DOES HABITAT DETERMINE SPECIES RARITY?
Do rare species of reef fish need specific coral habitats in order
to survive? This is a question James Cook University marine biologist
Peter Nangle posed in a recent study of different juvenile butterflyfish
on the Great Barrier Reef.
"Experiments in laboratory aquaria show that rare and common species
of butterflyfish have specific habitat preferences. But underwater field
observations suggest the most common species, Chaetodon trifaciatus, is
a 'generalist' and can settle on different types of coral reef habitat,"
says Nangle.
The research project, supported by a CRC student augmentative grant
and conducted at Lizard Island's research station, has challenged a traditional
view that habitat selection alone is responsible for the rarity of a species.
"It is likely that many different ecological processes and the
life history of a species determines whether it will be rare or common,"
says Nangle. "Since rare species make up the diversity of fish found
on coral reefs it is imperative we study distribution patterns and habitat
preferences to help develop appropriate management strategies for these
species."
A FULL COPY
of Peter Nangle's thesis is available from the James Cook University library
in Townsville.
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