Damselfish as keystone species in reverse: intermediate disturbance and diversity of reef algae

Substrates located within the defended territories of Hawaiian damselfish for 1 year were subjected to intermediate grazing intensity and, as a result, showed greater diversity of algae than substrates either protected within fish-exclusion cages or exposed to intense fish grazing outside territorie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1983-04, Vol.220 (4596), p.511-513
Main Authors: Hixon, Mark A., Brostoff, William N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Coral reefs
Fish
Grazing intensity
Keystone species
Marine
Marine ecology
Pomacentridae
Predation
Predators
Species diversity
Synecology
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Summary:Substrates located within the defended territories of Hawaiian damselfish for 1 year were subjected to intermediate grazing intensity and, as a result, showed greater diversity of algae than substrates either protected within fish-exclusion cages or exposed to intense fish grazing outside territories. Thus, this damselfish enhances local diversity on reefs through ``intermediate-disturbance'' effects, and is a keystone species that decreases rather than increases overall predation intensity relative to areas where it is absent.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.220.4596.511