Density,home range,seasonal movements and habitat use of the mountain pygmy‐possum Burramys parvus (Marsupialia: Burramyidae) at Mount Blue Cow,Kosciuszko National Park

A population of mountain pygmy‐possums Burramys parvus was studied at the Mount Blue Cow ski resort in Kosciuszko National Park between 1986 and 1989. Forty‐eight individuals were radiotracked during the snow‐free months and 21 individuals were tracked during winter over the 3 years of study. Trapping and radiotracking showed that the density, population structure, movements and home range sizes of B. parvus on Mount Blue Cow were strongly correlated with elevation and changed with the season. Female densities were greatest in habitats characterized by deep boulderfields, at high elevations with an abundance of Bogong moths. Males visited the areas where females were located to breed in November–December and then by February, the majority migrated to lower elevations or north and westerly aspects. Females that nested at lower elevations also visited high‐elevation habitats to access the high concentrations of Bogong moths, which were the main food source in summer. A high proportion of the juvenile males and some juvenile females dispersed to lower elevations in March and April. The resulting sexual segregation during autumn and winter may be a result of female aggression or scramble competition, but is also explainable by differences in energy requirements, seed availability and hibernation strategies between the sexes. The extraordinarily large nightly and seasonal movements between habitat patches of up to 2 km for females and 3 km for males, sexual segregation and the use of different hibernation sites have important implications for the management of this species. These include the need for movement and dispersal corridors and the conservation of boulder‐heath habitats outside the main boulderfields.     

Looking at the unseen: combining animal bio‐logging and stable isotopes to reveal a shift in the ecological niche of a deep diving predator

Understanding how marine top predators exploit their environment is a central topic in marine ecology. Among all methodologies used to investigate this part of ecology, electronic devices are very useful to track animals' movements and foraging habitats, but they do not provide any dietary information. Stable isotopes provide information on trophic levels but remain imprecise to identify small spatial‐scale habitats. In this study, we combined the two approaches to obtain a synoptic view of the foraging behaviour variability of southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina. Our results suggested marked differences in distribution, diving behaviour, foraging habitats, trophic levels, and dietary habits of elephant seals according to their sex and age. Thus, we characterized main foraging habitats over the Kerguelen‐Heard Plateau and the Antarctic shelf for juvenile males, while females foraged mainly in oceanic waters of the Polar Frontal Zone and the Antarctic Zone. In addition, we highlighted the ontogeny of niche partitioning in this sexually dimorphic species. While females did not exhibit a major dietary shift in relation to their age and their breeding status, a different picture emerged for males. Young males had a trophic level identical to that of all females. However, at 3–4 yr of age, males showed a progressive increase in trophic level. The inter‐annual combination of bio‐logging and stable isotopes could provide a powerful tool to investigate possible shifts in ecological niche between years according to environmental changes.     

The biology and life history of arctic populations of the littoral mite Ameronothrus lineatus (Acari, Oribatida)

The present study attempts to elucidate possible microevolutionary adaptations of life-history traits of high-latitude populations of the holarctic, littoral oribatid mite Ameronothrus lineatus by comparing arctic and temperate populations. Additionally, the paper provides an overview of the limited research on general ecology and population biology of arctic populations. In the Arctic the larviparous A. lineatus has a 5-year life cycle (larva-to-larva), and adults survive a further 2–3 years. High survival to maturity is consistent with a low lifetime reproductive output of ca. 20 larvae. The life history can be regarded as an extreme version of the typical oribatid life history. However, several life-history features suggest specific adaptations of arctic populations. In particular, the pre-moult resting stage is synchronized with the warmest part of the arctic summer, which shortens this vulnerable part of development. High reproductive investment by females at relatively low temperatures may represent a physiological adaptation to the cool arctic summer. Finally, prolonged cold exposure positively affects reproduction and survival the following summer, suggesting adaptation of the species to the highly seasonal arctic environment. On the other hand, the ability of all life-cycle stages to overwinter, and a flexible life history with the species being able to take advantage of favourable climatic conditions to accelerate development and larviposition, seem to be ancestral features. Thus, the success of A. lineatus in arctic habitats is probably attributable to a combination of derived and ancestral life-history traits. Studies of conspecific temperate populations are required to elucidate further local adaptations of arctic populations.     

Natural history and demography of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Thalpomys lasiotis</Emphasis> (Thomas, 1916), a rare and endemic species from the Brazilian savanna

Hairy-eared cerrado mouse Thalpomys lasiotis is an endemic species of the cerrado biome. It can be found in open habitats, but its distribution is patchy and population numbers are unknown. In this paper, we describe, for the first time, aspects related to the ecology and natural history of T. lasiotis, detailing demographic parameters such as population densities, reproduction, home range, and longevity of this endemic and rare species. We captured, marked, and recaptured 55 individuals of T. lasiotis in águas Emendadas Ecological Station, located in the northeast of the Federal District, Brazil. We found significant differences on population numbers and densities between the dry and wet seasons. Densities and population numbers apparently are affected by the seasonality of food resources. Moreover, the breeding season is seasonal, and both males and females were reproductively active during the wet season. T. lasiotis showed a permanence time ranging from 2–9 months, which means that individuals can survive for at least 9 months in natural habitats. The home ranges of males and females of T. lasiotis were not significantly different. However, males have larger home ranges than females and the mean distance moved by males was higher than the distance moved by females, which is consistent with the hypothesis that males belonging to polygynous species tend to move greater distances to avoid agonistic encounters and to search sexual partners.     

Elevational plumage divergence in the Rufous-capped Babbler (Cyanoderma ruficeps) on a mountainous island

Environment plays an important role in the evolution of plumage coloration in birds and may also lead to sexual dichromatism if males and females face different selection pressures. Mountains exhibit varying ecological conditions along their elevation gradient that may impose divergent selection on elevationally widespread species, causing intraspecific plumage divergence. For example, UV light environments often vary between montane and lowland habitats, which could potentially cause differences in plumage UV reflection between birds occurring in the two types of habitats. However, few studies have examined the effects of elevation on plumage evolution. In this study, we quantified the plumage coloration of the Rufous-capped Babbler Cyanoderma ruficeps from montane and lowland habitats on a mountainous island, Taiwan. We aimed to examine whether their plumage showed differences associated with changing ecological environments across the elevational gradient. The results supported that the plumage of babblers occupying montane habitats had higher UV-reflectance and brightness than that of lowland birds, corresponding to the higher UV intensity in montane than lowland background light environments. The elevational differences were mainly found across the ventral parts of babblers that had relatively higher levels of UV reflectance compared with their dorsal parts. Alternatively, the brighter plumage, with higher UV-reflectance in montane than lowland birds, might be mediated by physiological adaptation to other ecological factors, such as parasite pressures. The elevational differences in plumage UV-reflectance and brightness were more dramatic in males than in females. However, we found significant sexual dichromatism in different body parts between montane and lowland babblers in which females had brighter or stronger UV-associated coloration than males, suggesting that sexual selection has little impact on babbler plumage. Our study suggests the importance of elevational divergent selection associated with UV light or other ecological environments on avian plumage evolution.     

The biology and life history of arctic populations of the littoral mite Ameronothrus lineatus (Acari, Oribatida)

The present study attempts to elucidate possible microevolutionary adaptations of life-history traits of high-latitude populations of the holarctic, littoral oribatid mite Ameronothrus lineatus by comparing arctic and temperate populations. Additionally, the paper provides an overview of the limited research on general ecology and population biology of arctic populations. In the Arctic the larviparous A. lineatus has a 5-year life cycle (larva-to-larva), and adults survive a further 2-3 years. High survival to maturity is consistent with a low lifetime reproductive output of ca. 20 larvae. The life history can be regarded as an extreme version of the typical oribatid life history. However, several life-history features suggest specific adaptations of arctic populations. In particular, the pre-moult resting stage is synchronized with the warmest part of the arctic summer, which shortens this vulnerable part of development. High reproductive investment by females at relatively low temperatures may represent a physiological adaptation to the cool arctic summer. Finally, prolonged cold exposure positively affects reproduction and survival the following summer, suggesting adaptation of the species to the highly seasonal arctic environment. On the other hand, the ability of all life-cycle stages to overwinter, and a flexible life history with the species being able to take advantage of favourable climatic conditions to accelerate development and larviposition, seem to be ancestral features. Thus, the success of A. lineatus in arctic habitats is probably attributable to a combination of derived and ancestral life-history traits. Studies of conspecific temperate populations are required to elucidate further local adaptations of arctic populations.     

Interpopulational variation of the mating system in the peacock blenny Salaria pavo

The ecology and mating system of two populations of the peacock blenny Salaria pavo that have been reported to differ in sexual behaviour were studied. In the Gulf of Trieste, a northern Adriatic Sea population lives in rocky shores, whilst in the Ria Formosa, an Atlantic population inhabits a coastal lagoon with sandy barrier islands. In the Gulf of Trieste, nest availability was found to be higher and nest aggregation lower than in Ria Formosa. Nesting males courted females more and in higher proportion, and inversely, females directed less courtship displays towards nest holders in the Gulf of Trieste than in Ria Formosa. The relative frequency of small female-like males that reproduce by parasitically fertilizing eggs in the larger males’ nests was lower in the Gulf of Trieste population. This variation in the sexual behaviour of nesting males and females is likely to reflect a plastic behavioural response to the varying ecological conditions. The difference between populations in the relative frequency of parasitic males suggests that the male alternative reproductive tactics are condition-dependent.     

Does sexual segregation occur during the nonbreeding period? A comparative analysis in spatial and feeding ecology of three Calonectris shearwaters

Sexual segregation (SS) is widespread among animal taxa, with males and females segregated in distribution, behavior, or feeding ecology but so far, most studies on birds have focused on the breeding period. Outside this period, the relevance of segregation and the potential drivers of its persistence remain elusive, especially in the marine environment, where animals can disperse over vast areas and are not easily observed. We evaluated the degree of SS in spatio‐temporal distribution and phenology, at‐sea behavior, and feeding ecology during the nonbreeding period among three closely related shearwaters: Scopoli's, Cory's, and Cape Verde shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea, C. borealis, and C. edwardsii, respectively). We tracked 179 birds (92 males and 87 females) from 2008 to 2013 using geolocation‐immersion loggers and collected the 13th secondary remige (molted in winter) for stable isotope analyses as a proxy of trophic level and diet. The global nonbreeding distribution did not differ between sexes for the three species, but one specific nonbreeding area was visited only by males. Cory's shearwater males remained in areas closer to the colony in a larger proportion compared to females and returned earlier to the colony, probably to defend their nests. Males presented a slightly lower nocturnal flying activity and slightly (but consistently) higher isotopic values of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N compared to females. These differences suggest subtle sexual differences in diet and a slightly higher trophic level in males, but the extent to which sexual dimorphism in bill size can determine them remains unclear. Our study showed that SS in ecological niche in seabirds can persist year‐round consistently but at a different extent when comparing the breeding and nonbreeding periods. Based on our findings, we propose that SS in these seabird species might have its origin in an ecological specialization derived from the different roles of males and females during reproduction, rather than from social dominance during the nonbreeding period.     

Growth charts of head length and breadth for regional areas? A study in Sardinia (Italy)

There exist few standards of head length and breadth from childhood to adulthood in Europoid populations. Moreover, such standards are based on samples that cannot be used as references for all populations since they were taken from different ethnic groups and from different periods. The aims of this study were: (1) to test whether standards derived from North Americans of European extraction can be used to assess the Sardinian population; and (2) to produce growth charts for head length and breadth for Sardinian males and females from 3 to 22 years of age.The cross sectional sample consisted of 9,721 subjects of Sardinian origin (4,884 males and 4,837 females), aged 3–22 years, measured from 1998 to 2008. Growth percentiles were produced with the LMS method. The mean values for each sex in each age class (3–18 years) are almost always significantly lower for both head length and breadth than the corresponding North American values. The exceptions are the head length of boys of 14 years and girls of 16–18 years where values for Sardinians are lower, but not significantly so. The results show that the North American standards are not appropriate for the assessment of Sardinian children. For the Sardinian population, specific regional growth charts should be used to correctly evaluate the normal range and the cut-off points of the extreme percentiles.     

Specialized or opportunistic—how does the high mountain endemic butterfly Erebia nivalis survive in its extreme habitats?

High mountain ecosystems are a challenge for the survival of animal and plant species, which have to evolve specific adaptations to cope with the prevailing extreme conditions. The strategies to survive may reach from opportunistic to highly adapted traits. One species successfully surviving under these conditions is the here studied butterfly Erebia nivalis. In a mark‐release‐recapture study performed in the Hohe Tauern National Park (Austria) from 22 July to 26 August 2013, we marked 1386 individuals and recaptured 342 of these. For each capture event, we recorded the exact point of capture and various other traits (wing conditions, behavior, nectar sources). The population showed a partial protandrous demography with the minority of males emerging prior to the females, but the majority being synchronized with them. Males and females differed significantly in their behavior with males being more flight active and females nectaring and resting more. Both sexes showed preferences for the same plant species as nectar sources, but this specialization apparently is the result of a rapid individual adaptation to the locally available flowers. Estimates of the realized dispersal distances predicted a comparatively high amount of long‐distance flights, especially for females. Therefore, the adaptation of Erebia nivalis to the unpredictable high mountain conditions might be a mixture of opportunism and specialized traits.     

The reintroduction of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) into the Netherlands: hidden life revealed by noninvasive genetic monitoring

The last recorded presence of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Netherlands dates from 1989 and concerned a dead individual. In 2002 a reintroduction programme was started, and between June 2002 and April 2008 a total of 30 individuals (10 males and 20 females) were released into a lowland peat marsh in the north of the Netherlands. Noninvasive genetic monitoring based on the genetic profiles obtained from DNA extracted from otter faeces (spraints) was chosen for the post-release monitoring of the population. To this end, the founding individuals were genotyped before release and spraints were collected in the release area each winter from 2002 to 2008. From June 2002 to April 2008 we analysed the genetic profile of 1,265 spraints on the basis of 7–15 microsatellite loci, 582 of which (46%) were successfully assigned to either released or newly identified genotypes. We identified 54 offspring (23 females and 31 males): the females started to reproduce after 2 years and the males after 4 years. The mating and reproductive success among males was strongly skewed, with a few dominant males fathering two-thirds of the offspring, but the females had a more even distribution. The effective population size (Ne) was only about 30% of the observed density (N), mainly because of the large variance in reproductive success among males. Most juvenile males dispersed to surrounding areas on maturity, whereas juvenile females stayed inside the area next to the mother’s territory. The main cause of mortality was traffic accidents. Males had a higher mortality rate (22 out of 41 males (54%) vs. 9 out of 43 females (21%)). During winter 2007/08 we identified 47 individuals, 41 of which originated from mating within the release area. This study demonstrates that noninvasive molecular methods can be used efficiently in post-release monitoring studies of elusive species to reveal a comprehensive picture of the state of the population.     

Extreme habitats as refuge from parasite infections? Evidence from an extremophile fish

Living in extreme habitats typically requires costly adaptations of any organism tolerating these conditions, but very little is known about potential benefits that trade off these costs. We suggest that extreme habitats may function as refuge from parasite infections, since parasites can become locally extinct either directly, through selection by an extreme environmental parameter on free-living parasite stages, or indirectly, through selection on other host species involved in its life cycle. We tested this hypothesis in a small freshwater fish, the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana) that inhabits normal freshwaters as well as extreme habitats containing high concentrations of toxic hydrogen sulfide. Populations from such extreme habitats are significantly less parasitized by the trematode Uvulifer sp. than a population from a non-sulfidic habitat. We suggest that reduced parasite prevalence may be a benefit of living in sulfidic habitats.     

A study of a black howling monkey (Alouatta caraya) population in northern Argentina

A population of Alouatta caraya in northern Argentina had an ecological density of 130 animals per km². Mean troop size varied from 7.2 to 8.9 individuals, and the ratio of adult males to adult females from 0.58 to 0.51. Infants comprised from 6% to 14% of the population, juveniles from 16% to 21%. These percentages probably vary seasonally in response to a birth peak at the beginning of the dry season. Males were age-graded in multi-male troops. Sexual dimorphism was extreme in this species. Males were all black and averaged 6.7 kg; females were yellow-brown and averaged 4.4 kg. Juvenile males retained the pelage color of the female until approximately 4.5 yr of age and 5 kg in weight. No genital mimicry or exaggeration occurred in this species. Vocalizations of A. caraya were similar to those of A. seniculus, both of which tend to be lower pitched than those of A. palliata.     

Ecology of spawning humpback chub, Gila cypha, in the Little Colorado River near Grand Canyon, Arizona

The morphologically unique and endangered humpback chub, Gila cypha, is found in canyon-bound reaches of the Colorado River and its tributaries. Now limited to six isolated reproducing populations, this species is believed to have been once distributed over a large portion of the mainstem river. Because the species inhabits remote canyon areas, little is known about its spawning ecology. The largest remaining population occurs in the lower Little Colorado River (LCR) near Grand Canyon, where we conducted a three-year study of spawning ecology during spring (March-June) 1993–1995. We analyzed seasonal patterns of movement, population density, relative condition, spawning scores, and frequency of ripe condition and fin abrasions and compared these data with seasonal discharge and water temperature to determine spawning phenology and ecology. Spawning commenced in late March, peaked in mid-April, and waned in mid-May. A high proportion of males remained ripe over this period, whereas ripe females were relatively abundant only in April. Increased densities of adult fish in March-April and rapid declines in May-June coupled with recaptures of 18.4% of these adults in the Colorado River suggest that a portion of the population migrated from the Colorado River into the LCR to spawn and then returned. Ripe males aggregated in areas of complex habitat structure with high angular variation in bottom profiles (matrix of large boulders, travertine masses combined with chutes, runs and eddies, 0.5–2.0 m deep) and were associated with deposits of clean gravel. Ripe females appeared to move to these male aggregations to spawn. Near-spawning (including gravid) females and non-spawning fish used similar habitats and were segregated but close (< 50 m) to habitats occupied by aggregations of ripe males. Abrasions on anal and lower caudal fins of males and females suggest that spawning involves contact with gravel substrates, where semi-adhesive eggs are deposited and fertilized. The findings of this study should aid recovery efforts for humpback chub by identifying spawning habitat within the historic distributional range where additional spawning stocks could be established.     

Survival and population persistence in the critically endangered Tuamotu kingfisher

A wide range of threats affect populations of Pacific island birds and conservationists have been challenged to identify factors upon which to focus management. The Tuamotu kingfisher (Todiramphus gambieri) is one of the most endangered vertebrate species in the world, yet little has been published about basic biology or causes of the population decline. We used 4 years of mark-resight and territory resource information to model survival in juvenile and adult Tuamotu kingfishers. Annual survival of adult males (ϕ = 0.77) was similar to congeneric species, whereas survival of adult females (ϕ = 0.40) and juveniles (ϕ = 0.12) was much lower. The best-supported survival model indicated adult female survival was positively related to territory size, whereas adult male survival was negatively related to atoll forest within territories. We used parameter estimates from survival models in a life-stage simulation analysis to evaluate the relative influence of vital rates and territory habitats on population processes. Results indicated that adult female and juvenile survival had the greatest impact on Tuamotu kingfisher populations, accounting for 58% and 32% of variation in the finite rate of population increase, respectively. Nocturnal predation by rats (Rattus spp.) on incubating kingfishers may explain the lower survival of females than males, whereas juvenile birds may be especially vulnerable to predation by cats (Felis catus). Thus, conservation management for Tuamotu kingfishers should include use of metal guards on cavity trees to protect nests and incubating females, and control predator access during fledging periods. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.     

Clinging on to alpine life: Investigating factors driving the uphill range contraction and population decline of a mountain breeding bird

Climate change and anthropogenic nitrogen deposition are widely regarded as important drivers of environmental change in alpine habitats. However, due to the difficulties working in high‐elevation mountain systems, the impacts of these drivers on alpine breeding species have rarely been investigated. The Eurasian dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) is a migratory wader, which has been the subject of uniquely long‐term and spatially widespread monitoring effort in Scotland, where it breeds in alpine areas in dwindling numbers. Here we analyse data sets spanning three decades, to investigate whether key potential drivers of environmental change in Scottish mountains (snow lie, elevated summer temperatures and nitrogen deposition) have contributed to the population decline of dotterel. We also consider the role of rainfall on the species' wintering grounds in North Africa. We found that dotterel declines—in both density and site occupancy of breeding males—primarily occurred on low and intermediate elevation sites. High‐elevation sites mostly continued to be occupied, but males occurred at lower densities in years following snow‐rich winters, suggesting that high‐elevation snow cover displaced dotterel to lower sites. Wintering ground rainfall was positively associated with densities of breeding males two springs later. Dotterel densities were reduced at low and intermediate sites where nitrogen deposition was greatest, but not at high‐elevation sites. While climatic factors explained variation in breeding density between years, they did not seem to explain the species' uphill retreat and decline. We cannot rule out the possibility that dotterel have increasingly settled on higher sites previously unavailable due to extensive snow cover, while changes associated with nitrogen deposition may also have rendered lower lying sites less suitable for breeding. Causes of population and range changes in mountain‐breeding species are thus liable to be complex, involving multiple anthropogenic drivers of environmental change acting widely across annual and migratory life cycles.     

Demography of fluctuating prairie vole populations: comparison of demographic variables among phases of fluctuations

We tested for differences in the proportion of reproductively active males and females, proportion of the population composed of young and immigrants, and monthly survival (total, adult, young) among phases (trough, increase, and decline) and among habitats (alfalfa, bluegrass, and tallgrass) of 30 population fluctuations ofMicrotus ochrogaster Wagner, 1842 over 25 years in east-central Illinois USA. Total population survival and survival of adults and young were greatest during the increase phase, among fluctuations, irrespective of habitat. The proportion of reproductively active adult males and females was lowest during the decline phase, an effect of lower reproduction during the winter. These results suggest that phase-specific changes in survival were the primary demographic factor driving population fluctuations ofM. ochrogaster in our study sites. We conclude that small-scale spatially different population fluctuations may be explained by the same mechanisms that explain fluctuations within a population.     

Population dynamics of Microtus arvalis in a weed strip

A population of Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1779, living in a weed strip was studied by capture–recapture method over a 2-year period. Weed strips are characterized by their linear shape and high vegetation cover, and are not comparable to the habitats examined in most previous studies on M. arvalis.Abundance of voles was found to be high in the strip with a maximum of 410 voles/ha known to be alive in the first year and 641 voles/ha in the successive year. Abundance was minimal in spring and increased until July. A decrease in population size at the beginning of August was followed by a new increase in both years. One difference between the 2 years was a pronounced peak abundance at the end of June in the second year. The peak may be related to a shift in sex ratio in favour of females in this year (ratio of males:females of 1:8). Also the time of residency of females was significantly longer in the second year than in the year before, and the survival rate of females was greater than in males.The turnover was generally very high and reached maximum values of 80% renewal of population every 2 weeks.     

Persisting in a windy habitat: population ecology and behavioral adaptations of two endemic grasshopper species in the Cape region (South Africa)

Global biodiversity hotspots are rich in endemic insect species, many of which are threatened by the ongoing anthropogenic pressures on their habitats. The Cape region (South Africa) is one of these biodiversity hotspots, maintaining a high number of endemics. However, the ecology of most insect species in this region remains poorly understood. The two Orthoptera species Betiscoides meridionalis and Betiscoides parva are endemic to the Cape region and specialized on restio vegetation. They are threatened by increasing wildfire frequencies and invasions of non-native plant species. However, this information has been inferred from habitat changes, whereas no ecological study on these species has been conducted since they have been described. In order to facilitate conservation management, information on the ecology of these species is urgently required. The aim of our study was (1) to obtain data on the population ecology (particularly population sizes and mobility), and (2) to study the behavior of both species in response to environmental factors. For this purpose a mark-recapture-study and an observational behavior study were conducted. Both species had small population sizes and a low mobility with males moving greater distances than females. Wind had a strong influence on the behavior of Betiscoides, particularly on the small males of B. parva. Future studies might thus focus on the question whether wind-exposure is a critical factor for habitat choice of this species. We strongly recommend enhancing the connectivity of restio habitats and restoring these habitats to prevent extinction of specialized insect species.     

Global ecological success of Thalassoma fishes in extreme coral reef habitats

Phenotypic adaptations can allow organisms to relax abiotic selection and facilitate their ecological success in challenging habitats, yet we have relatively little data for the prevalence of this phenomenon at macroecological scales. Using data on the relative abundance of coral reef wrasses and parrotfishes (f. Labridae) spread across three ocean basins and the Red Sea, we reveal the consistent global dominance of extreme wave‐swept habitats by fishes in the genus Thalassoma, with abundances up to 15 times higher than any other labrid. A key locomotor modification—a winged pectoral fin that facilitates efficient underwater flight in high‐flow environments—is likely to have underpinned this global success, as numerical dominance by Thalassoma was contingent upon the presence of high‐intensity wave energy. The ecological success of the most abundant species also varied with species richness and the presence of congeneric competitors. While several fish taxa have independently evolved winged pectoral fins, Thalassoma appears to have combined efficient high‐speed swimming (to relax abiotic selection) with trophic versatility (to maximize exploitation of rich resources) to exploit and dominate extreme coral reef habitats around the world.