest and did not use grassland. In each season, they used the habitats non-randomly and preferred primary forest. The preference order of habitats for both groups every season was the same: primary forest > young forest > shrub forest grassland. The results suggested that primary forest was high-quality habitat and should be conserved as a top priority. Clear-cutting would cause habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, and should therefore be prohibited. High-quality habitat for the monkeys is difficult to restore from clear-cutting.     

Habitat preference of three common fishes for seagrass, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caulerpa taxifolia</Emphasis>, and unvegetated substrate in Moreton Bay,Australia

A decrease in seagrass cover and a commensurate increase in Caulerpa taxifolia distribution in Moreton Bay have prompted concern for the impact that habitat change may have on faunal communities. Therefore, it is important to understand the patterns of habitat use. We examined habitat selection of three common seagrass species: double-ended pipefish (Syngnathoides biaculeatus), eastern trumpeter (Pelates quadrilineatus), and fan-bellied leatherjacket (Monacanthus chinensis) using a mesocosm experiment. Fish were given three possible habitat pairings (1) seagrass and C. taxifolia, (2) seagrass and unvegetated, and (3) C. taxifolia and unvegetated. Observation trials were conducted during the day and night over two days. In all trials, fish preferred vegetated habitat (seagrass or C. taxifolia) over unvegetated habitat (sand). In seagrass and C. taxifolia trials, all species preferred seagrass significantly over C. taxifolia. Habitat use patterns did not differ between day and night trials. Caulerpa taxifolia provides a valuable structured habitat in the absence of seagrass; however, it is unclear if C. taxifolia meadows provide other resource benefits to fishes beyond that of shelter.