Predators reduce abundance and species richness of coral reef fish recruits via non-selective predation |
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Authors: | J M Heinlein A C Stier M A Steele |
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Institution: | (1) Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, 430 Nahant Road, Nahant, MA 01908, USA;(2) Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;(3) Department of Biology, California State University, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330, USA |
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Abstract: | Predators have important effects on coral reef fish populations, but their effects on community structure have only recently
been investigated and are not yet well understood. Here, the effect of predation on the diversity and abundance of young coral
reef fishes was experimentally examined in Moorea, French Polynesia. Effects of predators were quantified by monitoring recruitment
of fishes onto standardized patch reefs in predator-exclosure cages or uncaged reefs. At the end of the 54-day experiment,
recruits were 74% less abundant on reefs exposed to predators than on caged ones, and species richness was 42% lower on reefs
exposed to predators. Effects of predators varied somewhat among families, however, rarefaction analysis indicated that predators
foraged non-selectively among species. These results indicate that predation can alter diversity of reef fish communities
by indiscriminately reducing the abundance of fishes soon after settlement, thereby reducing the number of species present
on reefs. |
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Keywords: | |
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