Abstract
Predation is a key ecosystem function, especially in high diversity systems such as coral reefs. Not only is predation one of the strongest top-down controls of prey population density, but it also is a strong driver of prey behaviour and function through non-lethal effects. We ask whether predation risk influences sheltering behaviour of damselfish living in mutualism with branching corals. Host corals gain multiple advantages from the mutualistic relationship which are determined by the strength of damselfish sheltering. Distance travelled by the Lemon Damselfish Pomacentrus moluccensis away from their host colony was measured here as a proxy for sheltering strength and was expected to be shortest under highest predation risk. Predation risk, defined as a function of predator abundance and activity, turbidity and habitat complexity, was quantified at four reef slope sites in Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia. Damselfish sheltering strength was measured using stationary unmanned video cameras. Small damselfish (< 2 cm) increased their sheltering strength under high turbidity. Predator feeding activity, but not abundance, influenced damselfish sheltering strength. Contrary to our expectations, sheltering behaviour of adult damselfish decreased under high predator activity. While these observations are in line with risk-averse behaviour by juvenile P. moluccensis, they may indicate the presence of sentinel behaviour in the adults of this species. Habitat complexity seemed to be less important as a driver of damselfish behaviour. These counterintuitive results may indicate complex social behaviour and age-specific strategies for predator avoidance.
Highlights
Predation is a key process in terrestrial and marine ecosystems (Steele 1985)
Does predation act as a top-down regulator of prey population densities, but it is one of the strongest drivers of prey behaviour and trophic structure of biological communities (Lima and Dill 1990; Ritchie and Johnson 2009; Estes et al 2010; Boaden and Kingsford 2015)
The present study investigates whether predation risk influences the sheltering behaviour of the damselfish Pomacentrus moluccensis (Bleeker, 1853)
Summary
Predation is a key process in terrestrial and marine ecosystems (Steele 1985). does predation act as a top-down regulator of prey population densities, but it is one of the strongest drivers of prey behaviour and trophic structure of biological communities (Lima and Dill 1990; Ritchie and Johnson2009; Estes et al 2010; Boaden and Kingsford 2015). Predation plays a important role in high-diversity ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs) by maintaining relative levels of species dominance and function (Hixon and Carr 1997). Species at higher trophic levels are disproportionally affected by human activities such as fishing, with potentially severe consequences for ecosystem functioning (Pauly et al 1998; Estes et al 2011). Overfishing of predators is a common ailment of many coral reefs around the world, yet the consequences of this on ecosystem functions remain poorly understood (Mumby et al 2012; Fenner 2014; Maire et al 2016). Changes or spatial differences in predator biomass and predation rates are likely to have consequences for prey abundance and behaviour (Mumby et al 2012). Quantifying the spatial and temporal variability of predation rates is fundamental to understand ecosystem functioning
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