Linking fishes to multiple metrics of coral reef structural complexity using three-dimensional technology.

ABSTRACT: Structural complexity strongly influences biodiversity and ecosystem productivity. On coral reefs, structural complexity is typically measured using a single and small-scale metric ('rugosity') that represents multiple spatial attributes differentially exploited by species, thus limiting a complete understanding of how fish associate with reef structure. We used a novel approach to compare relationships between fishes and previously unavailable components of reef complexity, and contrasted the results against the traditional rugosity index. This study focused on damselfish to explore relationships between fishes and reef structure. Three territorial species, with contrasting trophic habits and expected use of the reef structure, were examined to infer the potential species-specific mechani

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Rivero M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5656654 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature