Journal article
Refuge choice specificity increases with predation risk in a rocky reef fish
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology , Vol.520, pp.1-6
11/2019
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Abstract
Reef ecosystems are structurally complex and characterized by an array of abiotic (e.g., rocks and crevices) and biotic (sessile benthic organisms) physical features, many of which having the potential to act as refuge for prey organisms. Small cryptic reef fish species, including the redlip blenny, Ophioblennius trinitatis, rely on refuges to survive against predators, suggesting that adequate refuge choice is an important part of this species' antipredator strategy. Here we investigated blennies' selectivity in refuge choice along its ontogeny simulating predation risk in the field and laboratory. Our results revealed that when exposures to a predator model in the field, blennies chiefly fled to only two refuge types, namely crevices and sea urchins, and these choices reflected blennies' ontogeny. Furthermore, blennies' densities and flight-initiation distances were positively and negatively correlated with sea urchin densities, respectively, underscoring the refuge role played by this benthic organism. On high risk conditions, the fish translated into faster retreat to shelter and to higher refuge selectivity, when compared to low risk. The choices observed in situ were partly similar among initial and terminal phases. These findings suggest that small reef fishes may be selective in their refuge choice even using habitats with high structural complexity. This choice selectivity may be part of an antipredator strategy that considers the relative level of protection offered by the physical features of habitats, along with their conspicuity within rocky reef ecosystems.
Details
- Title
- Refuge choice specificity increases with predation risk in a rocky reef fish
- Creators
- José Anchieta C.C Nunes - Federal University of BahiaAntoine Leduc - Federal University of BahiaRicardo J Miranda - Federal University of BahiaPedro H Cipresso - Projeto Conservação Recifal (PCR)João P Alves - Federal University of BahiaEduardo Mariano-Neto - Federal University of BahiaCláudio L.S Sampaio - Universidade Federal de AlagoasFrancisco Barros - Federal University of Bahia
- Publication Details
- Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology , Vol.520, pp.1-6
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Grant note
- We also thank CAPES and CNPq for the financial support toJ.A.C.C.N. A.O.H.C.L. acknowledge receiving a PNPD post-doctoral grant from CAPES. FB was supported by CNPq fellowships (PQ 306332/2014-0; 304907/2017-0).
- Identifiers
- 991012927088802368
- Copyright
- © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; National Marine Science Centre; School of Environment, Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article