Niche Separation of Two Damselfish Species by Aggression and Differential Microhabitat Utilization
Ebersole JP. 1985. Niche Separation of Two Damselfish Species by Aggression and Differential Microhabitat Utilization. Ecology. 66(1):14-20
Two herbivorous, interspecifically territorial West Indian damselfishes, the beaugregory (Eupomacentrus leucostictus ) and the three-spot damselfish (E. planifrons ), both inhabit the back-reef area of coral reefs in a narrow depth band. A survey of coral heads in this habitat revealed that beaugregories utilize all types of heads, while three-spots are found only on branching or creviced heads with relatively complex internal structure. Translocations of individual fish and heterospecific pairs were performed to determine whether this differential microhabitat utilization is the result of differences in microhabitat preference between the two species, or aggressive interactions between them, or both. The observed differences in microhabitat utilization are due both to different preferences and aggressive interaction. It is probable that the aggressive interactions, a form of interference competition, are responsible for the evolution of the different habitat preferences. However, for both the three-spot damselfish and the beaugregory, it has been shown that a principal function of aggressive interspecific territoriality is the protection of food resources from exploitation competition.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Ebersole, John
- Units
- BOHA
- Keywords
- aggresive behavior, Competition, Coral Reefs, Eupomacentrus leucostictus, Eupomacentrus planifrons, Habitat Preferences, Habitat Selection, niche pattern, niches, Pomacentridae